We Never Left Dry Land..
DETAILS
When — July 2024
Where — Apostle Islands
The trip started with an out-of-state destination; the Apostle Islands.
If you thought Wisconsin was nothing more than fields and dairy farms, think again. Nestled deep in Wisconsin’s northern shore is a beautiful string of shoreline that mimics Michigan’s Pictured Rocks and dotted with remote islands you can get to by your watercraft of choice.. paddle boards not recommended.
In the spirit of a northern nautical getaway, my girlfriends and I loaded up the beach cruisers to the back of Brandi’s truck, grabbed Holiday gas station coffee, and hit the open road. Side-note, if you plan to travel with beach cruisers be sure to purchase a double-wide edition bike rack. The baskets and wide handles of the cruisers prove to be something you could lose a limb or end a friendship over real quick trying to load them up.
The trip there was beautiful, and other than stopping for slices of pepper jack cheese, remarkably uneventful. Soon enough we rolled into Bayfield, the tiny gateway town to the Apostle Islands. We made our way down to the marina where we knew our rustic accommodations awaited us. And there she was, our little vintage “camper on the water”, gently bumping against the dock.
There’s a whole book that could and perhaps will be written about our whimsical stay in Bayfield, but one thing to bring home was the unoriginal but decidedly true statement that the company you keep and the experience you create is far more important than your end destination
(which in this case was absolutely nowhere.)
Now, let it be known, if any of us were confident sailors we would have cut the ropes and set sail for Tortuga immediately. But as that was not the case, we transformed this tiny, weather-beaten sailboat into the ultimate oasis on the water. We strung up our heartiest twinkle lights, designated a place of honor for the espresso machine we drug along, secured the beach cruisers we had previously shed sweat, blood and tears to bring, popped some long-awaited bubbly, and took our sweet time assembling what was quite possibly the most most beautiful charcuterie board Bayfield has ever seen.
We spent the rest of the long weekend exploring the endless art shops, a farmers market, tucked-away beaches, and Madeline island by beach cruiser - all of it delightful and highly returnable.(reach out for travel tips, I’m full of them.) But reflecting on that first night really captures the essence of what my girlfriends and I try to make a point of as we navigate a busy, complicated world. That is, choosing to take the ordinary, everyday stuff and polish it up with friendship, twinkle lights, and an organic beeswax candle until it shines. It’s these ordinary things in fact that BECOME the adventure. No jam-packed itinerary, expensive gear, or plane ticket required. Just a little bit of whimsy and a little less rush.
Before you go, I invite you to think about your own ordinary, everyday experiences. How can you add an ounce of extraordinary, just because?
If this idea intrigues you and you feel like you could use a little inspiration, I encourage you to 1) Keep exploring this website and check out the resources I have here to get you digging deeper. 2) Consider booking a retreat with me! Intentional travel is the perfect way to sooth the soul and awake some dormant dreams.
xo - lo sprang
