Getting the Heck out of Town

I can honestly say that I hate the last couple of days before I leave for a trip that I am really excited to go on.  I get so antsy and I keep forgetting what day it actually is because I want to leave so badly.  Today as I was driving from one job to the next I kept thinking it was Thursday.  Then I realized it is only Wednesday and I still have one more day of work and swim lessons (I might not have mentioned that I teach swimming as well as my other jobs) before I can pack the car and get the heck out of town.

If you were to walk into my house today you would see nothing but camping gear spread out all over the house along with snorkeling equipment, rain gear, dry bags for the kayak.  I swear it looks like Gander Mountain exploded in my living room!  Once I get home tonight I will go through the entire mass of gear and decide what I really need to take with me. 

Tonight will be consumed with not only going through the gear but getting the food ready to go and pre-cooking what I can for lunches.  With my doing the paleo diet I can’t just walk into any old gas station and grab something so I have to think about the food I am taking and how well it will travel.  My friend decided that she wouldn’t mind eating the same as I do so she is bringing all the fresh veggies and fruit and I am bringing the protein end of things.  I decided to take some chicken breasts and freeze them in marinade for Saturday’s dinner with enough for lunch the next day.  I am also going to make some feta stuffed burgers for lunch on Friday while on the water.  

Now since it is Wisconsin, I don’t care what part of the state you’re in, Friday night is fish fry night~it’s a religion here.  So we will be going out for fresh caught (that day!) White Fish and since I can have what is called “poor man’s lobster” which is fish that is boiled without breading and stick with fresh veggies and a salad I will be good for Friday night dinner out.  Sunday’s breakfast will be the only tough day as everyone wants to go to the Egg Toss restaurant in Bayfield.  Not much on their menu I can eat but I’m sure I can figure something out.

Now, if you will excuse me, I find that I need to duct tape my ass into my chair and get some work done!

CAMPING!

This weekend I am heading north (yes, there is something North of where I live!) to do some kayaking and camping.  To some this might not seem all that exciting or interesting but for me this is a well needed break from my real life.  A fairly large group of us are going to kayak the sea caves on Lake Superior and then check out the ship wrecks with a ferry ride out to Madeline Island for an evening of fun at Tom’s Burnt Down Cafe.  I will be camping overlooking Lake Superior, cooking out and enjoying the simpler things in life.  And right now this is something that I really feel I need.

This was supposed to be a trip that Mark and I were going to do together but literally within 24 hours of him breaking things off a friend asked if I would be interested in going with her on the trip.  Initially I said no as I still felt down  but after having thought about how I shouldn’t give up on seeing something I really wanted to see because I couldn’t go with Mark I called her and said yes.  Although I can’t share this with Mark I think it is more of something that I need to do for me.  I have always wanted to see the sea caves in the summer months as I have seen them in the winter and they are amazing.  I have only seen pictures of the sea caves during the summer months and I really want to experience them during the summer.  I have also always wanted to see the ship wrecks located outside of Bayfield as well so how could I turn down the chance to do something that I have wanted to do for so many years.  Besides, it’s on my bucket list.

So, I’m off to play on the Big Lake with some wonderful people and see things that I have always wanted to see.  The picture you see is of the sea caves in winter.  I was with some of my favorite friends and my youngest.