A Soft and Driftless Long Weekend

Biking on the trails, hiking through the woods, kayaking in the river...the summer weather has arrived and the Driftless Region, our little corner of Western Wisconsin, hums and chirps, rustles and ripples and sits back waiting for us to join her in the trees, in the waters and in her backyard.

The Human Powered Trails is a non-profit organization that develops sustainable trails for the city of La Crosse (WI).  The trails are beautiful, often overlooking large vistas and provide all levels of hiking and biking.  We had a great hike with our dog and were virtually alone on our trail.  There was a sign that said No Dogs but noone bothered us about it and we made sure he didn't get in the way of the few bikers that came through.  They seemed happy to see him.

I love when a long weekend starts out with beautiful weather.  The kind of weather that makes you just want to seize the moment.  And I'm off at noon on Friday and I should go home and relax and clean but what if this is the best weather of the weekend?  So off I went with my husband with plans to meet my brother at our secret spot along the Mississippi.  A quick jump across the river to a sandbar to pass some hours away.

Along the Upper Mississippi River, every hour brings something new.  There are crowds of odd islands, bluffs, prairies, hills, woods and villages--everything one could desire to amuse the children.

--Mark Twain

and Hamlet loved his first river trip.  Yep, he's a river dog.  We wouldn't have it any other way.

refreshments

his favorite position

Hamlet's first kayak trip.  He did awesome.

Off to Winona for some relaxing at the Forsell household.

which generally means taking lots of pictures of my niece, Tula.

Kissing the dolly.

and then a cookout the next day.

a Brewers cup and a wiffle ball in hand, pretty much my husbands dream come true....except for the Bears t-shirt.

the Odin man went nuts with the kiddie pool.  I couldn't stop taking pictures, he was mesmerized and mesmerizing.

the kiddie pool was the place to be.

friends and family make me happy, very happy.

conferring at the grill.

the Odin stare down.

Summertime is always the best of what might be.
--Charles Bowden