Coming Home

As we drove north through Wisconsin on the way back from our yearly end of the dog sled season break, we remembered why we choose to live here. The texture of the woods became ours again, with familiar plants as we got further north. When we got up on the overlook on US 2 between Hurley and Ashland, Lake Superior appeared, showing Oak Island, Bayfield, Stockton, Madeline and Outer Island sticking above the blue water. The air is so clear that they look to be just across a valley. That blue water radiates this time of year, lit from within and contrasting with the leafless islands. Another half hour and we come into our hometown, Bayfield. Of all the small towns that we have driving through recently on our way back from two weeks in Florida, this is the most charming. All that beautiful Gulf coastline with birds, sea and beach, is hazy in our memory as the strong pull from Lake Superior has recoiled us back again for another season. When we left, there was mostly ice and the feeling of a long winter. Now the channels are clear and the water is calling to us to come out and explore. I wish we had a boat in so we could get right out there.

Easter was the next day and it is almost as warm as Flroida here. Memorial Park is almost empty, the harbor has just the working fishing boats that have been parked there all winter--all of the summer pleasure boats are still on the hard--and the entire Lake that we can see between Bayfield and Madeline and Basswood Islands is glass calm. It seems like we stole a day and have it all to ourselves.

Coming home is the best part of a good vacation. All the dogs are healthy and bark an enthusiastic greeting, the one hen has lain a couple eggs, and the cats are even happy to see us. Winter is gone and the bugs are not out yet. The driveway is dry and clear, the mud and ice are all gone, and there are even buds on the red maples. It is going to be an early spring, and it feels like a gift.