We were going to my little slice of Heaven here on earth, the Leelanau Peninsula in Northern Lower Michigan. More specifically we were on a M-22 adventure. M-22 is quite a famous scenic route running through the Leelanau Peninsula and the Sleeping Bear Dunes area. Sleeping Bear Dunes was voted Good Morning America's "Most Beautiful Place in America" in 2011.
I had plans to take oodles of photos to document our adventure, but I knew that could prove to be a challenge with the dogs along. We don't usually take them on these kind of outings, where there will be quaint little towns and shopping involved. They go when we have a day of State Parks and hiking planned.
You see, they are Golden Retrievers and they get VERY excited when they go new places and see lots of people. They think that everyone wants to pet them and they want to be everyone's new best friend.
So I conscientiously put my camera away for the day (I did get a few shots here and there) and made the day as calming and enjoyable as possible for them. You see, Riley will be 11 at the end of month and Scout is 10, so just never know how many summers they have left to enjoy a day like yesterday.
After arriving in Leland, my favorite quaint touristy town, we got their initial excitement worked out of them in a cute little park. After that we were able to browse fairly easily. One of us would stay outside with them while the other went in and looked around. Scout was quite content to sit ON the bench with me, while Riley was a bit more antsy always looking for someone to pet him, but in general he sat or laid down.
We ordered bag lunches from The Village Cheese Shanty and took them to a nearby beach to have a picnic. That went extremely well. I had packed their food and water, and by the time they were done eating they were tired and content to lie under the picnic table while we ate our sandwiches.
After lunch we turned them loose on the beach. This is one of those tucked out of the way beaches that only the locals know about. Great expanses of sand and water, and very few other people around. They ran with the wind lifting their floppy ears, they chased after sticks thrown into the water, and rolled in the sand with great abandon. They lived their lives to the fullest yesterday.
We took two tired, wet and sand saturated Golden Retrievers home last night.
My kitchen floor has a fine coating of sand on it this morning, but that's okay. I have always wanted to have a beach cottage, where two happy Golden Retrievers are always tracking in beach sand after a perfect day of frolicking on the shore. Today I am pretending that I have that beach cottage.
14 comments:
They are so gorgeous I bet they had fun shaking all the water off...
What a great adventure!
Oh, I love the last photo, they look so tired and worn out from their fun day. My Golden Retriever won't let me photograph him! Every time I bring out the camera, he runs. My daughter can take his photo, no problem. It's like I beat him with my camera sometime or something?! He's a nut. I love your Golden's :)
That sounds like the makings of a perfect day out! Love the dog expressions too!
What a wonderful adventure! I love that you're pretending to live in that beach cottage you always wanted. Your goldens are clearly enjoying their part in that fantasy.
What a wonderful day! They don't seem to have quite the enthusiasm in the last photo as they do in the first. Two tired puppies. They are adorable. I've been on a photo trip to the areas you mentioned, and it is truly beautiful. Almost cried when I heard the legend of how Sleeping Bear Dunes got its name. Fish Town was fabulous! Beautiful photos, as always.
Oh what fun! They are certainly full of energy and I love the wet, tired pups at the end. Nice story of the day using pictures (I always love to see what people eat). Say, I also clicked on the "Photo Heart Connection" button and that looks like something I'd like. I love finding new treasures like that on people's blogs.
This entire post makes my heart happy...I'm smiling big after reading this. What a wonderful day, and your dogs are so adorable (and your daughter is beautiful)! Thanks for sharing, Sarah. :)
Looks like you had a wonderful day. That is a great photo of your daughter also!
Sounds like a perfect day! I love how the first photo your dogs look wide awake and smiling and by the end of the day, their eyes look half closed!
Precious memories indeed! I can smell the wet dogs right now. :)
xoxo
Ahhh, a retriever in the water with a stick - happy happy dogs! Someday I'm going to make it to Northern Michigan - it looks so beautiful. Have a wonderful weekend!
Sounds like a perfect day, Sarah! Sometimes we just have to entertain the fantasy. ;-> Your pooches are sooooo sweet!!
ADORABLE! I love their smiles in the first couple of photos!
Post a Comment