Leg #61, June 23, 2022, Mackinaw City to Charlevoix (HOME)

From the Lake Michigan (looking East) side of Mackinaw Bridge.

Wow! Today is the day! Charlevoix, here we come. It was a beautiful morning just as forecasted.

I think I've been procrastinating on writing this last blog. While on our loop I had internet issues to deal with that created delays in posting, but I can't use that excuse here. I realize that while we are soooo excited to be home and with family, we are closing the door (for this year) on a great experience. It is bitter sweet for sure.

The wonderful people we met and our newest friends are the ones that are truly doing the Sauntering on their journeys. Although we moved slow while moving, we were always moving. We've been talking with some friends that are still back in Chesapeake, just entering NY, and exploring Lake Ontario. We met each of them on different legs of our journey and created bonds of friendship in such a short time. It's hard to believe we jumped so far ahead of each of them. It's fun hearing from them and learning where they are, while recollecting our own experiences in the same areas.

Charlevoix Lighthouse and Michigan Beach

So proud of our hometown!

Coming in for the 1:30 bridge

Charlevoix Lighthouse

Entering Round Lake

Home Port, Northwest Marina

Here's to family and friends!

Antanas was at the bridge to welcome us home, take photos, catch our lines and even brought Champaign to celebrate. He's been on this journey with us from beginning to end. Thank you Antanas!

DEEP THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Iconic conservationist John Muir on hiking in the mountains... This quote was shared by a friend to sum up the meaning of the word saunter.

“I don’t like either the word or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains, not hike! Do you know the origin of that word, ‘saunter?’ It’s a beautiful word. Way back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, ‘A la sainte terre,’ or ‘To the Holy Land.’ And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers, or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not ‘hike’ through them.”

We originally chose the name as a description of what we do. This DEEP THOUGHT OF THE DAY gives us a new outlook of not just what we do, but how we do it. We did look at/see so much of this trip with awe and reverence and consider ourselves blessed for the opportunity to witness so much of God's creations and meet so many wonderful people that He placed in our path.

Saunter comes home.