When the light shines on a solo overnight trip to Marquette

As some of you readers might remember–I got a little bored last week on the 74th of January. One tried & true way to combat winter blues and restlessness? A solo overnight getaway to the “big city”. I’ve been traveling to Marquette for Kathy-time almost every January and/or February for nigh on two decades. (Minus a trip in 2021 due to covid concerns.)

You’d think Omicron cautions might keep me home this year as well–but no. The silver Malibu headed south and east yapping at the bit to reach Ishpeming, home of my good friend, Susan.

Her birthday comes in less than two weeks and it was time for our celebratory brunch at Rare Earth Café!

Rare Earth Goods and Café is, well, how shall we say it?–rare. It’s filled with hippy flavors like guitars, tie-dyed shirts, knit hats hanging on clothespins in the adjoining shop. Susan and I yakked up a storm. We started slowly, but we sure did build into a magic crescendo of friendship, spirituality and heart connection.

What did we eat, you ask? One moment please. I must sit quietly and pull back the memory of food because it’s been eclipsed by memories of gut-splitting laughter where you try not to disturb fellow diners. Ah ha! It’s coming back. We each dribbled a slice of sourdough french toast with delicious maple syrup. Then we split a quiche–the very last available piece. (Susan, do you remember what was IN that quiche? I simply cannot.)

The server said, “I want to be with you guys! You laugh a lot..”

Afterward, we paused outside and photographed ourselves against the colorful wings painted on the purple-blue wall. “Stay Wild Yooper Child!” urges the angel wings or eagle wings or phoenix wings.

You readers might notice Susan’s fur hood has fallen over her eyes and her arms are outstretched. What you might not notice (because you weren’t there) is that the wind was blowing sideways in freezing bursts and it proved pretty much impossible to pose with a casual smile like a warm summerscape. I’m not posting a picture of me.

OK, OK, I will. I can hear Susan’s voice saying–hey, why me and not you? (Because YOU are the birthday girl!) OK, OK, let me go find the picture, darn it.

Next time any of you visit Ishpeming, be sure to look up Rare Earth Goods and Cafe. You can pose by the angel/eagle/phoenix wings, too. (Try to make it a warm day when the wind isn’t blowing sideways taunting you.)

We said our loving goodbyes and I headed further east to the “big city”. You know how city and suburb and town dwellers often dream of visiting the woods? My dreams involve exploring towns and cities. How fun is it to pause before a painted mural on Third Street?

Even though the wind blew fiercely it turned into a warmish day in the Upper Peninsula (near 40 F). Above is a picture of icy rocks along Lake Superior. In the far distance you may notice the breakwater light off Presque Isle pier.

In other places the snow moaned like the Wicked Witch of the West–“I’m melting, I’m melting, I’m melting!”

My good winter shoes dodged puddles and splattered with road salt. The rare early February melt lasted only a few hours. Upon writing this blog it’s a high of 8 degrees.

The purpose of this blog–if it needs a purpose–is that every woman needs to enjoy solo overnights. It’s a date with ourselves. It’s a date outside the confines of the comfortable and familiar four walls of our house.

To do whatever you want! To linger at the local bookstore–in this case, Snowbound Books. To dine alone in a restaurant sipping your favorite drink. (I had an IPA at the Vierling. Ordered a chicken basil pesto artichoke pizza–not something I usually eat these days.) They burned the pizza and offered a second beer. Thank you, dear server, but no. How about dessert, ma’am?

You’re killing me, dear sweet server! No second beer, no dessert, but you are the epitome of kindness, you are.

Instead, waiting for pizza, I listened to a soon-to-be bride, groom and wedding planner discuss The Big Day details. A young woman that I should know from our town sat nearby. Her name remains elusive–darn it! I sipped the rest of the IPA and pondered the challenges of not remembering people you’re supposed to know.

The restaurant emptied out.

The pizza appeared. So worth the wait! It turned out to be lunch AND dinner.

Next activity after some more shopping and walking: driving along Lake Superior as the skies turned light pink and orange.

Here is Thill’s Fish House next to the old shipping ore dock.

The Malibu motored slowly up toward Presque Isle. I don’t recommend getting out of the car–it’s too windy and freezing cold even though the thermometer says otherwise.

Ooops, guess I’m getting out of the car! Too beautiful to miss this shot.

The highlight of the trip (second only to the birthday brunch) happened when the light burst forth on the Marquette Light House.

It’s like a symbol I will carry back to our little house in the woods.

Skies can be gray, cloudy, leaden–but the sun may unexpectedly peek forth and illuminate with a burst of fresh red energy.

That’s what a solo date can do. Infuse us with energy.

Next morning–off to Donckers for breakfast. You have to climb a zillion steps when you approach from the back. I got lost in the stair-world. Mostly because I accidentally entered The Bistro (their sister restaurant) next door. Luckily the two businesses hold hands and a kind cleaning fella pointed toward the breakfast place.

Donckers is kinda a hippy place, too. Look at the retro tables! The historic restaurant, no kiddin’, is famous for hosting President Obama when he visited Marquette. Photos and his sandwich bill are framed on the wall.

The third-best part of the trip: buying “The Listening Path” by Julia Cameron. It’s a six-week Artist’s Way program delving into listening and the creative art of attention. The Universe pointed its long finger at the book and said, “How ’bout this one, Kathy?” and there’s a huge possibility future blog posts may involve deeper and more spacious listening.

Thanks for coming along on the trip!