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[wind-rose-north-outfitters]

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Love is like the roads I Travel

I imagine love to be like the roads I travel.

This sentence probably doesn’t make sense at all to anyone but myself.

What I mean is… how I feel, and see the roads I travel, is how I imagine the process of love to go.

My ’86 Mustang takes me on many different paths especially over the past few months, but each back road I discover and new path to work or some grand adventure takes my breath away.

The first time my wheels grace the pavement of a new road, I’m sucked in by the twists and turns, bumps and hiccups found along its face. The first time you meet someone at a bar, during class, or on the street you are stunned by maybe their smile, personality, or dress.

As I discover a new road, I’m captivated by it. I travel along its path for months. Everyday. Wanting to learn everything about it. I want to know how it looks when it rains, or when the skies are clear. I want to memorize the cows, or the horses that mark its sides, or the light pink 18th century home. 

After one person encounters another (and they’re attracted to one another), they spend a lot of time together or communicating. They learn each person’s twists and turns, life-shaping moments, hiccups until they memorize everything they possibly can about the other.

After I’ve memorized my road, I become so comfortable with it that I can drive it practically on autopilot letting my thoughts wander. This is when we have a plateau in the new, exciting relationship. We’re comfortable. We’re no longer searching for new things, but are happy when we are surprised by one on the occasion.

Eventually, I get tired of this road though it does offer something that no other does maybe a farm, or a house or a quaint town. Nowadays this is how it often goes, we get tired with the fact that our relationships are no longer exciting, and shocking. We move on.

I move on to a new road, and someone else moves on to a new partner…

Or… as I previously recognized, this road has something unique just like how people have characteristics and features that separate them from one another.

You can choose to move on to another person, or you can be in wonder at how comfortable, and trusting you are with this person. How well they know you, and you can stay with them forever.

Now, I’m definitely not going to drive the same road forever. Heck. I’m a travel addict, but I’ll always appreciate what makes the roads I travel different and I will always hold a few favorites that my tires can’t wait to revisit.

(Just one of my many thoughts driving home.) 

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The beauty, and peace of the Sleeping Bear Dunes is incredible. It's the perfect place for quick getaway. 

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My beautiful Dunes Warrior, and travel partner Lili enjoying our day at the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

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Destination 2: Suttons Bay, MI

Four hours, three pitstops, and a beautiful lake view later we made it! As we eagerly climbed out of our little Buick, it took a moment to adjust to our surroundings. 

We were in a three, four block town with lilac, dandelion yellow buildings adorned with store names from Lima Bean to Antiques. A cool breeze blew through the street and as you walked down Saint Joseph you could catch glimpses of the Bay between the small shops side streets. 

The low seventy degree day in Suttons felt more like sixties as we grabbed our hoodies and pulled them tight. I was glad I wore jeans. We wandered through the downtown going from shop to shop, my first relief? There was not a single franchise fast-food restaurant, or shop. Also, no parking meters. It was an unblemished, and pure downtown. 

We spent the most time in an Antiques shop, which had typewriters, vintage carpets and boxes. Nifty Things was one of my favorites of the town having a chill, beach vibe accented with wooden signs, fancy cigars, beautifully decorated owls and mugs. This was a store I hoped to encounter in one of these destinations. 

After we made it through the downtown, talked to a local jewelry maker, and sampled some Black Cherry Fudge, we enjoyed the Bay and walked along the beach listening to the relaxing sound of waves on the shore, and boats moving about in port. 

We grabbed a late lunch at the VI Grille. It was a boat themed restaurant with wood floors, vintage signs and a decent Avocado Veggie Burger. Locals suggest going to Martha's, and 9BeansCafe for a bite. 

There were a few things we didn't get to do. I'd love to have biked through wine country or the TART trail, but it was too chilly even for a mid-June day to partake in such an activity. If the drive up M-22 was any suggestion as to what lies on these trails; however, it would've been well-worth it. 

We also didn't get to swim or fully enjoy the Bay due to the chill, but it was a worthwhile trip that lead us to encounter a few characters, eat some amazing ice cream (The Ice Cream Factory), and get to see a part of Michigan I had yet to discover. 

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Suttons Bay, MI 

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Beautiful blue-toned water lapped against the pier as a chilly summer wind came off the Bay as we walked down the marina.