Mother Nature's Paintbrush

Changing of the seasons

I think my favorite time for each season is when it changes into that season.  It seems like that's when you get the most vibrant and vivid colors.  Spring brings on the newness of green, summer the vibrant colors of the flowers, winter brings on the beauty of white and fall brings colors of all.

Fall in Wisconsin

This year I've been chasing the "mountains" of Wisconsin and the Driftless area of Wisconsin.  This fall I'm "Chasing the Rainbow" as Skittles would say and viewing Mother Nature's Paintbrush at work.   The colors of fall - the reds, yellows, oranges and even the browns - make you amazed at what nature can do.  It makes you take a step back and just pause to take it all in.

Fall Colors @ Peninsula State Park in Door County, WI

For me it just reminds me of being young, raking leaves and then running and jumping in the piles.  Makes you wonder what happened to those days.  Today I visited a store in Door County, WI on my way home and saw a sign that really made me think.  I can't remember exactly what it said, but I'll paraphrase.

As a child we learn to play and have fun.  Playing and fun do not go away when we get older, but live on inside of us.

Or something like that.  So if nature can change - I think we should too.  Take time to view those colors, build a pile of leaves and bring that child that is inside of you out.  Go jump in a pile of leaves!

Fall Colors at Peninsula State Park in Door County, WI

And if you need to know where in WI to find the color - here's my little secret (probably not so secret).
Fall Color Report (Travel Wisconsin).

I plan to take my own advice and go out and search for more of Mother Nature's Paintbrush and the fall colors next weekend.  This time, I'll combine my search for "mountains" in Wisconsin and the colors.  Because what better place to see fall colors than from atop a "mountain?"

Healing Powers of Nature

In a world like we live in today, I have found that escaping on weekends and going into the woods is the greatest way to heal a tired mind and body.

Over the last two years and summers, I've found myself drifting at every possible moment away from the city and away from the connections we've all become so dependent upon in our every day lives.  To leave behind the wireless connections and become unplugged and become at peace with nature is the best healing power I can think of.

Nature has a way of making us slow down and look at the world with our mind and our senses.  Our mind takes in what is around us and makes us aware of what is going on while making us contemplate our every day existences.  Our senses take in the beauty of the sky, forest, meadows and more while listening to the hustle and bustle of the earth moving and the animals making a survival.

Finding peace with nature begins with exploring nature

So if you ever feel stressed, keep in mind one of John Muir's great quotes:

"Keep close to Nature's heart, yourself; and break clear away once in a while and climb a mount or spend a week in the woods.  Wash your spirit clean."

I like to take John Muir's advice because he is right.  Nature has great healing powers that we all can use.

Minnesota's Superior Coast

Hard to believe summer 2012 is basically over and Labor Day is now behind us.  What a summer and what a way to end it with a trip to Minnesota's Superior Coast.

Minnesota's Superior Coastline is filled with beautiful waterfalls and state parks.  It's a rather rugged location with rocky coastline and jagged cliffs.  Running from Duluth to the Canadian border, it's a lot to explore in a 3 day weekend.

Lake Superior Coastline @ Gooseberry Falls State Park

To make the most of the weekend the dogs and I headed up to Minnesota mid-day on Friday and spent Friday night at Gooseberry Falls State Park.  It's a nice park right on Lake Superior.  And it was the perfect place to spent the night when there was a Blue Moon.  What a view that night.

Blue Moon over Lake Superior

The next morning I took in the Gooseberry Falls and headed out for a night on the Superior Hiking Trail.  What an amazing day.  The falls were incredible and the back country of the Superior Hiking Trail were beautiful.  Hiking from Penn Blvd trailhead up to Bear Lake for the night we encountered a bunch of great views overlooking Lake Superior on one side and the beauty of the forest and rocky cliff edges on the other side.  Dropping down to Bear Lake, unfortunately we found the two sites there already taken, but spent some time with the people while making water and taking a break.  After a while the dogs and I pushed back to the top and spent the night at the top of the hill overlooking Bear Lake.  Not a bad place to stay either.

Bear Lake with Bean Lake in the background

In the morning we completed the loop trail and dropped back down to the car to head out and find another state park to spend the night at.  We ended up at Temperance State Park.  After a quick shower to remove some of the dust from the trail and setting up the tent, off we went to find more waterfalls.  Between Temperance River State Park and the Canadian Border are three additional state parks.  So up to the Canadian Border I drove to visit Grand Portage State Park and the High Falls of the Pigeon River.  High Falls is the highest waterfall in the state of Minnesota.  From the falls and the river, the other side is Canada.  If only I would have grabbed my passport I could have viewed the falls from both sides.

High Falls @ Grand Portage State Park

Next up was Judge C.R. Magney State Park and a hike up the Brule River to the Devil's Kettle.  Another incredible view and park.  Who knew Minnesota had so many cool waterfalls.

Falls at Judge C.R. Magney State Park

Lastly we hit up Cascade River State Park for the last of the waterfall views for the day.  A short hike from the road brings you great views of the falls.  What a way to end the day before heading back to camp.

Falls at Cascade River State Park

Once back at camp the dogs were done and pretty much ate dinner and went to bed.  I strolled over to Lake Superior (again - this park is right on the lake) to check out the moon again this evening.  A little cloudy, but some pretty cool views of the big moon over Lake Superior as it was going in and out of the clouds.

As Monday rolled around I had to pack up and head back to Wisconsin.  But not to be outdone - before leaving Minnesota I had to visit the falls at Temperance River State Park and another one that was alongside the road.

The Temperance River is a river that has carved out a great gorge along it's route.  If you look closely in the picture below you'll see a waterfall within the gorge.

Falls in the background

What a great weekend in the great outdoors.  Exploring and finding new places that are as beautiful as this is always a great surprise and experience.  I hope to go back here again and explore more of the area and hike some more on the Superior Hiking Trail.