I finally slid out from under Cindy and got up to feed the fire again and get breakfast going. I had planned ahead and premixed pancake batter in a Ziploc so all I had to do was add the milk and eggs to it. I had planned on using our small camp skillet we normally keep aboard the Memory Maker but it turned out that the cabin was really pretty well provisioned with cookware. So I used a larger skillet I found in the cabinets. Cindy was up stirring around by now and she took up position at the table as she started to text everyone the good news. I mixed up two mimosas for us to enjoy on this fine New Year's day morning in the UP! As I turned to take Cindy her drink I noticed the tears were flowing again as she texted everyone. I really wanted it to be a special moment when I asked her to marry me and from the response I kept getting from her I think it was.
We shared our last meal in the cabin looking out over the lake through the big window by the table. The ice flow that we could barely see when we first arrived on Tuesday was now almost to the shoreline. It had been really neat to watch the lake through the window. It is almost like it is alive as it was constantly changing. From the waves crashing down below our cabin to the 20 footers crashing on the eastern shore that sent water spraying many more feet up in the air the lake had been very entrancing to watch. We would both miss this view long after we were back home.
We had slept in a bit so I needed to get started packing up all our gear so we could haul it back out. Granted the haul out was going to be a bit lighter as we were down 5 bottles of wine and a bottle of Champaign but it was still probably going to take 4 sled loads. Knowing that Cindy was still tired and her muscles were probably a bit sore I made the offer to ski out two loads early so Cindy would just have to ski out with one light load when we finally left. It was an offer that was eagerly accepted. So I started out loading up my pulk with the heavy items that would go on the bottom of the pile in Pearl. Cindy helped me carry the sled outside where I hooked up my belt and with one final kiss took off up the trail.
The ski out was really nice. The sky had cleared again and it was just simply beautiful in the woods. We had gotten maybe another 3" of snow overnight and it was very light dry snow that made for excellent ski conditions. I skied right along till I got to where the hill really started to pitch up. I slowed a bit climbing the hill but made it to Pearl without incident. With a quick unload I was on my way back for load number two. The ski back was even better as the weight of the pulk had packed the new snow down and my wood skis glided effortlessly across the new snow. I could barely tell the pulk was even behind me. The fact I was going downhill again I am sure helped the glide.
Back at the cabin Cindy and I loaded up more large items and I was soon off again. I met several people who were skiing the Superior loop on my way out this time. Close to the uphill climb I met a family of four with a cute dog who were skiing in. We said hello and wished each other a happy new year as we all continued on our separate ways. Back at Pearl I continued to organize the load the best I could before heading back. I took the time to put the Go Pro on my head and filmed the final ski to the cabin. I tried my best at narrating the trip and I think it did not turn out too badly. I met up with the family I met on the way out at the turn off for our cabin. I stopped to talk with them and they were curious about the cabins so I invited them down to see ours. I was pretty sure Cindy was not waiting on me in her birthday suite so I figured it would not create any embarrassing moments LOL! Plus the company would help divert my attention away from the fact that we were leaving the park. Had Cindy not came into my life I could totally see me living my life some place very similar. I just enjoyed every moment of it so much, even the overheating the first night. It had been everything I had hoped for and even more as I never dreamt I would have taken this trip with my best friend who happens to be a little hottie who I am now engaged to! Cindy being by my side or skiing in front of me, I love the view, really helped make this trip more than I ever dreamt it could be. The family finally made it down to the cabin and we showed them around as the kids went down to see the ice on the lake. They seemed very nice and were very happy to get to see the cabin. I gave them some tips if they got one and wished them a happy new year again as they skied back up the trail.
The time to go had arrived and I tried my best to hide my sadness. Cindy was excited to be heading to place with running water but I think she really enjoyed the stay once the cabin warmed up. I helped Cindy get her pulk hooked up and then hooked up my own. With one final look around we headed up the trail on our way back to civilization. Funny thing as when we first arrived at the cabin there was sign to the east that was partially snow covered. It read "Dum as s here" I thought it was kinda ironic as some people had told me only a dumb ass would want to go to the UP in the winter. Well I noticed as we were leaving that today I could read the whole sign. It said "Dump ashes here". Made a lot more sense now that I could read it all LOL! Cindy quickly recognized how much nicer the snow was on the ski out as we made our way up the trail and we enjoyed our last ski in the Porkies.
The only thing I had hoped we would get to experience on this trip that we missed out on was hearing a wolf. I thought seeing one was too much of a long shot to even hope for but I had hoped we might at least hear one. But the howling winds would be as close as we would come to that on this trip.
Arriving back at Pearl we loaded up the remaining items, the pulks, and racked our skis before heading off down the road. It was beautiful day and we enjoyed looking out over the ice as we started off in search of a place to grab a bite to eat. We drove back up to Ontonagon but did not find any place that looked open so we returned to the Americinn to have lunch at Porkies Pub and Grub. It wound up being a great choice as the food we got there was all really good. I ordered a nachos for an appetizer and a lumberjack burger for my meal but once I saw the nachos I just asked to get the burger to go as I knew there was no way I could eat both.
Cindy used the restroom while we waited on our food and returned talking to a lady who obviously had ridden a snowmobile in. Cindy told me how the lady said she really liked Cindy's hat she was wearing to which Cindy replied to her that she had just spent two nights in a rustic cabin with no running water and there was no way she was getting that hat off her head! I had to laugh at that one.
It was short drive down the street to our next place of lodging as the Lake of the Clouds resort was maybe a half mile west of the Americinn. We pulled up to the Ski cabin and went inside. Again it kept with the theme of UP by giving us the feeling we had just stepped back in time. The cabin was built in the 50's but was really nice inside and it too was very well provisioned with everything we would need to be very comfortable and my new phone was sitting on the table waiting for me. Talk about service! Tonya, the owner was super nice and had delivered my new phone to the cabin before our arrival. Cindy wasted no time in heading to the bath tub while I brought in everything we needed. I got the fire going in the woodstove and my new phone charging before jumping in the shower myself.
I had noticed while I unpacked all our food and put in in the fridge that I had packed away more than we needed as we had not eaten much at all. Now with out belly buttons popping out from lunch at the Porkies Pub and Grub there is no way we would be eating any of it tonight again. Always better safe than sorry. It was still really cold out, maybe 8 degrees and the wind was howling again, so it took the stove a bit to warm up the cabin. There was a nice flat screen on the wall opposite the bed so we just snuggled under the covers and watched some tv. Still no cell phone signal but I was able to pick up the wifi signal so I took the time to email Bre who was back at home with the boys and give her the news. Not sure who feel asleep first as it was too close to call. Another day in a winter wonderland with my wonderful little fiancé had come to an end all too soon...
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