Old Friends’ Outing
Old Friends’ Outing
“Hi, are you bringing your poles?” I yell up my driveway to Paige, who has just parked her car alongside the road.
“No, I’m fine,” she answers.
I’ve been looking forward to seeing Paige. She's been a good friend for many years, but both of us have been busy, it seems, and our paths haven’t crossed for a while. Paige is an adventurer—she recently returned from a cruise that included all of Hawaii’s islands.
Now Sally pulls into the driveway, and Paige walks down to greet us. We all hug, and our enthusiasm is apparent. We’ve planned a springtime adventure of lunch, hiking, and shopping!
As we gather up our coats and backpacks, I grab my hiking poles and say, “I’ll bring two in case someone would like to use one.” I know the Sand Cave Trail is steep, and it may be slick with spring mud.
Paige says, “I have my poles.”
As my eyebrows rise, I say, “Paige, I just asked you that, and you said no, you’re fine.”
”I thought you asked if I’m cold!”
After a good chuckle, the three of us decide we’re definitely aging, and we compare our battle wounds, like stiff knees, dental issues, forgetfulness, and hearing problems. We laugh, knowing that even five years ago, we wouldn’t have been having this conversation. We’re all over that hump of 65 and closing in on 70.
Over the years, Paige and I have gone on backpacking trips to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and traversed many miles of the Superior Hiking Trail. Sally and I have hit the trails together once a month, year-round. We all love the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, and we spend our first hour together today reminiscing about our hikes there and the annual Dam Challenge.
Our conversation flows as smoothly as Highway 27 does, over the bends, down the hills, and back up again, until we get into Seneca. We spontaneously pull over at a resale shop we all love, and soon after, at Johnson’s One Stop, which Paige and I insist on showing off to Sally.
Sally is impressed. Paige finds a garden-stake dragonfly, and Sally and I find a table with free donuts. We quickly agree to split one donut so as not to ruin our lunch.
Next stop: Simply Cafe in Prairie du Chien. They are open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., and are well worth a visit. I love their fresh, healthy salads, and their sandwiches are served on wholesome grilled bread.
Sally helps Paige navigate the easy 12-mile drive to Wyalusing State Park, where we’ve chosen to hike the Sand Cave Trail. It’s a two-mile round trip, and the cave is stunning! The colors of its walls range from a bright green to a gorgeous orange. We spend time admiring rocks, taking pictures of the hepaticas, and examining what we think may be bobcat footprints. Signs of spring are abundant: ramps are coming up, and we also spy spring beauties and bloodroot.
Crossing the Mississippi River, we are treated to thrilling eagle and swan sightings as we approach McGregor, Iowa. There, we stop at the Left Bank Shop & Gallery, which is owned and operated by the nonprofit McGregor-Marquette Center for the Arts. This big, lovely space with wood floors used to be a bank—the heavy vault door is open so we can peer inside. We love that it allows artists from a 100-mile radius to display and sell their work. We slow down, spread out, and take our time oohing and aahing over the amazing artworks, such as paintings done on leaves, and the exquisite jewelry.
There are lots of great places to visit in McGregor, but we left my place at 9:30 a.m., and it’s already after 4 p.m. Our energy is waning. So Paper Moon, one of my favorite places for interesting books and unique gifts, becomes our last stop.
Road trips with old friends are always worth the time and the drive. Getting out of Dodge for the day is stimulating and as necessary as springtime in Wisconsin. It renews your faith in all things good—friendships and Mother Nature.