Week 42: The New Ending

August 15 – August 23 | Alexandria, MN (70s) → Black Creek, WI (80s) → Spring Grove, IL (80s)

Where We Stayed

• Carlos Lake State Park, Alexandria, MN (Monday and Tuesday)

• Sand Creek Brewing Company, Black Creek, WI (Wednesday)

• Chain O Lakes State Park, Spring Grove, IL (Thursday through Saturday)

A Change of Plans

Without getting into the details, life at home called, and it called loudly. Hanna is returning to New York instead of Tennessee as originally planned, and she needs help making that transition. I will be flying out to assist with the move, which means rethinking the final stretch of the trip. Hanna, characteristically, was very clear that she did NOT approve of us abandoning the trip entirely. We still have states to collect, goals to finish, and an Adult Gap Year that deserves a proper ending. So we are not throwing in the towel. We are just redefining its ending. What that means practically is this: we are planning to be home by mid-September instead of October 30th. It won't be 365 days on the road, but it will be most of a year. Don will continue exploring while I'm away this week. We'll reunite at a still-to-be-determined airport and finish the last handful of states together before pointing Skuhlie home. I'm sad to miss Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Voyageurs National Park, and Painted Rocks National Lakeshore. This chapter is shorter than I planned. But being there for our kids is, and has always been, our first priority, and no version of this decision feels wrong. It's full of love.

Minnesota: Carlos Lake State Park

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We found Carlos Lake State Park to be a good option to rethink the New Ending, without moving farther from major airports. It turned out to be a wonderful campground, which felt like a small gift from the universe right when we needed one.

Don had connectivity issues at the campground the first day, so the second morning he drove to town to work while Lucky and I set up the tent and had a lovely slow day to ourselves. We took walks, I read, and at one point while we were sitting quietly in the tent I heard something moving nearby, too slow for a squirrel and with no humans in sight. I eventually spotted it: a small turtle making its way past us. These are the silly moments that connect me to the moment and the place where I’m at. I did forget Lucky's food for the day when Don left. The camp store had limited options, so I shared my bread, cheese, and carrot with her, making sure each item was safe before I gave it to her. She didn't complain, but I wondered what her digestive system would think of the change.  Don also walked a 5K before we left, reclaiming a routine that had fallen off during the rougher weeks of heat and mechanical chaos. It was a small but meaningful reset.

Wisconsin: Sand Creek Brewing

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Wednesday was a driving day, about four and a half hours toward Chicago, with a Harvest Host overnight at Sand Creek Brewing in Black Creek, Wisconsin. These long drive days are especially challenging on a workday, but we find ways to get to where we need to go. We also keep checking the tire pressure since we've had various issues along the trip. We learned you need a special tool to check the pressure of the dual tires in the back. The brewery was technically closed, but the owners opened up so we could buy a couple of growlers, which we happily finished by the end of the night. We had dinner at a local pizza place found through BringFido, a resource that has genuinely been one of the unsung heroes of this trip. Not every recommendation has been a perfect match, but most have been, and having a tool that considers Lucky's presence when we'r

e tired and hungry in an unfamiliar town has saved us more times than I can count. That evening Don and I talked through a lot: his job, Hanna's situation, my job search, and the new ending. We drank the growlers. We vented. It was the kind of evening where you process life in a parking lot at a closed brewery in Wisconsin and somehow feel better at the end of it. This is the kind of night that I will remember.

Illinois: Chain O Lakes State Park

Thursday we made our way to Chain O Lakes State Park in Spring Grove, Illinois. We didn't have a reservation, having learned through the state parks phone line that Illinois state parks don't allow reservations within three days of arrival. Walk-in only. The agent checked capacity and assured us there was plenty of space. When we arrived, the park staff was fantastic, letting us drive around and choose our own site. We picked one with a lake view, positioned away from the heaviest vegetation because the mosquitoes were relentless. We bought firewood and had a campfire that evening. Unfortunately, the mosquitoes also attended. We bought a supposedly "100 % satisfaction guaranteed" mosquito repellent device at Lowe's. I am not satisfied. The site was also in direct afternoon sun for a couple of hours despite being surrounded by many beautiful trees, all of which were positioned on the wrong side of the site. The site itself was $25 a night, one of the most affordable of the entire trip, and the trails were wonderful. The showers were not. Run-down and under-maintained, which is always a disappointment in an otherwise great park.

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I appreciated that Friday was quiet. Don had a good signal, which was a relief after recent weeks. Lucky and I walked two miles on the trails. Don and I walked to get ice cream during his lunch break. We also heard from Henry: he got the job offer he'd been working toward all summer, impressing leadership through a long and demanding internship. Of course he did. We are so proud of him.

Kayaking a Small Lake & Saying See You Soon

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Saturday morning, Don rallied us to go kayaking on the small lake next to the campground. At one point, something large bumped the bottom of my kayak hard enough to shake it. I assume it was a big fish. Lucky didn't notice at all. Wisconsin and Illinois partnered with the National Park Service to create the "Fabulous Fox River Water Trail". We thought Turner Lake, where our campground was, connected directly to the Fox River, but it didn't. It might in Spring with higher water levels, but not right now. That's ok. It was a tiny lake; we went around it a couple of times, logged a mile in an hour, and watched turtles sun themselves on logs. After the kayak, we headed to Waukegan, an Illinois city on Lake Michigan. Laundry first, then lunch from a Honduran food truck: pupusas and empanadas, eaten at a small park near the water. We considered going to the beach, but the parking was $20 for what would have been a short visit, so the little park near the Yacht Club served us well. Ice cream after. A walk with Lucky. A good afternoon together before things shifted. Don dropped me at my airport hotel for an early morning flight. I took the Kuhl Call from the hotel room, not ready to explain everything to family just yet, wanting to get Hanna settled first. I set a virtual background of one of our Glacier National Park photos and chatted with my family from behind those mountains. Oh, what a trip we've had.

Next up: Getting Hanna moved while Don continues exploring Indiana before we reunite for the final stretch.