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Mom's Rainbow Bridge LbNA #44190

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jul 18, 2008
Location: Shallows Day Use area, north side of Lake Superior Shoreline Rd
City:Bay Mills/Paradise
County:Chippewa
State:Michigan
Boxes:1
Planted by:WhaleTwin1
Found by: WhaleTwin1
Last found:Jul 14, 2018
Status:FFFFFFFFFO
Last edited:Jul 17, 2018
Hike: Easy but unmarked hike along the shore of Lake Superior .7 miles to letterbox. Best conditions May through October. Use insect repellent!
Location: in Hiawatha National Forest 20 miles west of Bay Mills

This letterbox was created and placed as a memorial to our mother who passed away July 10, 2008. She was the one who instilled a love of nature and animals in us and we wanted to find a symbolic resting place for her to share with others. She was a lifelong dog lover and through the loss of many beloved pets became attached to the story of the Rainbow Bridge:

"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals that had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together...."
Author unknown...

In her last moments with us, her thoughts and prayers were focused on finding her peaceful Rainbow Bridge where she could once again be with her special four legged friends, especially her favorite dog Blue, a Bouvier de flandres. When we took this hike and found the bridge, we knew it was the place she wanted us to find.

To find the letterbox:
(EDITED 7/16/2018)
From Bay Mills, drive west 19.9 miles on Lake Shore Drive. Turn right (north) into the trailhead parking area...now marked as "Shallows Day Use". After you park, access the North Country Trail to the east of the parking lot. There's a bathroom there now! :) A marker will show you have reached the Naomikong Bridge Trailhead. ((link to article that describes location/hike with map https://superiorhiking.com/naomikong-point/ )
Begin your hike by walking north from the trailhead through a narrow strip of trees to the Lake Superior shoreline. Extensive shallows stretch offshore here, and rocks and boulders pierce the surface far out into the lake. Hike east along the shore until you near the mouth of Naomikong Creek at mile 0.7. Walk south through low dunes (there will be a birch tree on your left) to the North Country Trail (notice blue markers on trees). Walk to the sturdy suspension bridge that crosses the creek. Stand at the entrance to the bridge with your back to it facing west. You'll see a field of ferns and pine trees with the lake to your right. Look for a tree with 2 blue marks (NCT markers). At the base of the tree under the blue markers, dig under pine needles to find the box. *We moved this box from its original place under a nearby fallen log....it hadn't been found in 6 years so we figured it needed to be a bit easier.
Return to your car by the way you came or continue the beautiful hike along the shoreline (3.5 miles is a good turnaround point for the full 7 mile hike). We had to walk through some heavy brush and through the water at some points, but the scenery is breathtaking and worth it. Keep an eye out for bald eagles and snakes along the way.