Snow is pouring down outside, but I have kayaking in my head. I can see all the way to the end of summer.

It’s true that I’ve been able to see spring for a while, and I’ll probably be downright giddy about that tomorrow. (March? MARCH?)

But for some reason, it clicked in my head that I had better be looking at the calendar and figuring out those Labor Day camping reservations, lest we be without our favorite site again this year. (Not that the one several spots down and right across from the faucet – very important – wasn’t lovely also. But the family is particular about this one site, this one weekend.)

Lo and behold, it seems the earliest I could make a reservation was … yesterday. So I jumped aboard and got us squared away, and there will be much delight at the number “80,” because they are convinced that is the best campsite in all of Rifle River State Recreation Area. Why, it even has a small hill, where the dogs can roll balls down and play fetch with themselves.

It is a little off to be making summer plans now, but these things fill up quickly. I also remembered the kids wanted to go back to the Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point, which made me remember they haven’t been on a boat through the Soo Locks, which made me remember there is only one day a year you can walk across the walls, so if that sounds like your kind of thing then you might want to head to Engineer’s Day on June 27. As a bonus, the International Bridge Walk is the next day. Gotta check with the mate about the family vacation schedule.

The kayaking, by the way, is through Big Mike’s Canoe Rental, which we have used for years. Lupton is close enough that we might make a day trip of that one hot Saturday, rather than wait for the full-blown camping experience.

I tell you, I see the snow blowing outside and it just reminds me of breezes lightly chilling us as we paddle down the Rifle ever so quietly, hoping to sneak a peek of a deer on the shore, camera and granola bars safely Ziploc’d away. The glorious final days of summer can’t last too long.

This post originally appeared on ourMidland.com, the online home of the Midland (MI) Daily News. Republished with permission.