Thursday afternoon, I took one final look to make sure I had what I needed:

Tattered but trusty backpack from 1998 (originally used to lug books through the halls of the local community college)..
A few changes of clothes..
My 15 dollar Keds, which carried me 13.5 miles over pavement for the Global Night Commute(and have sentimental value which makes up for what they lack in attractiveness)..
Yoga Mat(which has never once been used for yoga)..
Sleeping bag..
My compact, lightweight tent..

And the most important thing - my traveling buddy Carma :) ..

We took off for Interlochen and enjoyed our freedom for two whole days. The first day was, for both of us, a gradual process of letting go of our anxieties and guilt (if you're a mom, you know the kind of guilt I mean: any time you are away from your kids doing something just for you..a nagging voice that says you don't deserve to relax). The campsites were beautiful at only $12 per night. Right next to the Fine Arts Camp, overlooking the lake.
We discovered that it is actually possible for a tent, when set up incorrectly, to look exactly like a giant taco. My cheap little tent was a no-brainer, but hers was of higher quality and more complex construction..we could have perhaps set it up more quickly had we not been paralyzed with laughter.
Saturday we hiked our way through six miles of forest..and later ate *lots* of delicious, unhealthy food at the Hofbrau. For a classy splurge, we toasted our friendship by the campfire over travel mugs of Boone's Farm Sangria..

I love roadtrips because there are no rules. I firmly believe that roadtrips on a miniscule budget are the best kind (the only kind I've ever known)..

When in doubt, drive North. :)