UP NORTH!

Well, we are back from our trip to Glen Arbor and we had a great time (surprise, surprise)!  We took my mom with us and she had a wonderful time as well.  Our beach was full of dead fish, but luckily every other beach - literally - was fish-free.  Figures.

Friday we were able to check in early, which was great.  We were there by noon, so after putting our stuff in the condo we were able to have almost a whole extra day.  We went to Parallel 45 for lunch in Sutton's Bay where Drew ate a chicken wrap with lettuce and tomatoes on it and liked it!!!  YAY!!! Then we hit the grocery store and headed back to GA where we moseyed around Cherry Republic and had our fill of samples, including a wine tasting, and then went to check out the Homestead beach only to find it was full of dead, beached fish... and an unbelievably horrible stench.

Saturday we did the Dune Climb with my mom before the sand got too hot and then went to Glen Haven and Bar Lake - it was SO warm!!!  We had dinner at the condo and then Drew and I headed to town to have a few drinks and enjoy the night... but the bar was packed.  So we went to the store and bought some beer and took it to Port Oneida (it was legal- no worries) to watch the sunset.

Sunday we went on the scenic drive and went to what Anna has informed me is called "The 450."  It is a 450 ft drop from the top of the dune down to Lake Michigan.  A very steep 450 ft drop.  That we were informed, along with the rest of the visitors, not to attempt to climb down.  A. it's bad for the dune which is already so steep its collapsing into the lake and people climbing on it only adds to erosion problems and B. how the hell are you supposed to get back up!?! Now, of course, since they specifically tell you not to do it, everybody is doing it... with their tiny children.  Morons.  Did I mention the sand was so hot it burned your feet? Now imagine, assuming you made it to the bottom in one piece and didn't slip and die (which they warn you is a possibility... that or rocks will randomly fall and whack you in the head), walking back UP the 450 ft dune, kids in hand, no water, burning sand, AND it's bad for the dune... VERY STUPID. Anyway, we stayed on top... the view was phenomenal.  The lake was beautiful - so many different blues!  We also had a great view of the idiots who climbed down the hill with their children... they just looked like specs.

We also went to Leland and visited fishtown, perused shops, ate dinner at Bluebird, went to the beach, and saw fireworks.

Monday was kayaking day!  My mom had never kayaked before and it was HILARIOUS!  She had so much fun!  We laughed for three hours straight and got an amazing ab workout :)!  Her kayak and the trees had some sort of deal with each other to get together as much as possible - it was like watching magnets attract.  She figured out the whole steering thing pretty quickly :).  I got a really severe farmer's tan from being in the kayak for three hours... see below.  When we were done, we had a late lunch at the Boone Docks and then Drew and I took my mom to Port Oneida beach since it was so nice when we went there.  However, we found stairs for the second visit.  The first time we went we used the exposed tree roots to climb up and down a heavily wooded and very steep (but relatively short) cliff-like drop down to the beach.  The stairs weren't even a tenth of a mile away.  We went back to the condo to make a fire and toast marshmallows, then Drew and I went out again to find a good place to watch the sunset.  My mom stayed home - I think she was pooped.  We ended up watching the sunset at the Homestead beach - not on the beach, but from a bench at the top of the dunes where the smell couldn't find us.

 

 

Tuesday we went to Empire for a little while and then headed back to GA to shop.  We watched the sunset with my mom at the Homestead beach (from the bench again).  However, this time the wind must have been blowing differently because the putrid smell of decaying fish forced us to leave.  Before we were forced out, we got to see a storm coming in over the Manitou Islands, which was really amazing.

Wednesday we came home, which was sad.  But we got to meet Joe's new puppy, Zoe... she is SO CUTE! Then, on Thursday, we got our new fridge!! YAY!!! its so pretty!!!  As much fun as vacation was, we are glad to be home.  We do live in a pretty cool place, after all!

(There are more pictures on facebook of vacation and of our new fridge!)