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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Catching Up! A missed weekend 2:

It's true. When you live somewhere you are less likely to be the tourist, until the opportunity comes along!

My tourist trip opportunity to Mackinac Island came at the invitation of one of my uncles. Having this plan in the works already in May, I was like a child waiting for Christmas when the weekend trip in late July finally came!

The day was idyllic. Mid-morning we drove up to Mackinac city (still on the mainland), loaded our bikes and ourselves on the ferry and spent the better part of a gorgeous Friday in July riding around the island, enjoying each others' company, sampling the Island's delicacies (one fried pickle, please) and purchasing the necessary fudge and postcards, before riding the ferry back across to the mainland.

Again, below are a few photos from the day :)


Anyone traveling from the Lower to the Upper Peninsula always holds an in-car competition as to who sees the Bridge first. Can you see it?


A gorgeous day and a beautiful place to spend it.
Lining up to get on the ferry to cross over to Mackinac Island - unless you go by plane (or swim...) this is the only way to get there.
On the island.


My little Fit resting at a scenic overlook on my way back down south to Grand Rapids.

Catching Up! A missed weekend 1:

The first weekend of August/last of July, my mom and her sister, my cousin and I took a trip up to the UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) to visit my Grandparents at their cottage in the middle of nowhere (Iron River).

Having gone up there every summer as a child, it evoked such nostalgia to go again.

The grandparents regularly have a list of chores (shoveling gravel, cutting the grass, staining the deck) and in between them we jump in the lake as a reward and a refresher.

Below are just a few photos taken by my dear cousin from our adventure to the UP.

Me proudly displaying and devouring my chocolate-covered Twinkie at the Northernmost point of Lake Michigan on our drive up.


My Grandparents' cottage in Iron River, Michigan.

Stanley Lake from their deck.

My aunt and I zooming through the property with a load of gravel. ("Zooming" meaning puttering along at 10 mph)


Grandpa and I testing out my skills as a marksman on an unsuspecting milk carton.

My cousin and one of our incredible "schmoes".


Mine having just disappeared.


The Rodeo Days parade of Iron River brought out the best of the city...


Admiring Stanley Lake the evening before my long drive home.