The second week of July we gathered everyone back up from FSY, Trail to Eagle, and DC and all headed together to the UP (upper peninsula of Michigan) with less than 24 hours in between. Bella calls this week the worst of the summer because she had no friends and no wifi, but the rest of us really enjoyed it. The Mackinaw bridge is really cool to see and cross.
Car selfie on the drive up:
We got a cabin in Paradise, Michigan that was perfectly situated for dirt biking trails, hiking, visits to Lake Superior, and to the Taquahmenon Falls. Also, it had the added benefit of being off-grid, so no wifi or electricity. Propane stove, solar lights, well water, river and fire pit in the back yard, and lots of board games. The kids were sooo mad the first day but then they discovered the joy of a family game of monopoly and it was game on and all was forgiven. Other than Bella, of course. She just went to bed with the sun every day and never joined in. Her loss.
The hike from the upper to the lower Taquahmenon falls was fabulous, made even more fabulous by Benjamin because he was willing to carry Peter the whole way.
Christian tried for a second, but Peter is really too heavy for Christian's small frame.
I'm terrible at remembering to take pictures and so I love just giving my camera to Bella.
One day while the boys went riding, Bella, Peter, and I went on a trip to Mackinac Island. The boat ride was great, and then we rented bikes and rode all around the island. Again, perfect weather, cute sights, and a really fun day. Peter did great in the little kid seat too. It was perfect.
The water of Lake Huron was sooo clear and so cold! We tried to get the Mackinaw bridge in the background, but it doesn't really show up in the pictures.
Snapped a quick photo by the Grand Hotel before the guard came and reprimanded us for bringing bikes too close to the hotel.
Also stopped at Fort Mackinac. We didn't pay for the tour, so to be honest, I'm not exactly sure what makes this place militarily significant. Going to have to google it.
Other adventures with Bella included a bear sanctuary and a dog sled training facility. Those were super unique and fun. Got to feed bears and pet dozens of puppies all in one day. The sled dogs was a spur of the moment stop that really panned out. The woman who owns the place races thousands of miles every year and knew so much cool information. You could see what love she had for her dogs. They were so well trained and even I, who really doesn't like dogs, had a fun time there.
On the last day we hung out at Lake Superior. Typical rocky Michigan beach, but the water is amazing and the weather was perfect again.
Peter agreed to being buried but then he realized that he really was stuck and freaked out.
All smiles once he was back out.
Final stop on the way home - Soo Locks - the giant locks in St. Mary's River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. We got to watch the giant cargo ship be raised and lowered. I think Kelly liked it most, but we all had a fun time there.
I don't have a single picture of any of the dirt biking the boys did. Just imagine boys in full motorcycle gear roaring past so fast you can't identify any of them. There, no picture needed.
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