Tim
Life is good Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Kalamazoo

Last year we went on vacation in AZ. It was a blast, and we could not have asked for more. This year we went on a "mini holiday" for well the holiday. We initially were going to stay in a hotel right down town. But because Jeff and company were comming along too we opted for a cabin. So we books a cabin at The Beach House. It was actually fairly nice with a very nice view of the island, and the bridge.
   

We had some time to kill when we first got there, so Spencer and I got out the lacrosse stuff out and tossed the ball around for a bit. Within 5 minutes Spencer managed to get the ball suck under the cabin. But all was not lost I squeezed in there and got it out for him. This also gave him some time to unwind from the drive up.

After meeting up with Jeff and Robin in down town Mackinaw we stopped at Mama Mia's Pizza for some pie. While it was not the best I've ever had, it was still good. Back at the cabin the owner sparked up a fire on the beach. It's always god good times when you can sit back relax and drink beer from plastic cups like your at a college party. The only thing missing was the porch squatters and drunk college kids. Oh and overly loud music with blown out speakers. Spencer ended up passing out on the pull out couch (thou not pulled out) in about two minutes. Something about a 5 hour car ride that just wears you out.

Along with the fire out on the beach we also had some fantastic view of the bridge at night (up at the top). We could hear the music from the laser light show (because it's really only 1985 in Mackinaw) but could not see the lasers. With a nice stiff breeze there were no bugs to speak of flying around our heads trying to ruin out evening.

Unfortunately ample amounts of beer and a good time leads to late nights. We didn't end up getting to bed until nearly 3am. While this is always a sign of a good time. It's also a sign of a sleeping and all to early morning. The second day we went out to the island to score some fudge. Oh and to to soak up the sights, spend money being a tourist and take very funny pictures.

Up at the fort Spencer found a canon to play with. Of course it's all fun and games till some one gets hurt. In this case when Spencer was getting down off the cannon he cut his finger. Why was he on top of the cannon you ask? Well why not, if I found a canon I'd climb on it too.

But all was not lost, a quick walk down back into town a very nice lady at the boat launch that gave us a band-aid. Now only 30 more minutes to sit and wait till the next boat back to the 'main land'. The boat ride back was great we even got to see a light house or two, the bridge and an alien abduction.

Back at the cabin it was time to bust out the massive grill and cook up some dinner. Thankfully it was not getting dark out till nearly 10 so I had plenty of time to cook up some chicken for the girl's and some brats for for us guys. Then it was time for bed for Spencer and time to relax for everyone else out by the fire on the beach.

The third day was just as fun as the other two. Jeff and I ended up doing some shopping and checking out some of the "up north hotties" at a few local stores. While Heather and Spencer took in the sites and did some shopping in down town Mackinaw. And Robin spent the day at the cabin again making use of the ample amounts of sun. Just remember skin cancer is a great way to remember a great vacation.

We also got to go down the beach some right up next to the bridge. The water was very cold but Spen cer still braved stepping into it, despite the fact he had socks and shoes on still. Heather Also went a few steps out into the water.

We had initially wanted to go out and run some trails up in the UP but ended up running out of time. Both Jeff and I had drove our Jeeps so what better thing to do right. But that's ok it was a 'fun' day in the end. That night it rained like hell out so we were stuck in the cabin to do our drinking and tomfoolery. All four of us made an ass of them selves at one point during the night but it was a good time but I'll spare you the details.

Day four, time for things to come to an end. We decided to go up to St Ignace and take a look around. Because of the rain the night before there was a heavy layer of fog and we could could no longer see the bridge from the cabin.

Well theres not to much to look at. But a very nice guy at one of the shops pointed us down to the dunes. When we pulled over and got out it was a great view something almost from a movie. We got to play a bit in the sand and threw a few things in the lake, then it was time to go home. But before we left I decided to drive up onto a parking block and do some baby flexing. But due to the fact I had all of our stuff in the back I was running a little low hence the baby flexing. But I ended up being just to heavy to do to much of anything.

On the way back home we took a detour thru Wolverine to run a trail that I'd been on when I was up hunting last October. During the run we hit a few bumps and mud puddles that normally would have been fine but again being a little to heavy I ended up breaking a weld on my exaust hanger, now I'm stuck with a rattle when I start up and when I cut the engine off. Oh well if thats the price of having a good time so be it.

All in all it was a good time for everyone, well at least I'd like to think so. Oh and we found what sounds to be an upnorth style treat 'Smoked fish jerky fudge', personally I'd rather stick to some plain fudge, but what do I know I'm not from the UP.