A Day In The Michigan Wilds

Saturday the 23rd

It rained last night and sprinkled a little this morning. Since the dogs are in no hurry to get up we kinda lay around in bed until 7:30 AM before Wicket insists she really needs to go out, so we all got up. After all our morning stuff is done we leave the kids in the coach and head for Drew and Deb’s cabin. Since it is still a bit drizzly out we decided to head for the western shore of Lake Huron. We all load into Drew’s new crew cab Dodge pick-up and head out MI-55.

We get to Tawas City, park in the waterfront marina and walk out onto the pier. Surprisingly about 90 percent of the slips are vacant even though it’s the opening day of boating season and the first big weekend holiday of the year. Even so, the town is bustling with lots of pedestrians. Leaving the pier the sun starts to break through the clouds as we head north along the shore of the lake.

Eventually we start cutting back inland and into the Huron National Forest. We make a couple of stops along the AuSable River for pictures – the first at an overlook, the second at a barrier free trail to a fishing area, Both are very pretty and at the second stop there are two large “Trillium” beds, one on either side of the trail. Tina and I had never experienced that many “Trilliums” clustered together in one place before. It was quite stunning.

Back on the road again we continue to drive along the river with pastures and forest interspersed along the way. By now it’s 1:15 so we stop in a small town and have a bite to eat before returning to Peach Lake. Tina and I returned to the coach to change clothes now that the sun is out and to get the kids before returning to the cabin.

Back at the lake we visit and go out for a cruise. As we neared the far end of the lake the Sheriff’s patrol boat pulled up and asked about our registration tabs. Drew’s had expired in March. Fortunately, the new ones were back at the cabin, so we were let off the hook to go back and get them and put them on the boat. That done, we went back out on the lake and gently cruised around sipping pop and laughing at the antics of the four dogs – Drew’s two labs and our two small ones.

Eventually we headed back in as the sky began to cloud up. Drew fired up the BBQ and cooked some marinated sirloin and marinated vegetables. That along with garlic toast made a wonderful dinner. After cleaning up we retired to the fire pit outside and watched the sun set before Tina and I gathered up the kids and headed home.

To see all our photos, click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjdolanski