For some strange reason, traveling and internet do not go well together. Up North here, we are relying on either the AT&T iPad connection, Mark's iPhone, or (excuse me for admitting this) neighbor's wifi that is not locked. So, it has been hard to do a daily post while on vacation here in the "Camp House". So here is an overdue recap of our adventure so far...
After a pretty much non-stop van ride up I-75, (16 hours including lunch and dinner breaks), we arrived here around 9:30pm on Sunday, July 7. The rest of the Singleton clan was already settled into the house. Greetings all around and then we called it a night.
Over the next week, we swam/paddled in Cedar Lake, biked the roads and trails, and ate lots of pie. We even had a visit to Sleeping Bear Dunes for the annual Singleton/Wolfe picnic and July birthday celebration that included me taking the girls (Skyler, Mckayla and Sami) on an 8.5 mile bike ride along the new Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. The trail traveled along the base of the dunes, through forests, to the historic village of Glen Haven and then to Glen Harbor where we enjoyed ice cream at the Pine Cone Ice Cream Stand. Then we turned around and went back. What a wonderful trail, we look forward to its future sections being completed.
That's the cool thing about this area, they take recreation seriously. We have seen people stand up paddling on all of the lakes (all ages, sizes and shapes). Tons of folks cycling; old, young, racers, school groups, families, and tour groups. Runners and walkers grace the trails at all times of the day. There are people on sailboats, kayaks, jet skis, water skis, wake boards, pontoon boats, and inner tubes. I guess having a long winter encourages outdoor recreation at its fullest during the warmer weather.
Speaking of weather, we left torrential rain and flooding in NC to find HOT, dry weather in Michigan. The high yesterday (July 17) was 92 degrees with the heat index being over 100! We are not complaining, the moss and mold between our toes has finally dried out and we have been loving the warm water temperatures of Cedar Lake. Yet, cycling yesterday into Traverse City was pretty brutal. The girls and I had to walk into stores along the shopping district to cool off. A dip in Cedar Lake once we returned to the house did help the icky, sticky feeling that engulfed us.
For this trip, cycling has been our major family outing. Both girls had outgrown their bikes, so we rented hybrids for them from Brick Wheels. They have used them to get to the lake, ride around the neighborhood and humor us with family bicycle outings on the local rails to trails. Today (July 18) we rode up to Suttons Bay and had lunch at the 45th Parallel Cafe. The heat was still there, but clouds and shady sections of trail kept us from wilting while riding. Sadly, after a week long rental, we had to return the bikes this afternoon.
Our time here in Michigan comes to a close on Sunday when we make the trek back down south to NC. Until then, there is more swimming, paddling, cycling, running, cleaning (yes, that too), and eating of pie to be accomplished. Hopefully I can garner internet access again before we leave to make another post. But now, it's lake time.
Scene Break to Skyler*****
Hi! Its me!
The one and only Skyler!
And no that's not how I'm introducing myself.
It's hot. I feel the great need to put emphasis on that. Because, holy jumping Moomers cows it's Michigan! The place that is freezing for most of the year.
And here I am, sweating through the t shirt and shorts I'm wearing. And Ceder Lake feels like a bathtub. Yep, that's right, bathtub. Have you ever swum in a bathtub while it was ninety degrees out? If you have, well, okay that was a rhetorical question. But you get the idea!
But it is an upgrade from freezing water I suppose.
Since I have my priorities straight, I will now focus on food. Because up here, well, they know how to make pies! And cupcakes. And fish. And shrimp. Also apparently wine, not that I would know!!!!!!! (I only know it because we always have a huge menu when we go out to eat and its all for wine. Its bigger than the regular menu. Adults are weird.) But anyway, if you ever find yourself in Traverse City and eat like I do (which basically means a lot, frequently) I would highly suggest eating at these places/things.
- Traverse City Pie Company-- Okay, first off, PIE!!! Get the Mountain Berry, Key Lime, and never forget the chocolate cream! Okay just get all of them! Every single pie! They're amazing! And try a Bavarian cream turnover. They're the best!
- Simply Cupcakes--simply, cupcakes. I love the cupcakes. each one is delicious! Just ask my family how much I love them. they will tell you a lot. Or ask my waistband. *Or as a friend of the family says, "Too many cupcakes!"
- Any bakery for bread. All delicious. Pesto batard...
- Fish, check out the menu for restaurants, see if they have white fish or wall eye. Because fish up here is good.
- Basically, just walk in just about anywhere and you'll find good food. Haven't been disappointed yet.
MK's b-day was a few days ago. Now she's 13! Yaaay! Not really. We had cupcakes. Real yay.
And now, ladies and gentlemen of the court, I bid my leave to go and swim in a bathtub like lake.
Farewell! *cape swoosh*
(Okay where did the internet go!)
Yep, it's lake time so I will only try to upload two photos..
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| Skyler enjoying the "bathtub" like water of Cedar Lake. |
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| Mckayla catching a "boat wave" on the SUP. |
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