Finally! A summer update! (Part I)

Technology can be a wonderful thing:  it has allowed me to map routes down to the tiniest detail without ever having set foot along the proposed path; it lets me communicate from one unknown place to another, via voice or text, almost no matter where I am; and it provides me with the tools to write stories about my adventures accompanied by photos taken with a phone!

However, my brain, apparently, is having a hard time keeping up. Kendall and I traveled to Michigan early last month and it was just yesterday that I was able to transfer the pictures I took with my antique flip phone during that trip onto my computer (via my tablet) - and the successful transfer was thanks to my son Paul's help and no thanks at all to the fiddling I had done over the past few weeks trying to figure it all out. So! Transfer of photos done and here's the long overdue blog post!

Our June trip had multiple goals:

• enjoy some travel and camping time in Hedwig
• get back to Petoskey and Lake Michigan
• have some fun on Kendall's yet-another-birthday-in-Petoskey
• get the rehab work underway for the house we own back there
• check off a sixth state in my quest to run a trail in every state
• ...did I mention Lake Michigan?

Goals met! And here's Part I of the photo record of how we did it:

Firstly - every road trip includes exploratory runs. On the way to Michigan, we found:

An Oregon Trail marker near York, Nebraska

Campground agility!

 

A Cow! Where else but Wisconsin

 












Then on to Michigan - where the lake was its wild and beautiful self and Petoskey reminded me of why I always feel like I'm going home when I return to the town where I grew up.

This trip, Hedwig and Magnus Park were our home base in Petoskey - which was just fine since Magnus is right on the shore of Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan close to many of the delights Petoskey has to offer. We got Hedwig settled in then headed straight for the beach.

Lots and LOTS of Petoskey stones 'round here

Speaking of beach, for a dog who is no fan of water, Taz thought the lake was the best entertainment ever!

Stick!!!!

I'm gonna get that wave!

We're having some fun now mom, eh?!

Just a few blocks from Magnus, we find our house (where, yes, we started the rehab effort: picked out paint, carpet, tile, bathroom fixtures, a handyman and an electrician)! And just another block or two away: a duck family at the waterfront! the river heading toward the lake!

Additional delights of the town:  kite flying at the waterfront, Petoskey stones galore,  fresh blueberry pie, giant canoes, and doggie water bowls thoughout the town! 

Even with all of these activities, we did not forget Kendall's birthday. We started with a lovely walk along the trail along/above the bay, had lunch at one of his favorite restaurants - Legs Inn with both views and Polish food that just can't be beat, and our eldest treated Kendall to a gift certificate to our favorite Petoskey bookstore. A good day!

Part II is up next! Until then, I'll leave you with a sunset picture, because, after all,  a photo essay of Petoskey is not complete, without a sunset picture (or two):