Silly Chili: August 2013

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Last day of summer at Holstein Pool

Saw everybody -Mercs, Meela, Mcclures, Wesley, Grant and Nora.

Sleeping Bear #6 - Alligator Hill and Junior Rangers

We took a hike up Alligator Hill to a great view. We almost got run over by some deer on the way down. Also, the kids were made Junior Rangers. It was very cool.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Sleeping Bear #5 -Sunset swim

We hiked down to Lake Michigan one night after dinner for a last swim. It was purdy.

Sleeping Bear #4 - Platte River Canoe Trip

We got multiple pics of Elliot smiling that is how good this trip was.

Dad flailed a bit but got his sea legs eventually. Julie was a pro.

We made it to the lake and back. While on the beach, the kids invented "Genga" - a reverse Jenga. It became the game of the trip. Also, the kids cooked a pretty nice steak and Nata took some nice artsy pics (pocketknife).

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Sleeping Bear #2

Lots of fires and marshmallows. We struggled a little on the food side early as well - oatmeal for dinner, fried bread with butter for breakfast. Eventually we hit our stride.

It was cool Tuesday so we decided to go for the Dune Hike. Three miles round trip over steep dunes. It was a goodeffort by the kids but too cold and windy even for them to swim at the lake.

We ran into the Argyle-Makies in the parking lot too. Summer in Michigan.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore

Well this is about the most beautiful place in the world.

After a slow start, (Dad reserved the campsite for THE FOLLOWING MONDAY NIGHT) things really turned around. Our hero, Linda, found us a site without having to wake up at 5am eastern and stand in line. Getting a site at Platte River Campground in the summertime isn't quite as tough as getting a good one in Yellowstone but it is still a real pain. On the plus side,we got a great site and were able to stay an extra night. Hooray Linda!

As soon as we set up we hiked about a mile to the beach and went for a swim.