Many things happened between July 23 and July 31, when Sarah and I traveled to the Cabin In The Pines, Northport, MI. Unfortunately, too few pictures were taken to capture the the whole experience, and my memory is not what it used to be. In fact, it's even worse. So find below, in loose chronological order, an attempt to document all the things.
After Sue and Milt picked us up from the airport, we stopped at Meier's for groceries and supplies before heading to the cabin. While Sue and Sarah went shopping, I walked Hazel around the parking lot and came upon this bike.
Then I went back to the car and listened to Milt spin yarns about hunting squirrels and more, while Hazel sat near a spilt milkshake and gathered many adoring looks and praise from people coming in and out of the store.
Saturday morning I woke up way too early so i had a cup of coffee on the deck by the beach and watched the sun come up.
Sunrise over Grand Traverse Bay
It was lovely. Eventually, the sun rose into the clouds and made for some nice sky pics.
Hazel was with me, and although she didn't seem to appreciate the beauty, she was lovely as ever
Hazel on the beach deck looking lovely
Later that day, Sarah, Hazel and I drove into Northport. While Sarah busied herself in the library, Hazel and I walked around the marina and surroundings. I came across the world's only goat cheese vending machine and took this picture.
I didn't buy any.
The next morning, we had coffee and booch on the beach deck after Sarah returned from her run.
Sarah and Hazel on the beach deck, Hazel resting her chin on the table
Her run inspired me to go for a walk, which turned into a 3 hour, 9 mile roundtrip to the Grand Traverse Lighthouse and back. Waaay more exercise than I'm used to, but I came out relatively unscathed in the end.
Grand Traverse Lighthouse and environs, plus two very sweaty and exhausted selfies
The next day, Cathy, Anna, Sarah and I went shopping in Fishtown. I got a new pair of shades, a funny hat and 2 books about lighthouses- one of which was so boring I had to donate it to the cabin library. Sarah got some Moomer's ice cream at the corner souvenir shop. I can't remember what anyone else got, but damn I look fly in my new hat and shades, don't you agree?
After that we met up with Sue and Milt at the Happy Hour, a perennial tradition. Most of us got the amazing smash burgers they are known far and wide for. I got the walleye instead, which was delish. Milt proclaimed that he would put tartar sauce and only one row of raw onions on his burger this time. He also proclaimed that he would for This Day Forward put tartar sauce on his burgers. Let the record shop, however, that he changed his mind and put TWO rows of raw onions on his burger. Whether or not he will hold to his pledge to use tartar sauce on his burgers from now on? Only time will tell.
Artwork on the Happy Hour walls, from L to R: A flyer for Jeff Daniels live in Northport, a picture of a hobo drinking Old Overholt from a paper cup, a flyer for the annual Norhport Dog Parade
The above are the only pictures I thought to take at the Happy Hour, because why take pictures of your loved ones enjoying themselves when you can take pictures of random, stupid flyers and pictures instead?
Wednesday night, there was an amazing oversized orange full moon shining over the lake. Pictures never do this sort of thing justice, but here they are anyway.
Full moon over Grand Traverse Bay, taken from the cabin beach and beach path
Thursday was a beach day. Sarah's friend Erin, her husband Phillip, their family, her brother and his wife, their whole entourage, and half the city of Northport joined us on the beach. A fine time was had by all.
Sue made these beautiful nachos, which wound up taking 1st place for Best Nachos Made From Leftovers at the Northport Family Food Festival Competition later that day. They were so good that I risked food poisoning by picking at the remains of them after sitting out for hours in the sun.
Sue and her award-winning Nachos a la Leftovers, on the beach deck
That's it, that's all that happened. Above represents the lion's share of photos that I (and others) took. Here's a gallery of rando photos that remain. Place them within the timeline however you see fit.
Top left, counter-clockwise: Hazel, spent ice cream dishes in the sink, Hazel and Sarah, sexy sign for the Dairy Lodge in Traverse City
Oh wait I just thought of a few more fun things that happened:
- Milt almost drowned. We thought he was joking at first, but we all ran out to him after he started shouting "Help me! Help me!". He was a little shaken up, but otherwise okay and able to joke about it later. No more bay baths for him unless he wears a life vest- full stop
- Sue found a weed vape that had fallen into the sofa, which likely fell out of the pocket of one of the other relatives who had stayed at the cottage before us. It was about halfway full and still charged, so we all passed it around and took a toke. Just kidding. I think Sue made some note of it in a log she shares with the other relatives. We'll see who (if anyone) comes forward to admit it was theirs haha
- I watched all of Season 3 of Strange New Worlds in preparation for the new Season 4, which I watched the first 2 episodes of last night. I also caught up on most of the Greatest Trek podcasts corresponding to Season 3. Holla #trekgoals
- We ate a lot of pie and ice cream, almost every day. And watched a lot of gameshows.
- I started Moby Dick, but have only made it about 5 short chapters in. It's a little dry, yo
- I wore my new track suit a lot. I think it's my favorite thing to wear now.
- After the first beach day with Erin and Co., we went over to their house rental in Northport for burgers, brats, mac salad, deviled eggs and drinks. We also did a load of laundry there, as tradition dictates
- Erin told a hilarious story about how she ran down a dune one year, lost her footing and fell. I'm not going to do it justice here, so that's all you get, dear reader. Suffice it to say that it had Sarah in tears.
Ok, I think that's all that happened. It was a over all lovely time with lovely people, and I look forward to the next time (2 years from now) when maybe I can knock out another couple lighthouse visits.
