This is a little delayed..okay...a lot delayed! But hey, who's keeping track!
We head for the U.P. on July 14. Grandpa & Grandma pulled our trailer and we pulled their trailer. They have a bigger engine and our trailer is heavier...I'm sure you were all curious why!
Trent & I rode in the motor home with Grandpa & Grandma...not sure why Steve, Tyler & Troy were SO eager to let us??...maybe it has something to do with our sparkling personalities and verbal overflow?? And Grandpa Loves, I mean LOVES to have me ride along....he loves my constant verbal jabs, pokes and just general picking on....actually, I think he was sleeping while he was driving most of the way! You have never seen anything like him driving...he missed his calling as a truck driver! The man is constant....never blinks constant..freaky!
Okay back to our trip....
Destination....Wandering Wheels in Munising MI
We arrived in fine shape on Sunday afternoon and set up camp!
The next morning Steve & Troy got up early to make breakfast.
A couple days in to our vacation... we held our Annual T-Shirt Auction...which consists of everyone bringing a wrapped t-shirt and we exchange shirts and the real kicker is you have to wear that shirt for the rest of that day!
Oh and that's Eddie at the table....he is now in the dating stages of his relationship with Edith. They were thinking of getting married up there but decided to wait for one more year...marriage is a big commitment!! Our own "Pastor Craig" will be officiating the ceremony.
Troy's Shirt...
"I guess we can't?!?!"
How come I ended up with this shirt??..
I was the winner of the coveted trophy this year.
I had a shirt made, of a picture of Craig & Kristi from last year's trip!
Hahaha...
Trent's goat looks like it's nibbling on his arm...
One day we rolled into Autrain Scenic Look-Out...I think there was 14 quads that day..we stir up a lot of dust! It was sssoooo hot that day we could hardly walk on the sand...but in Lake Superior style it was still ICY cold! We were trying to find shade to eat our lunch but none was found...hot hot hot!!!
A little side note..a lady pulled up while we were sprawled out all over the picnic table. As she stepped out of the car, I said ..."save yourself it's too hot out here!!" She said..."is this Lake Superior? (which I thought was kind of funny..really lady, you drove all the way here..and you are not sure where you are??)..will you take my picture?" "Sure...Where are you from?" "Colorado..I'm on a grieving trip...I lost my husband of 35 years... I was sitting at home watch those "Pure Michigan" Commercials and I decided to go see if they were true!!" We took her picture she hopped back in her car and off she went. So, if anyone ask if the Pure Michigan commercials bring people to MI....the answer is Yes!!!
One of our very favorite spots
Autrain Point or as the locals call it, Pair-O-Dice
Grandpa making a fashion statement!
Call the fashion police, I see an violation!!!
Dad's swimming with the kids at the campground pool..I think they clogged the pool filter after a week of our dusty rides....
having a pit stop, GPS evaluation and bathroom break!
I think this is Wilson's Creek State Campground...we stopped for lunch...it didn't take Kristi long to get rinsed off in the creek and enjoy her salad
Having lunch creek side.
We see the world from the roads less traveled...
the other side of the creek
Kelsey, Kelly, Grandpa Lynn & Derrick
Tyler & Nic
The Dirt sisters.
Isn't Kelly cute..we figured out why she gets sooo dirty, she puts lotion on her face in the morning...lol!
Don't judge us and our crazy hair!
Our BIG adventure was to go on the Pictured Rock Cruises!!
We have never gone on them and we were pretty sure this was the last year we would all be able to go on vacation together..so we saved out pennies before we left, so we could make this special trip!
G-pa & G-ma and Craig & Kristi and Nic decided to join us...we all crammed in our vehicle (Trent's in the way back)
On the docks, getting ready to board the Grand Isle ferry
Trying to pretend we are a kind and loving family that loves to be together..lol!
The rainbow ...it was pretty dark but I don't have a great camera.
Tyler
Grand Island Lighthouse
Tyler peeking out the window
the boys enjoying the view
the whole gang on the back deck
aren't we cute!
Grandpa & Grandma!
Not sure what was being explained here
The Buckners
Indian Head
Chapel Cove..they pulled the boat right in there!
This tree is out on a piece of rock with no dirt...it's root has to connect to land (see the root on the left of the picture)
Steve &Trent enjoying the view...Trent has quite an imagination...he was able to "see" so many things in the layers of rock
a lunch spot!
we had a break down so the girls were waiting...
and the kids were entertaining themselves
and more waiting... it was a pretty view on the side of a creek.
You can't see this kind of view on a cruise ship in the Caribbean!!
the men at work
Lake Superior Beach
On Friday, we always look forward to our Dogpatch dinner
Yummo! See, we do clean up pretty good!
If you've been to Munising you most likely have eaten at the Dogaptch
People always wonder what our "camper" looks like..so one day I did some house cleaning and decided to snap a few pictures
inside...we line our cots around the perimeter...
this is the kitchen....lol!
You can see we have a microwave, fridge and 2 plug in coolers
Also we have AC in ours...which Steve had to do a few repairs when we got there..and boy were we glad!!!...it got pretty hot there! We don't have it too bad!
One night Grandpa & Trent were arm wrestling in the motor home
We had a very memorable trip, partially because of Tyler's broken leg, we had great weather...a little hot, a little dusty and a little rain. Most of all, we spent time with family and friends...we made memories that will not soon be forgotten. When I see these pictures..it stirs an emotion in my heart...most of all I hope my boys look back on these trips with fondness! It's fun and gratifying laying in the trailer each night listening to them recall the days locations and events, and what funny things G-pa said that day. Grandpa has a way with words..."the dust was so thick I was driving on top of it" "I needed a white cane to see where I was going"...hahaha!
What a special vacation we have to look back on! Sometimes I let the stress of packing, driving and details get the best of me...but as I look back I realize how much fun we had and how much we love each other!!!
Thank you God for allowing us to enjoy your beautiful creation and thank you for keeping us safe! (Tyler's leg could have been far worse!)
