Hartwick Pines June 2018

Hartwick Pines has become a yearly camping tradition.  This year is different.  We scheduled this camping trip early January since it gets full so fast.  Although we have known that Vyn wanted to be at varsity band now that he is going to be in high school.  We never thought that the weeks we would pick would conflict with band schedules.

But of course out of the three vacations scheduled and booked early in the year, only one is a go without need for modification.

Hartwick Pines did not get so lucky.  Getting a refund is ridiculous since you will get charged 30% of the price paid and other fees.  So we tried to continue with the tradition.  Instead of doing camp for four days as booked the kids and I did a one night camp.  We drove up Sunday afternoon and stayed until Monday around nine in the morning.  The hubby stayed two more days.

We tried to fit in as many of our usual activities as we can while there.  We stopped by the playground and the kids played as long as they feel like.  It was one of the hottest day of this month too in the 90's and by the way, my car's ac was not working at full capacity so the drive was not a comfortable one.

Did some hiking with Bandit.

This year we got home to dry and hot temperature that slowly cools.  Last year, it was coming home to a city that was flooded.

Mackinac Island/Great Turtle Race 2017

The Great Turtle Race, the hubby has been running this race for years it has become one of our traditions during this time of year.  This year is also the 50th birthday of the hubby.   So instead of staying at our usual stay at Cabins of Mackinaw, we decided to splurge a little and stayed at The Grand Hotel.

Our view from Shepler's Ferry Miss Margy.

Sooooo excited!  Can't wait to see the inside.

View from our balcony.  The hotel was grand inside and out.  It was elegant, charming, very cozy and with most hospitality employees and interns being Filipinos, it is very comfortable as well.

Saturday on the day of the Turtle Run,  we expected a very windy cold and rainy day.  But fortunately, it turned out dry in the beginning and become cold and rainy when the hubby was in about 8 mile into the half marathon (13.1 Mile).

The kids and I walked  to the arch rock a few minutes ahead of the start time and waited for the runners there.

The hubby said that since the run started with the weather being so good, some of the runners started peeling off their sweaters and gloves as they run.

We climbed up the steps to the Arch.

This is our view from the top on the right.

View on the left.

The top of the steps was also the marker and water station for the last 5.2 mile of the race.

The medal for this year's race.  The hubby as usual was faster than the last turtle race and we missed seeing him finish this year.  He finished top 10 in his age group.  Congratulations to the hubby!!!  

Sunday, we decided to roam some more of the hotel inside and out.

Lyn wanted so much to ride this carriage since we got to the island on Friday but we decided to ride one on the last day.  She got her wish and more when she was allowed to ride right beside the carriage driver.  

Mackinaw City/Cheboygan 2017

Cheboygan State Park -  We decided to camp here because this was the closest to Mackinaw City that still have opening when we were looking to a site.

We were here in Mackinaw City for the Rendevouz in Mackinaw City.

Vyn decided to join the Tittabawassee Fife and Drum Corp the school year 2016 to 2017.  He was in 7th grade then.  He was surprised to learn at the very first meeting that there were not very many kids who joined in the corp.  My thought is that kids these days have so many other commitments.

Aside from learning about the 18th century Marine Corp.  They also learned a lot about our different flags and its evolution to the current flag.

Draw bridge in Cheboygan.

We hiked along the beach.

The weekend was just gorgeous weather wise.

We visited Cheboygan Lighthouse.  We also visited the ruins of an old lighthouse.

MacWoods Sand Dune Ride / Little Sable Pointe Lighthouse / Cherry Farm

At our lake. The kids love sitting on the deck and watching the water and fish below.

We found this Eastern Box Turtle right on the edge of the water.  

Went with the grandma to MacWoods Dune Rides.

Started the adventure at this bridge.  The ride is like a roller coaster with stops every now and then for our guide to tell us about the things we saw and about the dunes.

These are just the tops of the trees.

Lake Michigan.

After the dune ride, we decided to stop by the Little Sable Point Lighthouse since it is just about a mile away from MacWoods.

Our view from above the lighthouse.

On our way home, we stopped by  Cherry Point Farm in Shelby.  We saw the farm on our way to the dune ride and decided to stop by on our way back.

It was a great day with the grandma enjoying the dunes, the lighthouse and visiting a beautiful farm.