Pure Michigan 2016 | Part 1

So we trekked out and down and around Lake Michigan and then back up again along the coast for our annual trip to the place where Tim Allen makes it sounds like Heaven, and he's actually not that far off.

This marked the ninth year in a row we've done this, and it just keeps getting better. Mom, Dad, me, Mae, Pax, Colin, Steph, Ana and Sid. Got a little log cabin on Lake Goshorn again; last year we had the private dock and this year we had the pool (more on that a little later, or maybe even in Part 2 of this extravaganza.

So where to start... let's say the fishing pier. It wasn't private this year but it felt like it anyway, and we spent an evening there fishing and playing.

And while Colin was giving fishing pointers to Pax

Mae and I were reeling them in!

And then this happened. And we only had to practice it a couple times until this Olympic-like level of protection was reached by Ana and me.

The cabin was a huge success, as usual. We built a fire every night and had Smores (and got eaten alive by mosquitos) and we also had the tattoo shop open all weekend so everyone was inked up for three days straight.

And don't forget Oval Beach. Not a lot of pictures here because we were all busy having fun, but it was a picturesque day at Oval Beach and we made the most of it... outside of spending much time in the water, which was - no joke - probably around 45-55 degrees. Dad and Colin rocked it out in there though... old bones must not feel the chill as much.

That last photo right there reminded me of this photo from Spring Break in Denver.

Well, that about does it for Part 1. In Part 2 we'll hit the pool and orchards and leave you feeling like a slice of blackberry pie... stay tuned.

Pure Michigan 2015

Well, you can see some past Michigan trips here and here, but this one really took the cake. And here's why: we had our own log cabin with our own private fishing dock, and that really made for the whole trip.

We fed some ducks and then started casting.

But before the day began, Pax made sure mom's face would be completely protected from the sun... for the next three weeks.

Not long after, this happened...

And then Mae hit to casting and a little later on... jackpot!

Last was our buddy Pax. He was enjoying a little fishing fun when he felt a tug...

Boom! Three for three.

This pictures sums up the fishing nicely.

We also made sure to hit up some berry picking, as late August in Michigan is the perfect time and place for that.  As is the tradition, we bunked with Ana and Sid and their mom and dad, and had ourselves a blueberry pick for the ages.

At one point, we decided to start measuring each other. Sid is three but gaining on Mabel quickly.

And this is Dee. She owned the blueberry farm and was one of the sweetest ol' gals you'll meet.

On top of blueberry picking, the beach was a hot spot for us on Saturday morning. The ideal day from a weather perspective - 82 and sunny - and with really warm lake water to boot, the beach treated everyone well.

On our last morning we decided we had never been raspberry or blackberry picking and so we made sure to stop and got in a nice pick right before the rain.

This last pic is our "Goodbye Michigan" pic, but we'll see you next year, without a doubt.