This year for my MIL & FIL 45th anniversary we decided to rent a cottage on Lake Charlevoix in northern Michigan for a week. Well the trip started out with a bang…literally. We had a HUGE storm coming our way (more on this later). I ended up towing with my mooring cover on. It is a trailerable cover but I have never done it. Glad I did…man did we get slammed about 45 into the trip. At one point…only going about 40 mph the trailer hydroplaned. Man…talk about scary. Armada kept in control.
So before I write a book…I will give you the good and bad points and let the pictures tell our week story.
Good – wife and kids had a blast and we will do it again next year. All three of my kids tubed for the first time and my MIL who can’t swim and is freaked out by water loved going on the boat and even went tubing with my wife and also on a waverunner ride. My FIL also went on a waverunner ride also which is way out of his comfort zone.
The Bad – my niece is a brat and that is being polite. My SIL, BIL, FIL & MIL wait on her hand and foot. No rules and gives her anything and everything she wants. The looks my kids would giver her while she is freaking out which is about 14 hours a day (she sleeps for 10…you do the math) were priceless. My BIL is lazy. He did not help pack, unpack, put cover on boat every night, pack to come home or unpack. He watched me yesterday while he played on his iPad wash and clean the boat, my Armada and my Jeep that we let them use for the week so they did not have to rent a vehicle. My wife and I agreed that a week vacation with them is out of the question due to the lack of respect and willing to help.
The UGLY – starter went out on the Jeep. Trying to get the Jeep out of the way so I could go find a place to tow and fix it…my BIL at the wheel of the disabled Jeep takes his foot off the brake and it rolls back into the Armada…front end bumper damage. Not his fault though when you ask him. Finally…we come home to that storm blowing the fuse in our garage. We had an entire chest freezer full of meat and a full sized fridge full of stuff that all spoiled…smelled like a dead body and will probably be an insurance claim.
BUT WE DID HAVE A GREAT TIME AND WILL DO IT AGAIN NEXT SUMMER…
There are some really nice boats and homes in the area…
We went to Mackinac Island for a day…
Grand Hotel
Stables of the Grand Hotel getting horses ready
Charlevoix Pier
Thought this one was cool with the fog
I can see my boat from the loft in our cottage where our bedroom was…sweet
Played golf one day with my dad and step-mom
Bode and mom just before tubing run
Annika and mom just before tubing run
