Lake Ann, Michigan

It's that time of year again - back in the northern part of the Lower Penninsula of Michigan, right around Lake Ann, MI. I did not fly up, because....well....rental cars for a week are fairly expensive and Dad gets sad puppy dog eyes when his favorite toy is missing from its hangar for a WHOLE WEEK. So, to make things easier, we just drove up to Michigan. This week has been fun so far - I went hiking with Beth and her Dad at Sleeping Bear Point in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We avoided the bushes of poison ivy and managed to catch some pretty incredible views of the point, and of North and South Manitou Islands, just a couple of miles offshore. Follow that up with a little impromptu boxer short dip in the refreshing waters of Lake Michigan, and you have the recipe for a pretty fun day. Also, you get some pretty funny stares from the people that see you with wet shorts looking like you have just peed your pants in a big way.

The steep climb up the dunes - watch out for Poison Ivy!

Looking out over Sleeping Bear Point towards South Manitou Island

Look! A Big Great Lakes Freighter passing off shore! Ship, SHIP!

Not much of a beach to stroll on! There were some pretty good waves at the point, but as you walked further into Glen Haven, then settled down.

We're staying on a little lake that is called Lakeview Lake, just north of Lake Ann, which is probably about 20 acres in size, and is fairly nice and shallow - great for swimming and some light fishing. It's very close to a really fine golf course (Mistwood), and has some fun facilities for the kids - shuffleboard and a nice sandy (pebbly) beach.

Teeing off at Mistwood Golf Course, Lake Ann, MI

Boats lined up along the shore of Lakeview Lake, near Lake Ann, MI

I also discovered that Big Head Todd & the Monsters were playing at a local concert venue (Interlochen Center for the Arts) only about 15 minutes away from Lake Ann. As usual, it was an awesome show, but a little different that most BHTM shows that I have been too. Very diverse mix of people from people in their 60's to kids. One funny thingut kind of funny, because this Interlochen place is a boarding school, so there were all these kids in blue polos and navy blue shorts. It was like the real live “School of Rock” (one of my favorite movies). The teenagers kept trying to jump up and rush the stage to stand in front, and the dorm mothers kept sending them back to their seats. It was hilarious, with all the camp staff talking on their walkie-talkies throughout the whole concert (“So and So is getting a BUTTLOAD of demerits tonight!”) The rock finally won, and the teenagers got to see Todd Park Mohr's nimble fingers up close and personal. Beth went along and enjoyed herself, so that was lots of fun for me - we're going to tour the country together following BHTM to every concert. They're in Cleveland on August 31st! Woohoo!

I even managed to catch a rockin' Big Head Todd & The Monsters show at Interlochen! Awesome!