My family was invited to spend the 4th of July at the Michigan summer home of our very good friends, Mark and Carol. Once again it was our intention to fly our Cessna 170 airplane to their tiny airport in Empire, MI which is just perfect for landing our plane and within 2 miles of their home. However, the weather was not cooperating AGAIN, so we decided to drive the six and a half hour trip which resulted in a very late arrival on July 1st. We spent the first 3 days of our trip wearing sweatshirts and long pants just waiting for the temperatures to warm up enough to at least take a ride on their pontoon boat. Finally, on the morning of the 4th of July, we saw the sun and the jeans and sweats were retired! 
So we went in to Glen Arbor which is the name of the biggest town near their place and picked our spots for the town parade. This parade is really cute...it's not a "big city" kind of spectacle at all. The floats and main attractions are the town fire engine, the town police car, the city's big snow plow and local business owners flaunt their products, services and wares in decorated convertibles, trucks, antique vehicles, etc. The only band that plays is the local Democratic Party Ladies Kazoo band! Boy are they good!!! :)Anyway it is very colorful, and the little kids love the free candy and treats that are thrown during the parade.
After the parade, we went back to our friends' place to get ready to take a pontoon ride on Glen Lake which is where their home is located. This lake is a beautiful body of water which has a sand bottom and the water is the color of the water you might see in a tropical paradise like the Caribbean! I am usually all set to see if I can still ski this lovely lake...but not this day. The water was still a bit nippy for my liking, but the boat ride on the pontoon was wonderful. We spent the remainder of our time at the lake pretty much on the water. The pictures show a group shot with our friends and their family; my daughter and her husband greeting the water and sunshine and me with my husband and son-in-law on the boat. We even went out in the boat late that evening to watch fireworks displays from the surrounding neighbors. Although the fireworks aren't city sponsored, they are pretty tremendous to watch from the water. Some of them actually look like ones you would see at places like a private club.
This is an area that has many things for tourists to do even on a day without sunshine. One of the days we went kayaking on the Crystal River. It is a river that is perfect for this lazy day activity. The water is shallow enough that you can stand up and dump the water out of your kayak if you have been on the losing end of a water gun war you might find yourself engaged in. We rented our kayaks from Crystal River Outfitters which is a company that is owned and run by Mark and Carol's son-in-law, Matt Wiesen. They have everything you need for a great time on the Crystal River, from the proper attire to your necessary water gun. Need I say more!!!
So we will anxiously await our next visit to Glen Lake, MI next year. It is always a trip full of fond memories with family and great friends. If you are ever near that area, check it out. Bring friends... but not too many. It is still a secret!!!
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