We're here on the sunny shores of Lake Michigan!

February 25, 2017 - Saturday

20 degrees/snow showers/windy

Gladstone, Michigan

I'm certain somewhere behind those clouds lies a tropical paradise with warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Unfortunately, it seems we're on the wrong side of the overcast. 

Who cares, it's tropical where I'm sitting, alongside the indoor pool.

Getting to our resort/hotel was a bit of a challenge yesterday. We left home at 8:30, dropped Brutus off at the kennels by 9:15, and arrived at Holly and Ross's forty-five minutes later. 

Boyd and Jeanne soon arrived and we left in a convoy with Sargie and I bringing up the rear. I was fearful the other two cars would go too fast for us to keep up, but I needn't have worried. The roads were bad enough that no one could go very fast.

The only clear roads we saw were on the outskirts of Escanaba

Since we were a bit early to check in, a group decision was made to stop for lunch. 

I enjoyed a Reuben sandwich that would have fed the entire starving third world countries. The half I didn't eat will be enjoyed this coming week.

It was early to mid afternoon before we arrived at our destination.

I've unloaded cars in difficult conditions, but yesterday's ranked right up there. The snow was coming down sideways, the wind brutal.

While checking in, Nancy paused long enough to give us one of her famous JC Penney modeling poses. 

Our rooms overlook Lake Michigan. Unfortunately, I doubt any of the balconies will be utilized this weekend.

Other than ice fishermen coming and going, waterfront action is pretty sparse.

The afternoon was spent sitting around the pool, gabbing, laughing, and eating. The biggest excitement of the day was watching a four wheeler go through the ice into shallow water.

With help, the ATV was finally lifted onto more solid ice and eventually made it to shore. I've heard rumors that the water of Lake Michigan is particularly wet this time of year.

We ate at the restaurant here last night. I had a big boy's helping of mac and cheese, one that was adorned with deep fried onion rings and contained smoked bacon and Maine lobster. Sargie enjoyed beer battered walleye, a filet that covered the length of her platter-sized plate. 

We were told that no food contains any calories if one eats it while on vacation, so we happily chowed down guilt-free.

 

The evening ended with all of us sitting in the lounge, listening to a young college coed warble along with pre recorded background music. Old weekend band performers, Ron and I both agreed she needed to turn down the treble and add some bass. The music got a bit screechy at times.

We knew we were old when the young girl said she was going to sing music from our generation, then introduced a song from Pink. 

Pink?

When I was her age, pink was still a color.

We're a bunch of party animals. Goodnights were said around 9 PM and Sargie and I were asleep by 10. 

Trish and Donny are to arrive sometime today. I'm not at all sure what's on the agenda, but judging from the weather, I'd say maybe there'll be a bit of shopping and sight seeing, but mostly, we'll sit around the pool, talking, laughing, and eating. It's what we seem to do the best.

Time to get another cup of coffee and make enough noise to wake the others. Hey, we're on vacation. No sense wasting the time sleeping and lying in bed. There's a pool to enjoy, happenings to talk about, and most importantly, food to eat. Don't they remember that calories don't count if eaten while on vacation?

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...