Goodbye to Alpena

Although I've waited to post about it until now, my friend Monika and I left Indy for her father's place in Alpena, MI June 21. After a brief repose at her brother's cabin on Hubbard Lake, we arrived Sunday mid afternoon to some showers but a great view. His home is right on Lake Huron with nothing but sand as backyard. It reminds me of the place I lived in Adelaide when I lived there back in '95. His home was to be our base for the two weeks Monika was accompanying me on the trip. The first week or so we spent hanging around his place catching up on some time consuming and time sensitive tax matters (thankfully he has wi-fi). At least when one has to work doing it from a place like that with a "built drink" in hand makes it a little more tolerable.

Of course, it wasn't all work. Monika's father owns a charter fishing business and so we ventured out onto the lake one wee-early morning at around 6am to see what was biting. The answer unfortunately was, only the mosquitoes. Although we had a multitude of very complex looking devices, both electronic and mechanical, it all comes down to whether there are fish out there. We did catch one but it was not of the legal size to keep so back it went. As you can see, I fish with great enthusiasm. The day was not wasted though as it was a great boat ride and I think I learned something about off-shore fishing. Osmosis you know !! Although other attempts were made to go out again the weather never co-operated and we were stuck with having to play pool, indoor shuffle-board and beach tennis. Not to mention the jet-ski's, bicycle trips and an occasional foray with my motorcycle, both on and off-road. The time we spent in Alpena was both very memorable and enjoyable. I met a great variety of Monika's family including her brothers Skip and Bill, their lovely wives Karen and Candace, not to mention her father Capt. Larry and his wife Barb. Without them and their generosity the entire trip through Alpena would have been not much more than a few traffic lights and a pretty harbor. See Michigan photos to the left for more on the area, including time in Alpena and the rest of MI.

After the trip to the Youper with Monika, we returned to Alpena for July 4 fun. Billy and Candace joined us for the weekend and we had a bunch of fun including launching their new boat, heading into town for the fireworks and of course hitting the local bar on the way home for late night drinks and hamburgers. Candace's driving only scared me when my eyes were open and the music was quiet so of course that wasn't a problem. We took off Sunday morning for Traverse City where I threw Monika out the door so she could grab a rental to head back to Indy while I head off to the wilderness and more adventure.