Patrick's parents' 2nd home 'Up North' in Grayling, Michigan has a river running through the backyard. And a huge deck and lawn from which you can sit, all day long, and do nothing but watch the river and be perfectly content to do so. If it gets too hot, you can dip your feet in the river or if you are brave, your whole self (but it's pretty cold...). If you are feeling bored, time for a canoe trip or fly fishing on the riverboat. Every night we eat dinner and then watch the sunset over the river from the deck. It's an outdoor summer paradise.
We visit every July during the weekend of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon (it's the AuSable river that runs through the backyard of Patrick's parents home). The race, according to the website, is the longest non-stop professional canoe race and the oldest continual canoe race in the United States. It's starting point is in Grayling, just a quarter mile up from their house so the race goes right through their backyard. It's become a family reunion of sorts and Patrick's parents throw a big party for everyone to watch the start of the race.
Grayling bustles with activity during the race weekend. It's probably the biggest weekend for the town all year - there is a craft fair, a parade, a carnival and a vintage car show to celebrate the race. I've come to love visiting every summer; checking out of the busy craziness of New York City and stepping into a world where there are no pressing obligations, and time moves at the slow pace of the river rolling by. It was so hard to leave last week especially now that Fiona can enjoy the great outdoors more too...
We visit every July during the weekend of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon (it's the AuSable river that runs through the backyard of Patrick's parents home). The race, according to the website, is the longest non-stop professional canoe race and the oldest continual canoe race in the United States. It's starting point is in Grayling, just a quarter mile up from their house so the race goes right through their backyard. It's become a family reunion of sorts and Patrick's parents throw a big party for everyone to watch the start of the race.
Another great thing about Patrick's parent's home is that it is within easy walking distance to everything in downtown Grayling. The town has a number of cute local shops and restaurants downtown including the Bike Shop,a pizza place, several arts gallerys and gift shops, a beef jerky shop (!), an outdoor clothes store and Thanks a Latte, a coffee shop with internet access. Patrick's parents don't have internet at their home and there wasn't any 3G network for our iPhones, so if we wanted internet we had to walk to the coffee shop. It was actually really nice to disconnect!
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