Park, Park, Park & Park

The boys took themselves off to Wimbledon Common for their own boys hike.   After a few updates via mobile phone, they arrived back 4 hours and 7 miles later.

D, Will, C, Ana, Bobby. 

It's a plane... It's an... Eclipse. Slightly cloudy, but we could still make it out with glasses and pin hole viewers.

Great friends. Bella, me, Cary, Bob.

Spent a lovely day on the beach at Miller,  Lake Michigan with C's godfather Ubu.  Lots of fun, food and memories. In the picture: Will, D, C.

Mom and Dad took both kids into the city for the day. The agenda included: The Art Institute for medieval armour and the Thorn Rooms, then a stage production of Moby Dick for C, the American Girl store for D, finishing with the Nutella restaurant.

My close friend from high school.  And his daughter Alina.

On our road trip, we swung through Minneapolis to spend time with my great friend Mark. He is one of two of D's gadfadders.  Here is Michael (and family)- the other one.

In Spain, the kids did some riding. We got an opportunity here in Chicago as well. Trails wove through the Palos Forest Preserve.

We arrived back in Hinsdale at the same time B did by train.  So we met her at the train station.

After a long drive into Minneapolis, we had a lovely night with my old friend Mark. The next morning, we put Back in a train to Chicago so she could work. The three of us then followed the Mississippi back towards Hinsdale.

Bella found a guy- Shaggy is his name- to show us around by boat. He toured us around Bayfield and Madeline Island, including the local bar- Burned Out Tom's.

... In the harbour at Bayfield.

On our drive west across the UP, we stopped here.

After a full series of manly activities, we finished the day with a sauna at 11pm.

D with Ali and Aleah.

Here's C jumping off the pier in Marquette. This is after jumping off the high rocks at Black Rocks.

Stopped along Lake Superior randomly and found a beach just outside Marquette. That led to wading. Which led to swimming. Some of it nude.  Which completed the Three Lakes Challenge!

The first stop on the drive from The Soo to Ishpeming.

Since we're so close, we had to slip across the border into Canada for breakfast. Seeing the Sault Saint Marie locks from the international bridge is impressive.   And breakfast was equally impressive: We ate at The Breakfast Pig Badassery.

...on the lawn between our porch and Lake Huron.

In front of the statute of Marquette, with the Fort in the background.

Great food at Nick's Diner in Alpena, Michigan. Then ice cream at Downtown Scoops.

A, B and C are now 2 out of 3 for swimming in the surrounding Great Lakes. Here we are after Lake Huron. On to the icy cold of Superior...

John and Madeline, just outside Brighton.  We stopped in Ann Arbor earlier in the day to see the U of M campus.

Stopped off to see a close friend of my Mom from college- Judy. 

In front of the house where my Dad grew up.

First stop, long time family friends the Ryan's cottage along Lake Michigan. Kids are: Lily, Sophie, Ronan, D, C, Max. A great afternoon of swimming through the waves. Then a lovely dinner and wine late into the night.