No, it’s not the end of MJM or cat pictures or mom stories.
It’s the end of vacation. Boo.
I have not set foot in my office since August 7th. I will be returning tomorrow, August 18th. Boo.
During this time away, I spent time with family, baked bread, stole away for bike rides, hit the pool at the gym, visited with a few friends, went to the Michigan State Fair and tried to relax.
On Monday, relaxation is over. Boo.
On the upside, I have a few photos from the week, most of them from the area bike trails. I may have mentioned this before: We really have very scenic walking/bike trails locally and statewide. Natasha, the neighbor and I have been discovering a few this summer and Saturday was no exception. Natasha and I took a 90 minute drive to go biking and buy bacon from a well-known business in northern Wisconsin. Score on both accounts.
For your viewing pleasure and as a way for me to relive this past week, here are a few photos that tell the vacation story.
August 9th. Newport Beach State Park, Door County Peninsula – A lovely five and half mile hike with brother and his girlfriend. Beautiful day!
One of the relaxation moments of the week. Wine. Nectar of the relaxation gods.
August 13th. Wiouwash State Trail. It was me, a few other bikers, a few horses, horse apples and a nice view.
August 14th. Upper Michigan State Fair. Cows, pigs, deep-fried Oreos, rides that make me sick, and Blood, Sweat & Tears (feat. Bo Bice).
August 16th. Mountain Bay State Trail, near Wausau, WI. A leisurely afternoon of biking and bacon procurement. Mountain Bay is a trail worth a return trip to view leaf colors in the fall and extend biking season just a bit longer.
The End.
Readers, have you had a good season thus far? Any fun vacations to report?
Mary J Melange 
DEEP-FRIED OREOS ??? You didn’t … ahh … eat any, didja, M-J ? [gasp !]
BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS ????? Good GRIEF !!! How amazing …
I opted out of the deep-fried Oreos and instead had mint Oreo custard this evening 🙂 There is only one almost-original member of BS&T…he’s been with the band 30 years. Otherwise, all new people. Regardless, they sound awesome.
Oh, thank all the gods !! I would be constantly anxious about your coronary condition if you’d eaten ONE ! 😉
30 years sounds about right to me. You were a bloody toddler !
A toddler? Oh I wish. Thirty years ago, I was an adult, trying to be responsible. :-p
Did you achieve it ? [grin]
Barely.
I had exactly the same reaction about the Oreos!
They really don’t sound good to me. Oreos should not be deep-fried.
So aren’t we both relieved to learn that she eschewed ’em …? (Sorry, H …)
[groan] I should make you eat a deep-fried Tim Tam for that one.
DISGUSTING she cried loudly …
[grin]
You know, they deep fry everything at our state fairs and put it on a stick. There is even such a thing as deep-fried butter if you can believe it. That disgusts me beyond words…
EEeeeeeeeeeewww ! I can scarcely credit that anyone would want to EAT it, M-J … 😦
Your photos are a nice summary of your vacation. Lucky that you have great memories to take back to work with you 🙂
… sorry, that was the best I could come up with. Rather lame, but I tried 🙂
You need a vacation! 🙂
Great shots filled with enticing vistas and vintages! Hope tomorrow behaves for you.
Not likely, but I can try to ignore tomorrow if it doesn’t.
I must know about this bacon place. MTM would probably drive hours in snow and sleet to visit if it’s open in December. I love your pictures, especially the wine shot. 🙂
I now know where Door County is, thanks to MTM’s telling me the other day. I asked him where something was, and he said, “Door County.” And I said, “DUH. Where is Door County?”
I’m in the mountains of NC now, but it isn’t a vacation. I’m close to having an editable final draft of Not Without My Father. My brain is mush. My hair is greasy. I smell. I hope it will be worth it.
Just pretend you are camping and you’ll get over the smell. MTM has to drive to Wittenberg to get to Nueske heaven. It’s a tad further than Door CTY, but worth the trip for cherry wood bacon. Yum. I’m glad you are on your way to finishing the next book…there are many who are waiting..
Boo to the end of the holidays. But, oh, I have bike path envy (and we have some pretty good ones around here). Sigh. I’ll stick it on the bucket list.
Quit playing musical instruments and go do it! 😉
The hikes/bike look like they would be relaxing. Sorry about the return to work, that is never fun.
Oh, relaxing is exactly what it is. Unfortunately, I am back to reality and the relaxing will have to wait for my next day off 🙂
Your vacation sounds wonderful! A great mix of healthy activity, healthy liquids (wine!), healthy foods (bacon! 🙂 ), friendships, and family! Well deserved!
The longer I’ve been at work today, the more wonderful my vacation has become. 😉
Happy back to work!
Well, okay, Evelyn. If you call it happy, I’ll believe you 😉
😊