After the rain of the day before, we were greeted by a cold windy morning, where we again inventoried the damage from the night before and started the day off with an awesome breakfast prepared by J’aive.

Much of the morning was spent inside the cottages, reading, watching TV, and playing games.

Dave and I spent an hour trying to teach ourselves to throw a football left-handed once it finally started warming up. Dave succeeded; me, not so much. Before long, the sun appeared and the usual daily routines picked up.

Then something else happened as usual, with Gus spilling a beer on his own crotch.

The next thing that happened was something none of us had ever witnessed before, nor would we like to see again. I do, however encourage you to click on the picture to see the larger version.

I have no words, really.

Teddy knocked back a Fat Head and then had a very pleasant nap in the warming afternoon.

The ladies and girls conducted a long game of Phase 10 with alternating periods of freezing (clouds, wind) and warm (sun).

Gus & Abbey’s friends were very kind and offered to let us borrow their Boston Whaler, so we needed a way to cross the lake to get the boat. Around this time, a plan was hatched for a competition.

Dave and Ben would take the double kayak across the lake, which Jeff and Gus would run around the lake. The winners would have eternal pride, which Ben very badly wanted.

Prior to the start, we held a tribute to all nations, but mostly America.

And here was the start:

Dave and Ben were the clear winners, and Dave celebrated by riding in the kayak next to the boat on the ride back across the lake.

Caroline was very impressed with the quality of the competition.

Excitement for boat rides was high at this point, though the kids mostly wanted solo rides with Uncle Gus, which was unfortunate because it’s still nearly two more years in Michigan before he’s allowed to do that.

Around this time, we headed to dinner at the awesome Barrel Back Restaurant in Walloon Lake Village, some by boat and some by car. Many delicious drinks and tasty foods were consumed, though our slightly rowdy party was cast a spurious eye by some Judgy McJudge at a nearby table because the kids occasionally made a peep. After dinner, Gus formed a lifelong bond with a junior salesperson from the marina, while the kids got ice cream from the general store.

When we got back, we discovered that we’d left the front yard in this condition:

But soon the outside was cleaned up and the chairs replaced around the fire ring for a fire that we doused shortly because embers were flying everywhere.

That’s my blue steel look there.

And then the kids put themselves to bed

Which meant the real fun began. Unfortunately, due to family and legal restrictions, I can’t go into much detail here. I can tell you that the six remaining adults (Doug had left earlier in the day trying to find new pennys for his loafers, but we gave up looking after six hours or so and moved on) played another 40-minute round of Power Hour and consumed a 30 pack of Busch Light in 40 minutes.

That of course was followed by Moscow Mules and other imbibements, and the need for meat snacks.