Maybury State Park

We took a break this past weekend.  We've been so busy lately that we have barely even slept (or at least it feels that way).  So Saturday, after the cable guy came earlier than expected, we decided to take a day adventure out to Maybury State Park here in Michigan. You can find out more information about the history of the park here.  It was simply beautiful! 

One of the trails we walked on.

All in all our visit was cut short, but we really enjoyed it.  About 20 minutes into us walking the winding trail near where we parked, we started to hear rumblings of thunder.  We decided to continue on the shorter trail and head to the car.  About 10 minutes later, we came across the site above (near the old water tower consequently) and it started to very lightly sprinkle.  We found a pavilion and restroom.  As we got our poor puppy, (he was exhausted.  He hasn't been on walks like this in a while) something to drink, we waited out for a bit.  Once the rain calmed down to a light sprinkle again, we headed to the nearest map.  We headed in what we thought was the correct direction and passed a couple walking their large dogs who were very upset to see our little one (he's half Shih Tzu and half *insert crazy name* poodle).  We got to the next map (not more than a 5 or 6 minute walk) to discover we had gone the wrong way.  As we turned around and headed in the correct direction, the storm began to pick up.  The pavilion that we would need to pass again seemed to be our best bet.  What did we find when we got there?  The couple with the large angry dogs were there (and shooting us dirty looks!).  At that point, we knew we were maybe 10 minutes walk from the car.  We continued on.  As we walked quickly, a crack filled the air.  Turning, to our horror we saw a tree branch fall to the ground we were had just passed.  The rain was so heavy at one point that it was better for me to remove my glasses and walk than to try and see through them.  Our clothes were soaked through (and so was our poor little puppy).  At about 8 minutes into our walk, we got to an empty pavilion and waited for the storm to calm down a bit.  It was on the outskirts of the walking trails and had no tree cover to speak of.  (It was cold).  Once it was lightly drizzling again, we continued to our car.  I feel bad because we walked by the Rice family picnic sopping wet.  My tank top and pants were stuck to me and I felt ashamed to be seen like that.  Finally seeing our car and getting there, we discovered my husband had left the sunroof down!  (That shows you how little we were expecting the rain and storm when we went in!)  All in all, it was a fun, scary, wet experience.  Now now, before I get lectured on anything.  We are not normally risk takers.  The storm was fast and hard hitting.  Everyone is safe and fine (Thank God!).  I'm excited to go back (on a nicer day hopefully) to take more pictures.  With as fast as everything happened, my camera was in it's case to protect it more than it was out to take pictures.  As always, what few other pictures I took can be found here. 

In regards to the garden, the green bean and cucumber plants are no longer with us :(  They produced like troopers though so I'm glad we planted them!  We are starting to get some red tomatoes (although for the most part they stay stubbornly green!).  Corn is beginning to form in our squirrel planted corn plants and the honey dew is getting larger!  We also discovered that the jalapeno plants we thought had disappeared and died actually have baby jalapenos.  Hopefully in the next week or so I'm going to take updated garden pictures for everyone :)  Until then, Stay safe!