Before living in Germany it was a Memorial Day tradition to go camping at the Pinery Campground in Ontario Canada. So this being our first Memorial Day back in the USA since our trip, we naturally decided to pick up where we left off. The twist this year was of course bringing Vander along. Canada celebrates their holiday the weekend before, thus the Canadian parks are pretty low-key during the US holiday weekend. This was especially nice because we were able to have some pretty vast expanses of dunes all to ourselves, which were a lot of fun to watch Vander run on. I wish I had some of these sand dunes in my back yard. Sending your dog full speed up a steep sand dune equals about a 30 minute walk! 🙂
Part of our lovely campsite...
Vander scoping out the dunes nearby
Full speed ahead!
What do I do when I get to the bottom???
Hey! I'm pretty sure the lake is this way!
Go 20 yards that way. Stop. Turn around and platz. Got it???
The signs in the campground did state that “Pets” (read dogs) were not allowed in the beach areas. I personally found this definition a bit vague. The “beach” on this part of Lake Huron goes for miles and miles. Are no animals supposed to ever be on the coast line? So, right or wrong, I defined the beach area to be that around the main beach parking and the associated buildings. I took a trail that put us at the lake roughly a half to three/quarters a mile away from the “beach”. No one complained and some even looked a little envious… 🙂
Kristin improvising a play toy from drift wood
Looking into the expanse
The drying cycle!
Front driver's side wheel 🙂
Over the course of the day we took the time to have some more photo ops. One of the funnier moments was when Vander was going full speed down a dune and misjudged the needed stoping distance. So Vander played the roll of bowling ball and Kristin the pin. My friend Andrew helped get her back on her feet and everyone had a good laugh. 🙂
Horrible accident scene!
Pals
Family Portrait
I am kind of an action photo junky because they allow you to see in detail things that are normally too fast for your eyes to naturally process. But one of the downsides is that you sometimes get what would have been the perfect photo, but the composition or the focus is off. This is one of those. A little bit of back focus and just clipped off one of his ears. Still love it though!
Runaway Train!
Proof that even puppies don't have unlimited energy! 🙂
The trip concluded with us coming home a day early due to a series of strong storms that would be passing through for some time. It was perfect weather in Detroit, so we headed back. Already looking forward to next year!
Oh, and Vander really likes his new wheels. 🙂
Vander's new means of transportation 🙂
What great pictures. Looks like a fabulous place to go camping. The sand dunes look like the dunes at the Cape Cod National Seashore.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the runaway train picture and Brian instructing Vander to go 20 yards !!
That looks like so much fun! Love all the pictures. Vander is so cute & I love his new ride!
What a fun trip! I agree with your interpretation of what constitutes a “beach area.” Looks as though you had a tired puppy, and a tired puppy is a good puppy!
Envious of the Raptor!
I’m with Lynda! The runaway train and “go 20 yards” are PERFECT!
I also love the last shot. That is one tired pup.
What great pics. Looks like everyone had a good time.
I love all the pictures Brian, my favorite is the family portrait. What lens were you using? The quality and colors are super. All these camping pictures are making me want to go camping. Like you I also wish I had a sand dune in my back yard. I have seriously been trying to think of a way I could put in a sand hill for exercise, do you have any ideas on how to do this?