A Long Hike Back to the Beach

After many long hikes throughout the summer, the time finally arrived for the boy scouts to complete their 20 mile hike to finish up their merit badge.  They decided to drive to a spot along a trail leading from Kalamazoo to South Haven and hike the 20 miles from there so that they would end up at Lake Michigan for a picnic and swimming.  Most of the families of the scouts agreed to meet them there to join in the fun at the end and then drive their scouts home.  Kalen, Taylor and Kendall all made the hike and I drove to the lake with the rest of our kids.  We timed it perfectly and arrived at just about the same time.  The boys (and men) were all exhausted and sore but really thrilled to have made it.  And it did make it better for them to have the reward of food and a swim in the cool water waiting for them at the end.

The temperatures had warmed up significantly in the two weeks since we had been there and the water was amazingly warmer than it had been when we were there with the family.

It was a really fun way to wrap up a fun and busy summer before school started and the real craziness began!