Friday, August 1, 2025 – Day 353

Friday, August 1, 2025

Good morning!

It always sneaks up on you—one moment, you’re soaking in a great vacation… and the next, you realize it’s almost over.

Today is our last full day on Fence Lake, so the plan is to cram a full week’s worth of fun into these final hours. The East Coast crew has a 9:45 a.m. flight out of Central Wisconsin tomorrow, which means a very early departure from the cabin. It usually takes until 10:00 to finish the cleaning, dry the last load of laundry, and reset the place for the next group. Somehow, we’ll get ‘er done. I’ll be on the sidelines for this one—cheering everyone on from a safe distance (and out of the way).

Yesterday was a low-key day. It was a bit too breezy and chilly for lake time. So why not make the day all about fish. The kids went to the fish hatchery to see and learn all about stocking the lakes. Its nice to see the kids learning about the lakes and sustaining them at the same time they are playing on them. Hopefully it will help them to respect and use the lakes so they will be their best for generations to follow.

Zack and Katie, kept the fish theme going when they returned and headed out for a fishing adventure. I don’t fish myself (mostly because my stomach starts doing backflips when the boat bobs in the waves), but Zack managed to reel in a small bass and looked pretty pleased about it in the photo. A few hours of fishing, catching one fish…I think that’s a win for people that fish. Me…not so much.

The rest of us spent the day gathered around the outdoor fire, soaking up the warmth and relaxing. There’s something about a campfire up here—it just works. At home, it feels like a chore. But in the Northwoods, it’s a way of life. You can sit by the fire all day long and not feel the slightest bit guilty. Part of me thinks that by me hanging around the fire then somebody needed to be a chaperone. I’m not sure why they think I could fall in? Either way…thanks for looking out for my safety.

Dinner was out last night, which is probably why we could afford to be lazy during the day—no one was on the hook for meal duty. We went to Manny’s Parkside in Manitowish Waters. Last time we were there, back in 2022, they were in the middle of a renovation and we missed out on their backyard setup. Not this time.

The outdoor bar and seating area is top-notch—five stars in my book. It’s also kid-friendly, with a giant sand volleyball court that doubles as a playground for our little ones.

We were too large of a group to be seated outside, but it all worked out. There was still plenty of time to enjoy the outdoor vibe and let the kids run wild. Zack and Dave took kid duty, and I think they were happy to do it—we barely saw them except for the ten minutes they paused to inhale their dinners before heading back out to the sand.

Bottom line: great food, decent service, and an outdoor space that ranks among the best around—complete with a bar, restaurant, music stage, and play zone. And to top it off, my credit card was graciously intercepted by Pete, who insisted on picking up the tab. Thanks, Pete (and Maria)!

The sun is already out. Let’s make the most of this last day and end the trip on a high note.

Have a great Friday. Love you guys! ❤️