A Fourth of July Weekend Tubing on the Lake, 2006

We spent the long Fourth of July weekend in 2006 out on the water. It was one of those perfect summer holidays, warm enough to spend the whole day in swimsuits and life vests.

The main event was taking turns on the big, patriotic-themed inflatable tube we towed behind the boat. I remember the kids going first, getting the feel for it as we slowly picked up speed. Soon they were bouncing across the wake, with the tree-lined shore in the distance.

It was just as nice being on the boat, watching everything. The sun was bright, and a couple of the women just sat back and enjoyed the ride and the breeze. From the back of the boat, you could watch the tubers and see the big white wake we were kicking up.

Later in the day, we got a bit more ambitious and piled three people onto the tube at once. The water seems a bit choppier in those photos, and the sky was getting more overcast. It made for a wilder ride, holding on tight through the spray. A classic Michigan summer day.