Our Trip Blog

The Events of Monday, August 9, 2010

                It turned out a great day to get an early start. Forecasted at 93° with 75% humidity (a heat index of 103°), it would be hot and wet. We decided to wake up at 7:30 to clean the RV. While three of us worked inside and the other three outside, we were able to clean our vehicle and home in around two hours. It sure feels nice now with a white (not speckled brown) exterior and a flawless interior. After a delicious breakfast of eggs, sausages, pancakes, and potatoes, the boys (Mr. Bjorlo, Caleb, Dad, and I (Ben)) headed off to golf. For Dad and I, it was our first time golfing. After playing around on the practice green, we headed off to the first hole. We got some basic instruction and then teed off. We all managed to move toward the holes, but for Dad, it took an extra shot (His first one was of great height, but straight toward the parking lot. It bounced off a car. OOPS!). We continued on, and gradually improved. Mr. Bjorlo commented that everyone enjoyed playing “woods golf”, since our errant shots always landed in the trees. At least it was cooler there in the shade! Mr. Bjorlo thinks I have some natural talent and I enjoyed trying to figure out the angles and forces to line up my shots. Physics and math at work! Since we took forever (8+ shots per hole each), we only got through 5 holes before we needed to head off to lunch.

          We met the ladies at Culver’s, a delicious burger and frozen custard restaurant. We all enjoyed our burgers, except my Triple Pepper Chipotle Burger made me sweat. That was good. Frozen Custard is a unique treat: It is cold and flavorful like ice cream, but it is so rich, it was almost like eating a mixture of sugar, whipped cream, and butter. After filling up our stomachs, Mrs. Bjorlo drove Caleb, Caitlin, Lindsey, Abby, and I to their church youth group’s “Day on the Lake”. We hung out for a little bit, then received instructions about tubing and signed up. For the uninitiated, (like we were) tubing is being pulled, in an innertube, by a motorboat. We could choose an easy, medium, or hard ride. Caitlin, Lindsey, and Abby took a medium ride for their first tubing experience ever. After a nice medium ride to warm me up, I took a crazy ride with Caleb and his friend Bryan. The first time I flipped, I landed on my head. After a delicious dinner of junk food and sweets, we headed out onto East Gull Lake for more. Caitlin and Lindsey took another medium ride, while Abby teamed up with two older guys for a crazy ride. After a turn, all three flipped in sync and with the exact same movement. Unfortunately, when Abby flipped her teeth banged together and she chipped her bottom front tooth. But she was a good sport about this misadventure and she now has a souvenir from Minnesota so she can remember her first tubing experience. Later I opted for a crazy ride with Bryan. It was so crazy that we got “promoted to the next level” of toughness, which proved to be quite an adventure. While being slung out to the side of the boat, Bryan speeds along to join me and hits my tube. I slid (in my tube) sideways for a while, then fell off and slid on my back/head for another 10 feet. All in all, tubing was a great experience that I want to repeat. After being picked up at 8:30, we drove home to showers and nice beds, ready to gather energy for another exciting day.