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Summer is the time when families pack their bags and travel to faraway places to enjoy the pleasures of the world. The most popular vacation spots are beaches, historical sites, condominiums in Florida, and camping grounds. I have taken many vacations with my family, and we have traveled all over Michigan and as far away as Virginia; however, my favorite vacation of all is our annual trip to a small cottage up north.

The cottage is located on Williams Lake near Rose City, Michigan. It is a small, cozy red house with tall trees surrounding it, like a wall protecting a fort. As I enter the cottage door, I stand inside a house which is a fisherman's paradise. Leaning against the wall and in the rafters of the ceiling is a variety of fishing rods and camping equipment. Everywhere I look I see objects associated with fishing. Hanging on the walls are two stuffed bass, which seem to come alive as I stare at them. Countless fishing trophies, won by the owner of the cabin, decorate the mantle above the fireplace.

Connected to the house by a sliding glass door is a screened porch that overlooks the lake. The porch serves as the perfect spot to curl up in a cozy chair and fall asleep while reading a good book. As I walk out from the porch, I find myself standing at the top step of a walkway leading down to the lake. Walking down the steps, the lake looks as if it were a picture painted by an artist. The sun glistens off the water as a light breeze blows against my face. The banning of jet skis and all motor vehicles on this lake increases the feeling of peacefulness and relaxation. Growing around the edge of the lake are lily pads with bright yellow buds sprouting from the green plants. Constructed on the beach is a small wooden dock, one of my favorite fishing spots and a great place to dangle my toes in the cool water. To the left of the dock is a primitive paddleboat which is often used to catch bigger fish or for a relaxing ride around the lake. Powered by your feet, the piddle-paddle of the boat is a familiar sound heard on the lake.

Fishing from the paddleboat is one of my favorite things to do on the lake. Armed with only a lure and rod, I set out to successfully outsmart the creatures of the underworld. After hours of repeated casting without any luck, the tug of the fishing lure in the water sends a throbbing pain through my hand. Ready to give up, I release one last cast near the edge of the lily pads. Instantly my pole jerks down and my heart starts thumping like a drum. Holding onto my pole for dear life, I start reeling my line in quickly, anxious to see my long-awaited prize. After pulling my prize into the boat I am forced to sit back to catch my breath because of the hard struggle this fish has put me through. Before releasing the fish back into the water, my mind is satisfied with the successful catch, but my heart will always be yearning to feel the sudden jerk of my pole once again.

When darkness falls it brings a whole new life to the lake. As the sun sets on the horizon, the deep croaking of bullfrogs is heard as they sing in harmony, just like a choir. Sitting by the
campfire, with the aroma of roasted marshmallows in the air, the shadows of bats can be seen overhead as they flutter about in search of their meal of insects and mosquitoes. The hooting of an owl gets my imagination going as the stars light up the night sky, almost as if God were poking it with a needle. In the distance, a loon lets out a lonely wailing cry that sends chills down my back. As the campfire crackles and dies down, the rest of the world is fast asleep while the world of Mother Nature is wide awake, filling my mind with the sounds of the lake.

Even though my family and I still travel to this cottage every year, it remains my favorite vacation spot. The fishing adventures, peacefulness, and being close to nature is what makes this small cottage so special to me. This paradise up north has given me so many enjoyable experiences that I look forward every summer to share old memories and to experience new ones in the years to come.