Michigan wllz

HUBBARD LAKE — My mom calls it the saddest day of the year.

All over Hubbard Lake, trucks pulling empty boat trailers head to the boat ramp while someone else gets to take the last boat ride of the summer.

Yes, I know, summer doesn’t “officially” end until Sept. 21, but tell that to everyone trying to squeeze in one last bit of fun on the unofficial end of summer.

Tuesday morning, most of the kids will head back to school, and parents will have sad emotions mixed with a bit of glee that the rugrats will be occupied for seven hours a day, five days a week for most of the next nine months.

I-75 was its usual worst as us trolls (those who live below the Zilwaukee Bridge) headed home from vacation fantasy lands to the north. What was more surprising was the traffic backed up waiting to get through Standish. And that was at 12:30 p.m. Hate to see what it was like at about 6 p.m. Does anyone know a decent alternative to the freeway that does not involve driving through Bay City or Saginaw?

So, goodbye summer. Now we welcome the days of tailgating at the football game, leaves turning burning shades of reds, yellows and oranges and light jackets replacing our Bermuda shorts.

Summer, we’ll miss you, until we meet again …