Trip 106, Michigan
Thursday, September 22, 2011
I can’t begin to tell you about getting ready for this trip. We slept late; not, as late as usual; but late. Later, we wished we had those few extra minutes, as the day went on and on and on and on, and there was always one more thing to do. You see, we used to follow a four day plan, doing a bit each day. Then the last day all we had to do was put the computers in the van and do the last security tasks and we were off! This time we did nothing; and, I mean nothing, in advance, so it all had to be done today. We couldn’t put anything off until tomorrow because we had the Onan appointment about the broken generator first thing tomorrow morning.
I fixed a meager oatmeal breakfast, not knowing what awaited us. Then, if was off to the wars.
Even one day later, I can’t tell you job for job that we did. Perhaps Ham can do a better job with this than I. I will just say that both of us worked our backsides off.
Then, of course we had to go all the way to Elkhart for that appointment. We stopped at Steak and Shake at 146th St. to eat dinner (we hadn’t had a thing except that oatmeal) because we remembered that after passing this intersection on Rt. 31 there wasn’t a restaurant to be had.
Just out of town there was a heavy rain storm. The new Dragon Wagon cowardly fellow that he is, swayed in the wind and shivered in fear, but persevered. Before the storm broke I kept asking Ham to drive. I know he is stronger than I but he had to be exhausted. I wanted to get my driving in before it got dark. He, like Dragon, plowed onward and then the rains came.
Ahhhh! But the best was yet to come. Not the rainbow after the storm, but one of the most magnificent sunsets we have seen in a very long time. The clouds were such that toward the setting sun the sky looked like a golden pond with islands in it. The clouds were pink from the actual sunset clear to the east. Even after the sun was all the way down, and the sky drew inkier and inkier, the deep purples and deep grays to blacks were outstanding. We ooohed and aaahed for miles.
At last we skirted Elkhart, Thank God, and found Onan with no trouble at all even in the dark.
Hamilton had gotten permission to spend the night in their free campground for customers.
It was a much nicer free campground than the one the RV dealer has. This one has grass between the sites and little picnic tables.
Hammie chose his site and backed into it, in the dark yet, as well as a semi driver backing to the loading dock. He loves his backup camera. However it was virtually useless in the dark. How did he do that? Courage, Bravery, and all that good stuff. I’ll be happy if he continues to miss mailboxes. That’s the end of the report of the big beginning of the Dragon Wagon’s first road trip. nl
Friday, September 23, 2011
Today was another exhausting day for poor Hammie. Perhaps we can take it slow and stop and smell the roses (ooops leaves…..if any are left on their branches).
First of all the alarm went off at 8: 30 and Hammie hopped out of bed quick as a Mexican jumping bean and dressed and walked the tenth of a mile or so to find out about the generator appointment. He called me and told me to get my butt out bed because they could take it right away. I hurried and we rounded the corner to the work area and proceeded to inform the service people that it was there. Then we walked diagonally across the street for breakfast. We are not used to eating this early, but we needed to get started killing time.
The breakfast was yucky. ‘Nuff said. The people at the next table started gabbing to us wanting to know what we were having done, etc. Actually, I heard very little of the conversation. But loquacious Hamilton kept our part of the conversation up. These people were professional RV drivers, taking the vehicles all over the country and Canada to deliver them to dealers. They have even driven the AlCan Highway and had wowee stories to tell about that. They suggested we look into the job. It might be fun if the stress wasn’t too bad.
Back to Onan! We hadn’t thought to bring a book or a computer thinking we could get them when we returned from breakfast.Wrong again! The DW was up on lifts so the generator could be accessed. So there we were in a virtually sterile lounge. I took a nice nap. Hamilton found a couple of thermal boxes and bought two at five dollars a piece. We will find something to put in them even though they were made for six packs
We both used the public computer and checked out mail. Then, I played ‘puter games ‘til it was time to go Yeaaaah! We had been waiting about four and a half hours. Honest! Off we went to find the Coachman factory in Middlebury to learn what we could about buying a mattress for the bunk over the cab. We wended our way through building after building, this being the biggest RV factory we have ever seen. It went on and on for acres and acres. After all that, the pleasant woman in Customer Service (which was in the nether regions of the whole place) told Ham she would call him with further information.
We ate at an Amish type restaurant for an expensive and so so, overpriced meal. Again, we hadn’t eaten since morning, so we were starved. The gift shops were meager.
Returning to the free campground at the Onan place, Ham once again backed right into a spot. He putzed around doing Hammie things for a while and I told him I would write the log since I sincerely thought he was exhausted. He went to bed to read and in about seven minutes the light was out and I heard peaceful snoring sounds.
Oh yeah, it started to rain. Yep, it did! nl
After that glowing report for the last two days I have nothing to add. OK, I will say that the generator had a broken or jammed starter gear probably from my cranking it over while the gen’s engine was still rotating. I guess that was a $400 lesson. hb
Saturday, September 24, 2011
It rained all night, not just a little rain, but a pretty steady downpour. We were up fairly early and had our first cup of Kureg coffee in the Dragon Wagon. We never had such luxury in the LER. Then we looked at the computer map and headed for Michigan. We decided to go right on up the center of the state on US 131, mostly a four lane expressway, and not go our usual wandering along the shore roads route. We wanted to get there before the fall colors were gone.
It was 260 miles to the Gaylord WalMart parking lot where we wanted to spend the night. It was almost dark when we got there and after a little shopping in Wally’s we went to Ruby Tuesday’s for a small light dinner. Then back to Wally’s for the night.hb
First of all Hamilton forgot to mention that it was cold, very cold. We had the red bag on along with he chintzy blue l; and I had wool ski socks and I was still very cold. One of these days, we will try using the furnace all night, but we are not able to trust Dragon completely.
Also I have to add that my light dinner had so many fat calories, I could have eaten five Dove Bars and still been ahead. I was so sore and pooped that anything would have been alright with me. Speaking of sore and pooped, I took my special tea, a drop, and three Tylenol, hoping to sleep like the drugged. Which perhaps I partially was!. l
Sunday, September 25, 2011
There wasn’t any rain but it sure felt cold when we got up about 9:30 or 10:00. I saw a red building through the morning mist (fog) that I thought was a Bob Evans. By the time we were out of Wally’s parking lot we had lost the red building in the fog. Sharp eyed Nan Lou spotted a coffee shop named Bixbby or Busbby, or Booggby where we headed for a bagel, ham, and cheese breakfast. It wasn’t too bad, but it isn’t going to put Starbucks down. The coffee was better than most breakfast places.
Finally on I-75 heading for Mackinaw City, about 75 miles or so, we began to see some trees with pretty colors. Not fading, but building. As we went farther north the trees looked like they hadn’t thought much of coloring for the fall season. Maybe we are too early.
We left the 75 to go to Cheboygan to the east of Mack City and sure enough it was still there. Then on the way west to Mack City we passed the little cabin complex we were hot for many years ago. It looked pretty nice. Finally we got to Mackinaw City and found some smoked white fish, but no chubs. The fish lady said she hadn’t seen chubs in a long time.
Parking the 27 foot long Dragon in Mack City wasn’t too easy. There weren’t any parking lots set up for RVs except the ones for the ferry boat passengers to Mackinaw Island. We finally found a lot that wasn’t busy and there was a place to fit the lengthy Dragon. We kinda cheated, but we made it. A short shop tour was to no avail except we bought a bunch of Joann’s fudge to last us a week or two.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
I can’t begin to tell you about getting ready for this trip. We slept late; not, as late as usual; but late. Later, we wished we had those few extra minutes, as the day went on and on and on and on, and there was always one more thing to do. You see, we used to follow a four day plan, doing a bit each day. Then the last day all we had to do was put the computers in the van and do the last security tasks and we were off! This time we did nothing; and, I mean nothing, in advance, so it all had to be done today. We couldn’t put anything off until tomorrow because we had the Onan appointment about the broken generator first thing tomorrow morning.
I fixed a meager oatmeal breakfast, not knowing what awaited us. Then, if was off to the wars.
Even one day later, I can’t tell you job for job that we did. Perhaps Ham can do a better job with this than I. I will just say that both of us worked our backsides off.
Then, of course we had to go all the way to Elkhart for that appointment. We stopped at Steak and Shake at 146th St. to eat dinner (we hadn’t had a thing except that oatmeal) because we remembered that after passing this intersection on Rt. 31 there wasn’t a restaurant to be had.
Just out of town there was a heavy rain storm. The new Dragon Wagon cowardly fellow that he is, swayed in the wind and shivered in fear, but persevered. Before the storm broke I kept asking Ham to drive. I know he is stronger than I but he had to be exhausted. I wanted to get my driving in before it got dark. He, like Dragon, plowed onward and then the rains came.
Ahhhh! But the best was yet to come. Not the rainbow after the storm, but one of the most magnificent sunsets we have seen in a very long time. The clouds were such that toward the setting sun the sky looked like a golden pond with islands in it. The clouds were pink from the actual sunset clear to the east. Even after the sun was all the way down, and the sky drew inkier and inkier, the deep purples and deep grays to blacks were outstanding. We ooohed and aaahed for miles.
At last we skirted Elkhart, Thank God, and found Onan with no trouble at all even in the dark.
Hamilton had gotten permission to spend the night in their free campground for customers.
It was a much nicer free campground than the one the RV dealer has. This one has grass between the sites and little picnic tables.
Hammie chose his site and backed into it, in the dark yet, as well as a semi driver backing to the loading dock. He loves his backup camera. However it was virtually useless in the dark. How did he do that? Courage, Bravery, and all that good stuff. I’ll be happy if he continues to miss mailboxes. That’s the end of the report of the big beginning of the Dragon Wagon’s first road trip. nl
Friday, September 23, 2011
Today was another exhausting day for poor Hammie. Perhaps we can take it slow and stop and smell the roses (ooops leaves…..if any are left on their branches).
First of all the alarm went off at 8: 30 and Hammie hopped out of bed quick as a Mexican jumping bean and dressed and walked the tenth of a mile or so to find out about the generator appointment. He called me and told me to get my butt out bed because they could take it right away. I hurried and we rounded the corner to the work area and proceeded to inform the service people that it was there. Then we walked diagonally across the street for breakfast. We are not used to eating this early, but we needed to get started killing time.
The breakfast was yucky. ‘Nuff said. The people at the next table started gabbing to us wanting to know what we were having done, etc. Actually, I heard very little of the conversation. But loquacious Hamilton kept our part of the conversation up. These people were professional RV drivers, taking the vehicles all over the country and Canada to deliver them to dealers. They have even driven the AlCan Highway and had wowee stories to tell about that. They suggested we look into the job. It might be fun if the stress wasn’t too bad.
Back to Onan! We hadn’t thought to bring a book or a computer thinking we could get them when we returned from breakfast.Wrong again! The DW was up on lifts so the generator could be accessed. So there we were in a virtually sterile lounge. I took a nice nap. Hamilton found a couple of thermal boxes and bought two at five dollars a piece. We will find something to put in them even though they were made for six packs
We both used the public computer and checked out mail. Then, I played ‘puter games ‘til it was time to go Yeaaaah! We had been waiting about four and a half hours. Honest! Off we went to find the Coachman factory in Middlebury to learn what we could about buying a mattress for the bunk over the cab. We wended our way through building after building, this being the biggest RV factory we have ever seen. It went on and on for acres and acres. After all that, the pleasant woman in Customer Service (which was in the nether regions of the whole place) told Ham she would call him with further information.
We ate at an Amish type restaurant for an expensive and so so, overpriced meal. Again, we hadn’t eaten since morning, so we were starved. The gift shops were meager.
Returning to the free campground at the Onan place, Ham once again backed right into a spot. He putzed around doing Hammie things for a while and I told him I would write the log since I sincerely thought he was exhausted. He went to bed to read and in about seven minutes the light was out and I heard peaceful snoring sounds.
Oh yeah, it started to rain. Yep, it did! nl
After that glowing report for the last two days I have nothing to add. OK, I will say that the generator had a broken or jammed starter gear probably from my cranking it over while the gen’s engine was still rotating. I guess that was a $400 lesson. hb
Saturday, September 24, 2011
It rained all night, not just a little rain, but a pretty steady downpour. We were up fairly early and had our first cup of Kureg coffee in the Dragon Wagon. We never had such luxury in the LER. Then we looked at the computer map and headed for Michigan. We decided to go right on up the center of the state on US 131, mostly a four lane expressway, and not go our usual wandering along the shore roads route. We wanted to get there before the fall colors were gone.
It was 260 miles to the Gaylord WalMart parking lot where we wanted to spend the night. It was almost dark when we got there and after a little shopping in Wally’s we went to Ruby Tuesday’s for a small light dinner. Then back to Wally’s for the night.hb
First of all Hamilton forgot to mention that it was cold, very cold. We had the red bag on along with he chintzy blue l; and I had wool ski socks and I was still very cold. One of these days, we will try using the furnace all night, but we are not able to trust Dragon completely.
Also I have to add that my light dinner had so many fat calories, I could have eaten five Dove Bars and still been ahead. I was so sore and pooped that anything would have been alright with me. Speaking of sore and pooped, I took my special tea, a drop, and three Tylenol, hoping to sleep like the drugged. Which perhaps I partially was!. l
Sunday, September 25, 2011
There wasn’t any rain but it sure felt cold when we got up about 9:30 or 10:00. I saw a red building through the morning mist (fog) that I thought was a Bob Evans. By the time we were out of Wally’s parking lot we had lost the red building in the fog. Sharp eyed Nan Lou spotted a coffee shop named Bixbby or Busbby, or Booggby where we headed for a bagel, ham, and cheese breakfast. It wasn’t too bad, but it isn’t going to put Starbucks down. The coffee was better than most breakfast places.
Finally on I-75 heading for Mackinaw City, about 75 miles or so, we began to see some trees with pretty colors. Not fading, but building. As we went farther north the trees looked like they hadn’t thought much of coloring for the fall season. Maybe we are too early.
We left the 75 to go to Cheboygan to the east of Mack City and sure enough it was still there. Then on the way west to Mack City we passed the little cabin complex we were hot for many years ago. It looked pretty nice. Finally we got to Mackinaw City and found some smoked white fish, but no chubs. The fish lady said she hadn’t seen chubs in a long time.
Parking the 27 foot long Dragon in Mack City wasn’t too easy. There weren’t any parking lots set up for RVs except the ones for the ferry boat passengers to Mackinaw Island. We finally found a lot that wasn’t busy and there was a place to fit the lengthy Dragon. We kinda cheated, but we made it. A short shop tour was to no avail except we bought a bunch of Joann’s fudge to last us a week or two.
Next we headed for the UP across the bridge and were surprised to find that there was toll charge for both directions. There used to be a one dollar fee for cars going south only. Now it was something like four dollars for cars and nine dollars for motorhomes. I think the only thing that night cost more is a semi with 19 axles. Those are hard to find, even in Michigan.
We headed west on US 2 and stopped at what used to be one of Nan Lou’s favorite beaches. It was a beautiful sunny blue sky day and the water was green in some places and blue in others. I found out that the Dragon does not U turn very well on a two lane road even one with wide shoulders. So leaving the beach area we made a turn in a small wooded subdivision where we found the elusive bracken fern for Nannie’s collection for school. There was one plant in the whole area.
I had doubts about our fitting in the forest service campground we had stayed at in the tiny LER but we fit and it was almost easy to back the Dragon into the site which was long enough for a 35 footer. That is if you could get it backed in place.
Nan Lou prepared a dinner of smoked whitefish augmented with a nice cheddar cheese and a few veggies. The Kureg was fired up on the generator power for our desert of Dove Bars. How decadent we’ve become.
It is only 7:30 and I feel tired. No surf boarding for me tonight. hb
I have to add that the humble Hammie was the Bracken Fern spotter, extraordinaire. I don’t know how he did it, but he does have an eagle eye, which I now christen him. Eagle Eye it fits him. And, by the way, he backs into these parking spaces like he has been doing it for twenty years! nl
That’s Eagle Eye and Bear Backer. hb
Monday, September 26, 2011
We slept too late for Mickey’s. We hadn’t planned going there, but it is always good to complain about missing it. Nan Lou had planned a Norwegian breakfast of smoked fish which along with some fruit, cheese, and a slice of rye with cream cheese was pretty good.
When we started out for a walk to the dumpster the camp host came to say, “Hi.”
We had a nice little talk and she said she had just come back to the states after 27 years in New Zealand and was taking classes to utilize her NZ training as an osteopath and acupuncturist in some way because she didn’t feel like the many years plus residency to have her NZ medical degrees apply here. She was 60.
The woods were not as colorful as in years past because we were at least two or three weeks earlier this year. One place I remember as very bright was just plain green. We thought it might be better on our way back in a week or so.
US 2 was busier than we’ve ever seen it in the fall. Maybe more people live here or there are more travelers now that no one has a job. That makes no sense, but someone had to say it.
Michigan 77 up toward Grand Marais had some very colorful stretches. I couldn’t see how they could be any brighter. The day had been cloudy with a few sprinkles and temps in the sixties or maybe even into the low seventies. Not nearly as nice as yesterday, but not too bad.
The first thing we did in Grand Marais was register at the campground named Woodland. The waterfront sites are $25 and other electric sites are $24 with tent sites at $18. The best waterfronts were taken so we opted for the closest site to town in case we decided to walk there. It is too far from the place where the wifi antenna is and we can’t get online. Oh well.
We headed west on US 2 and stopped at what used to be one of Nan Lou’s favorite beaches. It was a beautiful sunny blue sky day and the water was green in some places and blue in others. I found out that the Dragon does not U turn very well on a two lane road even one with wide shoulders. So leaving the beach area we made a turn in a small wooded subdivision where we found the elusive bracken fern for Nannie’s collection for school. There was one plant in the whole area.
I had doubts about our fitting in the forest service campground we had stayed at in the tiny LER but we fit and it was almost easy to back the Dragon into the site which was long enough for a 35 footer. That is if you could get it backed in place.
Nan Lou prepared a dinner of smoked whitefish augmented with a nice cheddar cheese and a few veggies. The Kureg was fired up on the generator power for our desert of Dove Bars. How decadent we’ve become.
It is only 7:30 and I feel tired. No surf boarding for me tonight. hb
I have to add that the humble Hammie was the Bracken Fern spotter, extraordinaire. I don’t know how he did it, but he does have an eagle eye, which I now christen him. Eagle Eye it fits him. And, by the way, he backs into these parking spaces like he has been doing it for twenty years! nl
That’s Eagle Eye and Bear Backer. hb
Monday, September 26, 2011
We slept too late for Mickey’s. We hadn’t planned going there, but it is always good to complain about missing it. Nan Lou had planned a Norwegian breakfast of smoked fish which along with some fruit, cheese, and a slice of rye with cream cheese was pretty good.
When we started out for a walk to the dumpster the camp host came to say, “Hi.”
We had a nice little talk and she said she had just come back to the states after 27 years in New Zealand and was taking classes to utilize her NZ training as an osteopath and acupuncturist in some way because she didn’t feel like the many years plus residency to have her NZ medical degrees apply here. She was 60.
The woods were not as colorful as in years past because we were at least two or three weeks earlier this year. One place I remember as very bright was just plain green. We thought it might be better on our way back in a week or so.
US 2 was busier than we’ve ever seen it in the fall. Maybe more people live here or there are more travelers now that no one has a job. That makes no sense, but someone had to say it.
Michigan 77 up toward Grand Marais had some very colorful stretches. I couldn’t see how they could be any brighter. The day had been cloudy with a few sprinkles and temps in the sixties or maybe even into the low seventies. Not nearly as nice as yesterday, but not too bad.
The first thing we did in Grand Marais was register at the campground named Woodland. The waterfront sites are $25 and other electric sites are $24 with tent sites at $18. The best waterfronts were taken so we opted for the closest site to town in case we decided to walk there. It is too far from the place where the wifi antenna is and we can’t get online. Oh well.
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The Sportsman Bar was still going and we had rather poor fish sandwiches. As I remember I thought they usually had fairly good food. Either things change or I have a bad memory. Then we looked for the cute little diner we had eaten at before and it was still in business which surprised me all to hell. We plan to try it for breakfast tomorrow.
We had a thrilling Scrabble game and some of Joann’s fudge. Nan Lou aced me by about 15 points with each of us getting over 300 points. Pretty good for not playing in a really long time.
I have no more to say unless I make up some lies. There was a soggy salt marsh along the highway and I saw three 18 foot salt water crocodiles. Yes, each one had 18 feet, 9 on each side. I managed to hand wrestle one and left him hog tied for the pterodactyls to eat. I saw six of them.
hb
Such a he-man, you are! My Hero! nl
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Again, we slept late and didn’t go hunting breakfast until about eleven or so. It rained all night long; pitter patting on the roof so loud that even I could hear it. Little did I know until dinner time that Hamilton had been lying awake worrying about the Dragon leaking. He actually turned out the light at nine P.M. so I thought he would be well rested today.
Anyway, we went to the Diner for breakfast and learned that, since they open at eleven, they don’t serve breakfasts at all. I asked if they could fry an egg and got a negative reply to that idea. Well, finally the waitress said they could make an omelet with bar b cue beef and we said we would split one. It was a “clean out the kitchen” omelet with a lot of the barbecue beef potatoes, peppers, and Lord only knows what else. It was at least two and a half inches thick and
six or seven inches long. I couldn’t eat all of my half.
Then we went out to lighthouse point and had the place to ourselves. We looked around for pretty rocks for Spitter and heart rocks. Pretty rocks we found; and, Ham found a few heart rocks but they were really few and far between. For some reason we didn’t walk far. With the mistiness and the milky color of the water, the sweeping sand, and, of course, the rocks, it was a very pretty beach. A few people were headed toward it as we came back. By the time we got sand off our shoes and feet, they were scurrying back because it had started to rain again.
We had a thrilling Scrabble game and some of Joann’s fudge. Nan Lou aced me by about 15 points with each of us getting over 300 points. Pretty good for not playing in a really long time.
I have no more to say unless I make up some lies. There was a soggy salt marsh along the highway and I saw three 18 foot salt water crocodiles. Yes, each one had 18 feet, 9 on each side. I managed to hand wrestle one and left him hog tied for the pterodactyls to eat. I saw six of them.
hb
Such a he-man, you are! My Hero! nl
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Again, we slept late and didn’t go hunting breakfast until about eleven or so. It rained all night long; pitter patting on the roof so loud that even I could hear it. Little did I know until dinner time that Hamilton had been lying awake worrying about the Dragon leaking. He actually turned out the light at nine P.M. so I thought he would be well rested today.
Anyway, we went to the Diner for breakfast and learned that, since they open at eleven, they don’t serve breakfasts at all. I asked if they could fry an egg and got a negative reply to that idea. Well, finally the waitress said they could make an omelet with bar b cue beef and we said we would split one. It was a “clean out the kitchen” omelet with a lot of the barbecue beef potatoes, peppers, and Lord only knows what else. It was at least two and a half inches thick and
six or seven inches long. I couldn’t eat all of my half.
Then we went out to lighthouse point and had the place to ourselves. We looked around for pretty rocks for Spitter and heart rocks. Pretty rocks we found; and, Ham found a few heart rocks but they were really few and far between. For some reason we didn’t walk far. With the mistiness and the milky color of the water, the sweeping sand, and, of course, the rocks, it was a very pretty beach. A few people were headed toward it as we came back. By the time we got sand off our shoes and feet, they were scurrying back because it had started to rain again.
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I had mentioned that it might be nice to take that Pictured Rocks cruise that you hear about so often up here, so Ham obligingly tried to find a place to get on line to find out about it. I yelled,
“Eeek!” when he told me it cost thirty five dollars apiece for said cruise. Ham turned into Mr. Grouchy when I sprang the idea on him to go check Cal’s house. I don’t know why he didn’t know which Cal or which house. He should take a mind reading refresher course. When we got it all straightened out with which Cal, and which house, we proceeded past Woodland Campground and on down the road and there was Cal 1’s house. Ham was excited to find out that the road was paved so we went to the Grand Sable Visitor’s Center and found a bearded ranger that was bored and friendly. He gave us quite an education about the beach rocks and taught us how to identify agates.It seems that you look for stripes and that they are a type of quartz. As I told the man, I wish I could remember all the names that were on the specimens.
We came directly back to the campground and I threw together leftovers and we ate in the Dragon again. We have eaten more now than we did for a couple of weeks in the LER. I admit not that many, but I do exaggerate.
A few minutes ago, a couple walked by, gawking at us, as campers are wont to do. I gave them a merry wave and they looked startled and waved back. Funny! It’s time for me to pull shades and add the front curtain. In other words, it’s time for me to close it up for the night. Night night! nl
“Eeek!” when he told me it cost thirty five dollars apiece for said cruise. Ham turned into Mr. Grouchy when I sprang the idea on him to go check Cal’s house. I don’t know why he didn’t know which Cal or which house. He should take a mind reading refresher course. When we got it all straightened out with which Cal, and which house, we proceeded past Woodland Campground and on down the road and there was Cal 1’s house. Ham was excited to find out that the road was paved so we went to the Grand Sable Visitor’s Center and found a bearded ranger that was bored and friendly. He gave us quite an education about the beach rocks and taught us how to identify agates.It seems that you look for stripes and that they are a type of quartz. As I told the man, I wish I could remember all the names that were on the specimens.
We came directly back to the campground and I threw together leftovers and we ate in the Dragon again. We have eaten more now than we did for a couple of weeks in the LER. I admit not that many, but I do exaggerate.
A few minutes ago, a couple walked by, gawking at us, as campers are wont to do. I gave them a merry wave and they looked startled and waved back. Funny! It’s time for me to pull shades and add the front curtain. In other words, it’s time for me to close it up for the night. Night night! nl
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Thursday, September 29, 2011
It was a dark and a rainy morning and we awakened early enough to hurry to the continental breakfast at the motel. Warm and cuddly won out over adventurous actions and we dozed for another hour before turning the furnace on. It doesn’t take long for the Dragon’s furnace to warm up all of our five rooms. Nan Lou fixed a breakfast that would put any continental breakfast to shame and we had our eighteenth and nineteenth cup of Keureg coffee. We have less than a box left. |
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Since we had loaded up yesterday to leave we just went and paid up for the night and took off down the newly paved H-58. Our first stop along the way to Munising was the log slide used in the early 1900s. It was raining, but intrepid explorers that we are, we pressed on. Along the trail we found something that might be one of Nannie’s toxic plants. It was the stuff that we called bamboo when we were kids because it had joints sort of like bamboo. Finally we came to a small steep sandy incline that gave a view of Lake Superior 300 feet below. Then we went to the overlook where we could see for many miles along the shore with the dunes where the loggers slid the logs down into the lake to be loaded onto boats for the trip to the mill. The dunes were impressive.
A few miles along we went down the White Birch Trail to the Twelve Mile Beach campground which was a nice campground but I don’t think there was a site anywhere near level except for the ones already taken. We left in a mighty huff. Also huff inducing was the fact the white birches had aged to mostly a dull gray. Huff, huff, we went.
I didn’t feel like driving down a longer washboard road to find more sloping campsites and soon we reached an eatery called Big Bear or something akin to that at Van Meer, a crossroad community of three buildings. I think we had been there once before when the Bear was a cub, but I’m not too sure of that. We had their pasties which Nan Lou rated A plus and continued on to Munising and the local community campground on the bay.
It has rained all day, it has rained most of this trip, it might rain for 40 days. I am sick of rain. I am sick of gray skies. hb
You forgot to mention the beautiful day yesterday. The rain makes the Dragon quite cozy. Perhaps you are sick of your gray, damp mood. Hmmm? nl
Friday, September 30, 2011
We almost got up early but decided that bed was cozier. It must have rained and blown like crazy all night but the rain finally, almost, stopped by time for us to hit Munising in search for breakfast. We found the place with breakfast all day and it was a bit of a bummer. The meat and American fries were very greasy, but I guess these northerners need to load up on blubber for the coming winter. Speaking of which, I think it is here.The bookstore/coffee shop was right across the street and we browsed their old beat up books, many of which were old library copies. The menu looked unspectacular but maybe it wasn’t greasy.
Time to blow town; a terribly apt expression as you will see. We headed for Marquette and to our great undoing stopped at a viewpoint to look at the seven foot white capped waves coming into shore in what we later read was a wind with gusts up to 70 MPH. As we were looking at the waves there was a loud bang and rattle. I thought something had blown into the side of the Dragon. I was right. It was our awning flopping around with the supports banging into the poor Dragon’s side with the rolled up part blown onto the roof.
I tried to control the flopping and with Nan Lou’s advice and help I used a bungee cord that helped hold down the broken front support. There was no hope to do anything with the awning flopping on the roof. We drove to an area where the wind was from a different quarter and there was a little shelter from a few trees. I was wrestling with the front support and the front part of the awning blew down from the roof with the new wind direction. I was most fearful that the wind would swing the awning around bringing the supports with it and do severe damage to the Dragon and myself. Luckily I had enough leverage and help from a Good Samaritan who came by and helped hold it while Nan Lou got a large knife so I could cut the awning loose from all the supports. I told Mr. Good Samaritan I had everything under control and he left.
There we were with an awning on the ground and two bent and broken supports and their related parts half attached to the Dragon and laying on the ground. I had jammed the fabric awning part under the Dragon and when I tried to fold it to put it away another nasty gust tore it away and into a lagoon across the road. The awning roller part was banged up a little and I couldn’t take it since it was 12 feet long. I left it under a tree away from the road. We will probably get arrested for littering. I was able to unbolt the supports and salvage what was left of them but had to drive back to the campground and get a ladder to remove the awning’s torn and bent aluminum cover which was pounding the roof like a jackhammer. It was also 12 feet long and had to be left at the campground. When the awning first was blown loose it banged into the air conditioner cover and cracked and put a hole in one side. There might be other damage to the roof but I cannot get up there to see it.
We resumed our trip to Marquette in search of a Wally’s where we received permission to spend the night. We ate a nearby Appleby’s and are now settled for a cold, cold night. I quit. hb
One of the scariest road experiences we have ever had. Ham forgot to mention that it was cold. What I mean is that under normal experiences, it was cold. With that fierce wind, it was numbing cold. I mean our hands literally were numb. It is now about 7:30 PM and I am still cold. I was afraid Hamilton was going to get blown away with the awning acting like a kite, or he was going to get hit in the head by the awning supports, or he was going to strain something, or worse of all he was going to have a heart attack, working so hard in such cold conditions with few tools. All’s well that ends well. One more time prayers are answered. nl
A few miles along we went down the White Birch Trail to the Twelve Mile Beach campground which was a nice campground but I don’t think there was a site anywhere near level except for the ones already taken. We left in a mighty huff. Also huff inducing was the fact the white birches had aged to mostly a dull gray. Huff, huff, we went.
I didn’t feel like driving down a longer washboard road to find more sloping campsites and soon we reached an eatery called Big Bear or something akin to that at Van Meer, a crossroad community of three buildings. I think we had been there once before when the Bear was a cub, but I’m not too sure of that. We had their pasties which Nan Lou rated A plus and continued on to Munising and the local community campground on the bay.
It has rained all day, it has rained most of this trip, it might rain for 40 days. I am sick of rain. I am sick of gray skies. hb
You forgot to mention the beautiful day yesterday. The rain makes the Dragon quite cozy. Perhaps you are sick of your gray, damp mood. Hmmm? nl
Friday, September 30, 2011
We almost got up early but decided that bed was cozier. It must have rained and blown like crazy all night but the rain finally, almost, stopped by time for us to hit Munising in search for breakfast. We found the place with breakfast all day and it was a bit of a bummer. The meat and American fries were very greasy, but I guess these northerners need to load up on blubber for the coming winter. Speaking of which, I think it is here.The bookstore/coffee shop was right across the street and we browsed their old beat up books, many of which were old library copies. The menu looked unspectacular but maybe it wasn’t greasy.
Time to blow town; a terribly apt expression as you will see. We headed for Marquette and to our great undoing stopped at a viewpoint to look at the seven foot white capped waves coming into shore in what we later read was a wind with gusts up to 70 MPH. As we were looking at the waves there was a loud bang and rattle. I thought something had blown into the side of the Dragon. I was right. It was our awning flopping around with the supports banging into the poor Dragon’s side with the rolled up part blown onto the roof.
I tried to control the flopping and with Nan Lou’s advice and help I used a bungee cord that helped hold down the broken front support. There was no hope to do anything with the awning flopping on the roof. We drove to an area where the wind was from a different quarter and there was a little shelter from a few trees. I was wrestling with the front support and the front part of the awning blew down from the roof with the new wind direction. I was most fearful that the wind would swing the awning around bringing the supports with it and do severe damage to the Dragon and myself. Luckily I had enough leverage and help from a Good Samaritan who came by and helped hold it while Nan Lou got a large knife so I could cut the awning loose from all the supports. I told Mr. Good Samaritan I had everything under control and he left.
There we were with an awning on the ground and two bent and broken supports and their related parts half attached to the Dragon and laying on the ground. I had jammed the fabric awning part under the Dragon and when I tried to fold it to put it away another nasty gust tore it away and into a lagoon across the road. The awning roller part was banged up a little and I couldn’t take it since it was 12 feet long. I left it under a tree away from the road. We will probably get arrested for littering. I was able to unbolt the supports and salvage what was left of them but had to drive back to the campground and get a ladder to remove the awning’s torn and bent aluminum cover which was pounding the roof like a jackhammer. It was also 12 feet long and had to be left at the campground. When the awning first was blown loose it banged into the air conditioner cover and cracked and put a hole in one side. There might be other damage to the roof but I cannot get up there to see it.
We resumed our trip to Marquette in search of a Wally’s where we received permission to spend the night. We ate a nearby Appleby’s and are now settled for a cold, cold night. I quit. hb
One of the scariest road experiences we have ever had. Ham forgot to mention that it was cold. What I mean is that under normal experiences, it was cold. With that fierce wind, it was numbing cold. I mean our hands literally were numb. It is now about 7:30 PM and I am still cold. I was afraid Hamilton was going to get blown away with the awning acting like a kite, or he was going to get hit in the head by the awning supports, or he was going to strain something, or worse of all he was going to have a heart attack, working so hard in such cold conditions with few tools. All’s well that ends well. One more time prayers are answered. nl
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Saturday, October 01, 2011
It’s October already. Who would believe it? Despite my reservations, we were cozy last night when the temperature was supposed to drop. I had been freezing all evening long because I had never warmed up after our awning experience in the hurricane force winds. It didn’t seem to bother Ham. He seemed to be warm as toast. He couldn’t understand why I was concerned about being cold in the night. I slept in a sweat shirt and wool ski socks. We had the red bag on along with the polyester blanket, then on all of that, the blue bag topped the whole thing off. Obviously, I did not get cold in the night. But it surprises even me to say that I didn’t get too warm.
Today dawned bright and sunny; and, for the UP it was pleasantly warm. Hooray! I thought Ham would want to get an Egg McMuffin at the Mickey’s inside Wal Mart. He surprised me by remembering Perkins just down the road. The place was packed and we were told we would have a ten minute wait; but, after sitting down we were seated immediately. When we left the whole waiting area was packed.
It was good having oatmeal instead of the grease that we consumed yesterday. Also, we were amazed that the coffee was very good. After the fine breakfast, we were on our way west.
Now it is very difficult for me to describe the road because the drive was one of the most spectacular that we have ever taken.The trees were in their peak of color. With the sun out making them more brilliant, it was one of the most beautiful Fall drives we have ever taken.
The big lake and the little ones too were a deep indigo blue and were fringed with the gold and deep red of the trees. When we had the trees on both sides of the road, I told Ham that it felt like we were in a giant kaleidoscope. Words really do not do justice to the spectacle.
It’s October already. Who would believe it? Despite my reservations, we were cozy last night when the temperature was supposed to drop. I had been freezing all evening long because I had never warmed up after our awning experience in the hurricane force winds. It didn’t seem to bother Ham. He seemed to be warm as toast. He couldn’t understand why I was concerned about being cold in the night. I slept in a sweat shirt and wool ski socks. We had the red bag on along with the polyester blanket, then on all of that, the blue bag topped the whole thing off. Obviously, I did not get cold in the night. But it surprises even me to say that I didn’t get too warm.
Today dawned bright and sunny; and, for the UP it was pleasantly warm. Hooray! I thought Ham would want to get an Egg McMuffin at the Mickey’s inside Wal Mart. He surprised me by remembering Perkins just down the road. The place was packed and we were told we would have a ten minute wait; but, after sitting down we were seated immediately. When we left the whole waiting area was packed.
It was good having oatmeal instead of the grease that we consumed yesterday. Also, we were amazed that the coffee was very good. After the fine breakfast, we were on our way west.
Now it is very difficult for me to describe the road because the drive was one of the most spectacular that we have ever taken.The trees were in their peak of color. With the sun out making them more brilliant, it was one of the most beautiful Fall drives we have ever taken.
The big lake and the little ones too were a deep indigo blue and were fringed with the gold and deep red of the trees. When we had the trees on both sides of the road, I told Ham that it felt like we were in a giant kaleidoscope. Words really do not do justice to the spectacle.
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We started to get a bit puckish and I had a craving for a Mc Donald’s hot fudge sundae. There was supposed to be a McDonald’s in Houghton. The billboards advertising same, gave no specific directions. We shot across the bridge into the town of Hancock and I told Hammie not to worry about it, we could find a place in town. He had some recollection of trips past and remembered where Wal Mart was. So back over the bridge and sure enough he was right.
The place was freezing cold. Is my blood thin? Should I look for a shawl instead of a scarf for my neck? We ate and both of us had our sundaes, then went to Wally’s for permission to spend the night. While Hammie was in getting said permission, I discovered the Invasion Of The Nasty House Flies. Someway, they managed to get through the screen on the vent. I quickly called him and yelled, “Raid! Bring some Raid!” Which he did; and, now we look for carcases.
Our parking space, out on the back forty, is one of those with meetings of teen agers, Some driving round and round the lamp posts, peculiar man in an antique car pulling right along side the Dragon, and who knows what else. Perhaps we will be royally entertained by the show this evening. I’m not worried about freezing tonight. nl
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Well I was asleep so quickly last night I missed any show there was. I think we were up early enough to do an Egg McMuffin but last night we froze in Mickey’s so we went to the local Perkins and had a fair to middlin’ breakfast. It was then time for another WalMart shopping excursion and we were off through Hancock and up into the Keweenaw Peninsula to visit old haunts like Fort Wilkinson State Park, Copper Harbor, and a couple of Eagle places.
There were a few colorful trees early on and a cup of good coffee in Calumet, but the farther we went the greener the trees were. We stopped at one nice beach for a little walk and heart hunt and at a place with big rocks, like climb on rocks complete with rock stairways. The sky was blue and the sun bright and it all looked excellent.
We didn’t reach Copper Harbor until sometime after 5:00 and found a pretty level site in the state park. Most sites were unlevel. The price was only $23, but Michigan hits foreigners for an extra $8 just to be in the area.
Nan Lou cooked up a special chicken dinner complete with an artichoke dip. Good ole Joann’s fudge again served as a bit of sweetin’ n after dinner. I paid bills with an incredibly slow wifi which was probably run by the Michigan Mafia from Mackinaw.
So be it. hb
There were about six places that Ham zoomed by and said we would check them out on the way back. We’ll see how that works out for Zoom Man. nl
Monday, October 4, 2011
We slept very late, I won’t say how late, but it was around 1:30 when we had breakfast. Actually it was lunch at the Mariner and my Ruben was OK while Nan Lou’s strange bowl of stuff was barely adequate. Her burnt-to-a-crisp bacon was as limp and as floppy as my dick. The waiter also was inept. (My strange stuff was supposed to be brichetta –sp- and it was awful. I asked if the tomatoes were warmed and assured that they were. They were right out of the fridge. As Ham described: I asked for bacon so crisp it was almost burnt. The fat was white and the whole strip was limp. Also awful.)
We went to several shops and found out about a few places to go. US 41 into Copper Harbor was supposed to have “awesome” fall colors covering the road like a tunnel. We went to the mountain, a 1300 foot above sea level hill (about 700 feet above surrounding ground) for a view of the city and bay. In places the grade was so steep I know the poor old LER would have a hard time if it could make it at all. One of the shop girls told us about the Harbor Haus and its wonderful 5 star food. We stopped by to look at a menu and ended up eating there. It was a bit pricy, but it was different with its French and German cuisine and the variety of fish dinners. We thought one of the cheaper dishes sound good and different and we had it. It being Jager Schnitzel mit spaetzle. Translated that is breaded pork poopies and short squirmy white worms.
By the time we got back to the campground it was dark and I thought backing into the site would be darn near impossible and we’d end up squatting in a large pull-thru site. But, with Nan Lou’s expert guidance we made it and were settled for the night.hb
Ham forgot to mention my Tai Chi Woman’s heave of the picnic table so he could get in. Alas! I have become one of these Q Tip old ladies who stand aside and aimlessly wave their arms so Clyde can maneuver into the site. nl
If nl becomes a Q tip I might just back over her.
The place was freezing cold. Is my blood thin? Should I look for a shawl instead of a scarf for my neck? We ate and both of us had our sundaes, then went to Wally’s for permission to spend the night. While Hammie was in getting said permission, I discovered the Invasion Of The Nasty House Flies. Someway, they managed to get through the screen on the vent. I quickly called him and yelled, “Raid! Bring some Raid!” Which he did; and, now we look for carcases.
Our parking space, out on the back forty, is one of those with meetings of teen agers, Some driving round and round the lamp posts, peculiar man in an antique car pulling right along side the Dragon, and who knows what else. Perhaps we will be royally entertained by the show this evening. I’m not worried about freezing tonight. nl
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Well I was asleep so quickly last night I missed any show there was. I think we were up early enough to do an Egg McMuffin but last night we froze in Mickey’s so we went to the local Perkins and had a fair to middlin’ breakfast. It was then time for another WalMart shopping excursion and we were off through Hancock and up into the Keweenaw Peninsula to visit old haunts like Fort Wilkinson State Park, Copper Harbor, and a couple of Eagle places.
There were a few colorful trees early on and a cup of good coffee in Calumet, but the farther we went the greener the trees were. We stopped at one nice beach for a little walk and heart hunt and at a place with big rocks, like climb on rocks complete with rock stairways. The sky was blue and the sun bright and it all looked excellent.
We didn’t reach Copper Harbor until sometime after 5:00 and found a pretty level site in the state park. Most sites were unlevel. The price was only $23, but Michigan hits foreigners for an extra $8 just to be in the area.
Nan Lou cooked up a special chicken dinner complete with an artichoke dip. Good ole Joann’s fudge again served as a bit of sweetin’ n after dinner. I paid bills with an incredibly slow wifi which was probably run by the Michigan Mafia from Mackinaw.
So be it. hb
There were about six places that Ham zoomed by and said we would check them out on the way back. We’ll see how that works out for Zoom Man. nl
Monday, October 4, 2011
We slept very late, I won’t say how late, but it was around 1:30 when we had breakfast. Actually it was lunch at the Mariner and my Ruben was OK while Nan Lou’s strange bowl of stuff was barely adequate. Her burnt-to-a-crisp bacon was as limp and as floppy as my dick. The waiter also was inept. (My strange stuff was supposed to be brichetta –sp- and it was awful. I asked if the tomatoes were warmed and assured that they were. They were right out of the fridge. As Ham described: I asked for bacon so crisp it was almost burnt. The fat was white and the whole strip was limp. Also awful.)
We went to several shops and found out about a few places to go. US 41 into Copper Harbor was supposed to have “awesome” fall colors covering the road like a tunnel. We went to the mountain, a 1300 foot above sea level hill (about 700 feet above surrounding ground) for a view of the city and bay. In places the grade was so steep I know the poor old LER would have a hard time if it could make it at all. One of the shop girls told us about the Harbor Haus and its wonderful 5 star food. We stopped by to look at a menu and ended up eating there. It was a bit pricy, but it was different with its French and German cuisine and the variety of fish dinners. We thought one of the cheaper dishes sound good and different and we had it. It being Jager Schnitzel mit spaetzle. Translated that is breaded pork poopies and short squirmy white worms.
By the time we got back to the campground it was dark and I thought backing into the site would be darn near impossible and we’d end up squatting in a large pull-thru site. But, with Nan Lou’s expert guidance we made it and were settled for the night.hb
Ham forgot to mention my Tai Chi Woman’s heave of the picnic table so he could get in. Alas! I have become one of these Q Tip old ladies who stand aside and aimlessly wave their arms so Clyde can maneuver into the site. nl
If nl becomes a Q tip I might just back over her.
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Tuesday, October 04, 2011
We were up earlier today and Nan Lou cooked an excellent breakfast. Then we hit a few shops and got some cold weather headgear. The fish place didn’t have any smoked fish but we were told it might get some in the afternoon. An adjacent shop had a nice drum which I almost bought but found the $45 price was really $145. She would sell it for $100, but that was a far cry from my chintz level.
Following the directions and suggestions of one of the shop ladies we went to Hunter’s Beach and spent an hour looking for beautiful little rocks. It was a very nice beach without any sand. Its rocks were mostly small like golf balls, or smaller. There were really large rock formations one could climb on and many trees with roots wandering about trying to find purchase in rock crevices. I say again, “It was a very nice beach.”
We were up earlier today and Nan Lou cooked an excellent breakfast. Then we hit a few shops and got some cold weather headgear. The fish place didn’t have any smoked fish but we were told it might get some in the afternoon. An adjacent shop had a nice drum which I almost bought but found the $45 price was really $145. She would sell it for $100, but that was a far cry from my chintz level.
Following the directions and suggestions of one of the shop ladies we went to Hunter’s Beach and spent an hour looking for beautiful little rocks. It was a very nice beach without any sand. Its rocks were mostly small like golf balls, or smaller. There were really large rock formations one could climb on and many trees with roots wandering about trying to find purchase in rock crevices. I say again, “It was a very nice beach.”
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Then we took a 13 mile drive down US 41 to see the awesome leaf beauty and found it to be pretty nice in places but a trifle short of awesome.
Now it was time to eat and all we could find in town was the dreadful Mariner. We went there and sat forever only to be ignored while others were waited on. Between poor service and bad over priced food we decided to leave. We saw that the local bar, Ziks, was open and we went there for pizza. The pizza was quite good; the raspberry tea was even better.
We have changed address from the state park to Lake Fanny Hooe Campground which has acceptable wifi and fairly level sites. The electricity didn’t work at our assigned site so we moved to a nearby site with electricity that did work.
Nan Lou has been emailing chat style with Tachou and found out that Evans is coming home from Nepal a day early on the fifth, tomorrow I think. We will probably be back in civilization with a cell phone connection by then. hb
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
We woke up a bit earlier than usual and leapt out of bed post-haste in order to make it to breakfast before The Pines stopped serving. The fare wasn’t too bad for a change. My oatmeal was pretty good in fact. However, Hammie’s omelet was definitely in the average category.
We took a drive down to the end of the road so Ham could prove to me that the lighthouse was not on an island. Sometimes, I am rather stubborn. I still say it is a rather inconsequential lighthouse and did not deserve a sixteen dollar fare to go on a little boat ride to see it. We took a picture of the sign stating that it was the beginning of route US 41. Years ago we were going to do this fine photo essay of this road from start to finish. It never was accomplished, of course.
Perhaps with the enormously huge Dragon Wagon, we might attempt it some day if we get bored with places to go. Why not, she says.
With Ham proving his point by educating me and improving my geographic knowledge, it was time to say good-bye to the town with meager restaurants, Copper Harbor. There were all those places we had earmarked for a stop on the way north; and, we made a concerted effort to stop at all of them on the way south. One thing we noticed was that in the two days we were in Copper Harbor the trees had prettied up quite a bit. Stopping at a pretty pebble beach with big rocky outcrops, we again looked for agates and heart rocks. Since I am shore bound because of balance, Ham entertained his inner child (as he always does) by picking one of the biggest rocks and climbing it to its apex. I told him that he must have driven May nuts when he was a kid. I didn’t have the camera to get a picture this time. Drat!
Nan Lou, all excited about her purchase of a thirty one foot travel trailer, had been trying to reach us to no avail. No cell service and iffy wi fi in all of the Copper Harbor area. We finally managed to reach her and she said the trailer would be delivered today.Her poor little Lazy Daze will go into the storage lot. I’m thinking it has to get out of there since, I imagine it would deteriorate rapidly just sitting through the winter. That will be a subject for discussion later.
We stopped at the biggest rock and mineral store I have ever seen. It was in a huge barn or factory size building. I was interested in adding to our lingum collection. We found the ones they had. One was enormous, several feet long in fact. It was priced in the four hundred dollar range. But the kicker was that ones in almost the same size as the one we bought for $7.50 were priced at thirty five and forty dollars. All of their stuff was way, way over priced. We meandered a bit and left. What else was there to do?
Ham couldn’t understand why I was hungry when we reached Calumet. Actually, I was hungry before that, but why mention it when there was no place to eat. Dragon W. took up two parking spaces, but that seemed prudent since the meter maid was on patrol. We stopped in a small coffee shop/café and had a wonderful snack type bite to eat. A really good small humus platter for $3.99 and I had a slice of quiche which I shared with his Nibs who in turn shared his pumpkin pie with moi. Ham said taste the coffee. It was great. Better than Starbucks, even.
As I said, you have crappy eating experiences most of the time, then, when you least expect it you hit paydirt.
We wandered the galleries and gift shops and even an antique shop (looking for a tea kettle) and it was time to say bye bye to Calumet. Very luckily, the sun was in my eyes and I tried to find my sun glasses in my purse. Horrors! Panic! Heart Pounding!No Purse. I had left it in the cute café hanging on the back of my chair. Fortunately we were not out of town and Ham dropped me off while he parked the Wagon. They saw me coming and by the time I had the screen door open the young proprietor met me at the door with purse in hand. Wow! My heart kept beating like a drum (get that Hammie?) for several miles. You see, I had all our money in my wallet.
Ham took Rte. 26 and not 41 into Houghton. The road was very bumpy and the view was very industrial.
It was the rush hour so getting on to the road that went over the bridge, was difficult. Ham, with usual aplomb, was up to the task with no effort. He pulled right into Wal Mart parking lot, secured the vehicle’s privacy and we lay down and Ham fell right to sleep. It was a long day and rather tiring on with all the beach walking, rock climbing, and store meandering.
After talking to Nan Lou after that brief nap, I volunteered to do this while Ham took another nap. I am through doing this now, so I quit. nl
Thursday, October 06, 2011
We were almost up in time for Mickey’s breakfast delight, but almost don’t count. So, we went across the street to Perkins and ate from the old fart menu. After that we went back across the street to visit a rock and gem place where we bought a few little stands for our lingums. Then to Wally’s where we had spent the night for something we needed really bad. I don’t remember what it was, but we needed it badly.
Finally we hit the road to Porcupine Mountain State Park after reading about the wonderful rocks we would find there. The drive was very colorful even though there were a lot of trees that had lost all their leaves. We passed Misery Bay that Steve Hamilton featured in his latest story and put it on our list of places to stop at on our way back from Porky Mountain. We want to see if anyone is hanging from a tree like in the book; and, look for rocks. Since the things we will collect are small maybe I should call them stones; I just don’t know when a stone becomes a rock or vice versa.
Arriving at Porky Mountain we saw no sign of a state park campground and went to the visitor center and found out that the signs we saw about campgrounds were for the parks places. The one we picked was $33 for the night which is the most costly one on this trip. We are on a site with only the camp’s, road and one other row of other campers between us and Lake Superior. Luckily, the campers in front of us parked so our view isn’t blocked too much.
We had the left over schnitzel and flat worms for dinner and it was adequate. Nan Lou finished her maple fudge for desert with our 734th cup of Keurig Koffee. Oh how spoiled we have become. I do exaggerate a bit.
Now then, we are not too happy with the author of our $7.95 booklet who said there many beautiful rocks here. The so called beach is nothing but sandstone, or something equally boring, and nothing we want. No diamonds, emeralds, or the ever popular lingums, just crappy hunks of dark brown sandstone in very large slabs or whatever it is. It is nice to look at Gitchy Gumme which we are almost at the shores of. (nl here; People carry lawn chairs out to the slabs of rock and sit out there, lounging and drinking. Perhaps it’s more fun than agate, etc, hunting, but we are royally ticked off that we followed advice from an author, and he didn’t know beans. So there!)
I finally won a scrabble game. I’d do my happy dance but there is no brass pole here. hb
Friday, October 07, 2011
It was pleasant eating breakfast in the Dragon looking across the narrow street to the lake. The neighbor directly opposite us left and so we had an unobstructed view. After cleaning up, we wandered over to the waterfront, gazed at the big slab rocks, and determined it was time to be on our way.
We took a brief visit to the visitor’s center to look at the colorful woods. I particularly wanted a picture of a tree that had deep red, bright yellow, and some green all on the same tree and even the same branch. I had never seen that before.
OK, now it really was time to go. We had decided to check out Misery Bay’s Agate Beach, so we were retracing our route all the way. The road was virtually empty and the driving was easy.
That sounds like a pretty good song title to me.
The road to this beach was completely empty of traffic. The beach was 9.6 miles from the main highway. This road was paved and smooth, then it became patched and bumpy, and at last it was unpaved, but still a smoother ride.
When at last we knew we had arrived and were slackjawed with surprise because the area had a campground and the place was busy. The beach had as many people as Weko on a chilly day.
Today, I saw a thermometer saying 77 degrees. With the wind off the water it was still very, very warm.
Hamilton loved this beach. He found lots of rocks, big ones that he had never seen before. I suppose I hadn’t either, but he was the finder. I amused myself trying to find pretty ones for spitter. I talked to a gentleman who was also searching and told him I had yet to find an agate.
Now it was time to eat and all we could find in town was the dreadful Mariner. We went there and sat forever only to be ignored while others were waited on. Between poor service and bad over priced food we decided to leave. We saw that the local bar, Ziks, was open and we went there for pizza. The pizza was quite good; the raspberry tea was even better.
We have changed address from the state park to Lake Fanny Hooe Campground which has acceptable wifi and fairly level sites. The electricity didn’t work at our assigned site so we moved to a nearby site with electricity that did work.
Nan Lou has been emailing chat style with Tachou and found out that Evans is coming home from Nepal a day early on the fifth, tomorrow I think. We will probably be back in civilization with a cell phone connection by then. hb
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
We woke up a bit earlier than usual and leapt out of bed post-haste in order to make it to breakfast before The Pines stopped serving. The fare wasn’t too bad for a change. My oatmeal was pretty good in fact. However, Hammie’s omelet was definitely in the average category.
We took a drive down to the end of the road so Ham could prove to me that the lighthouse was not on an island. Sometimes, I am rather stubborn. I still say it is a rather inconsequential lighthouse and did not deserve a sixteen dollar fare to go on a little boat ride to see it. We took a picture of the sign stating that it was the beginning of route US 41. Years ago we were going to do this fine photo essay of this road from start to finish. It never was accomplished, of course.
Perhaps with the enormously huge Dragon Wagon, we might attempt it some day if we get bored with places to go. Why not, she says.
With Ham proving his point by educating me and improving my geographic knowledge, it was time to say good-bye to the town with meager restaurants, Copper Harbor. There were all those places we had earmarked for a stop on the way north; and, we made a concerted effort to stop at all of them on the way south. One thing we noticed was that in the two days we were in Copper Harbor the trees had prettied up quite a bit. Stopping at a pretty pebble beach with big rocky outcrops, we again looked for agates and heart rocks. Since I am shore bound because of balance, Ham entertained his inner child (as he always does) by picking one of the biggest rocks and climbing it to its apex. I told him that he must have driven May nuts when he was a kid. I didn’t have the camera to get a picture this time. Drat!
Nan Lou, all excited about her purchase of a thirty one foot travel trailer, had been trying to reach us to no avail. No cell service and iffy wi fi in all of the Copper Harbor area. We finally managed to reach her and she said the trailer would be delivered today.Her poor little Lazy Daze will go into the storage lot. I’m thinking it has to get out of there since, I imagine it would deteriorate rapidly just sitting through the winter. That will be a subject for discussion later.
We stopped at the biggest rock and mineral store I have ever seen. It was in a huge barn or factory size building. I was interested in adding to our lingum collection. We found the ones they had. One was enormous, several feet long in fact. It was priced in the four hundred dollar range. But the kicker was that ones in almost the same size as the one we bought for $7.50 were priced at thirty five and forty dollars. All of their stuff was way, way over priced. We meandered a bit and left. What else was there to do?
Ham couldn’t understand why I was hungry when we reached Calumet. Actually, I was hungry before that, but why mention it when there was no place to eat. Dragon W. took up two parking spaces, but that seemed prudent since the meter maid was on patrol. We stopped in a small coffee shop/café and had a wonderful snack type bite to eat. A really good small humus platter for $3.99 and I had a slice of quiche which I shared with his Nibs who in turn shared his pumpkin pie with moi. Ham said taste the coffee. It was great. Better than Starbucks, even.
As I said, you have crappy eating experiences most of the time, then, when you least expect it you hit paydirt.
We wandered the galleries and gift shops and even an antique shop (looking for a tea kettle) and it was time to say bye bye to Calumet. Very luckily, the sun was in my eyes and I tried to find my sun glasses in my purse. Horrors! Panic! Heart Pounding!No Purse. I had left it in the cute café hanging on the back of my chair. Fortunately we were not out of town and Ham dropped me off while he parked the Wagon. They saw me coming and by the time I had the screen door open the young proprietor met me at the door with purse in hand. Wow! My heart kept beating like a drum (get that Hammie?) for several miles. You see, I had all our money in my wallet.
Ham took Rte. 26 and not 41 into Houghton. The road was very bumpy and the view was very industrial.
It was the rush hour so getting on to the road that went over the bridge, was difficult. Ham, with usual aplomb, was up to the task with no effort. He pulled right into Wal Mart parking lot, secured the vehicle’s privacy and we lay down and Ham fell right to sleep. It was a long day and rather tiring on with all the beach walking, rock climbing, and store meandering.
After talking to Nan Lou after that brief nap, I volunteered to do this while Ham took another nap. I am through doing this now, so I quit. nl
Thursday, October 06, 2011
We were almost up in time for Mickey’s breakfast delight, but almost don’t count. So, we went across the street to Perkins and ate from the old fart menu. After that we went back across the street to visit a rock and gem place where we bought a few little stands for our lingums. Then to Wally’s where we had spent the night for something we needed really bad. I don’t remember what it was, but we needed it badly.
Finally we hit the road to Porcupine Mountain State Park after reading about the wonderful rocks we would find there. The drive was very colorful even though there were a lot of trees that had lost all their leaves. We passed Misery Bay that Steve Hamilton featured in his latest story and put it on our list of places to stop at on our way back from Porky Mountain. We want to see if anyone is hanging from a tree like in the book; and, look for rocks. Since the things we will collect are small maybe I should call them stones; I just don’t know when a stone becomes a rock or vice versa.
Arriving at Porky Mountain we saw no sign of a state park campground and went to the visitor center and found out that the signs we saw about campgrounds were for the parks places. The one we picked was $33 for the night which is the most costly one on this trip. We are on a site with only the camp’s, road and one other row of other campers between us and Lake Superior. Luckily, the campers in front of us parked so our view isn’t blocked too much.
We had the left over schnitzel and flat worms for dinner and it was adequate. Nan Lou finished her maple fudge for desert with our 734th cup of Keurig Koffee. Oh how spoiled we have become. I do exaggerate a bit.
Now then, we are not too happy with the author of our $7.95 booklet who said there many beautiful rocks here. The so called beach is nothing but sandstone, or something equally boring, and nothing we want. No diamonds, emeralds, or the ever popular lingums, just crappy hunks of dark brown sandstone in very large slabs or whatever it is. It is nice to look at Gitchy Gumme which we are almost at the shores of. (nl here; People carry lawn chairs out to the slabs of rock and sit out there, lounging and drinking. Perhaps it’s more fun than agate, etc, hunting, but we are royally ticked off that we followed advice from an author, and he didn’t know beans. So there!)
I finally won a scrabble game. I’d do my happy dance but there is no brass pole here. hb
Friday, October 07, 2011
It was pleasant eating breakfast in the Dragon looking across the narrow street to the lake. The neighbor directly opposite us left and so we had an unobstructed view. After cleaning up, we wandered over to the waterfront, gazed at the big slab rocks, and determined it was time to be on our way.
We took a brief visit to the visitor’s center to look at the colorful woods. I particularly wanted a picture of a tree that had deep red, bright yellow, and some green all on the same tree and even the same branch. I had never seen that before.
OK, now it really was time to go. We had decided to check out Misery Bay’s Agate Beach, so we were retracing our route all the way. The road was virtually empty and the driving was easy.
That sounds like a pretty good song title to me.
The road to this beach was completely empty of traffic. The beach was 9.6 miles from the main highway. This road was paved and smooth, then it became patched and bumpy, and at last it was unpaved, but still a smoother ride.
When at last we knew we had arrived and were slackjawed with surprise because the area had a campground and the place was busy. The beach had as many people as Weko on a chilly day.
Today, I saw a thermometer saying 77 degrees. With the wind off the water it was still very, very warm.
Hamilton loved this beach. He found lots of rocks, big ones that he had never seen before. I suppose I hadn’t either, but he was the finder. I amused myself trying to find pretty ones for spitter. I talked to a gentleman who was also searching and told him I had yet to find an agate.
He said he had been coming up for years and had never found one there.He wondered why they called it agate beach. He said he had more luck at Little Girl Beach. So, many places to go and things to see on the next trip. The trouble with that is, we will never have weather like this again.
Ham had returned to the wagon to get a bag for all his loot; and, when we left it was up hill and his bag weighed more than ten pounds. No wonder he didn’t take wimpy me up on my offer to tote the thing!
Soon after we got on the main road again, Evans finally called and gave a small report on his trip to Nepal. He was most impressed with the living conditions of the Kathmandu citizens and the happy, cheerful smiles of the little kids playing in sewage. It certainly makes a person think.
We fussed a bit about where to eat and ended up at Applebees. Then, Ham decided to stay at the familiar Wally Campground. Since this is our third night here, they should know us by now. Also, the congregation of kids who seem to have nothing better to do than hang out at Wal-Mart.
He has gone into the store to get some gadget to clean bugs off the windshield. It was so hot with the sun baking the interior, I opened the window a bit and turned on the fan after blocking the sun with the front curtain. Actually it is very pleasant now; and, I’m finished. nl
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Not mentioned yesterday was that after we left Appleby’s we saw a girl kicking something on the ground in the parking lot. It seemed to flutter a little and then just lie there quietly. I just had to see what it was. There were two of these things and they were little bats. Kind of cute little things that didn’t deserve to be kicked. I was getting ready to take their photo and they flew away. A guy came out of a store and said there’s another and pointed to one on a post. I took a picture and gave it a little poke, its furry back was very soft. It flew two feet and as I was trying to take its picture with its wings spread, it flew away like the other two. I am too slow a photographer.
We arose in time to get to Mickey’s for grease and oatmeal. Nan Lou ate the oats. Then we hit the road through Houghton, down to Baraga, and then to Marquette and Munising. We stopped at the place of the awning disaster just before Munising and saw the remnants of the awning were gone. In Munising we stopped for the old spouted stove top water heating device we had seen at an antique store. Alas, they were closed so we went to a restaurant called Dogpatch to drown our sorrows in food. It was themed around Lil’ Abner from the old comic strip. The food was bad. Munising is worse than Copper Harbor in the eatery category. Well, they did have a Pizza Hut which we saw as we left town.
We decided to bypass Grand Maris and go on down to US 2 along the north edge of Lake Michigan and see if there were any campgrounds open. The state forest campground called Hog Island was still open and we paid our $15 for a site with a lake view.
There were no beach walks today, no rocks collected. Just driving. No good coffee or good food. Not many colorful trees left to see, but there were a lot of Aspens along route 28 shaking and quaking, or is it shivering and quivering, and some white trunked Birches. One scenic stop in particular that was quite colorful five or so days ago was blah. I wonder what tomorrow will bring as we go through an area with the right trees that had started to color a week or ten days ago.
The last couple of nights were actually a tad too warm but it seems to be cooler tonight. It was a bit windy today but nothing like the awful awning wind of our trip through this area on our way to the Keweenaw. hb
Sunday, October 09, 2011
As Hammie predicted, it was cooler in the night. Nothing like the usual UP temperatures for this time of year, but cooler than we have had the last few days. The read bag still sufficed. I’m wondering how much longer it will do the trick.
Hamilton mourned the passing of color and described the area as “blah!” Was he in for a surprise! Suddenly the world turned red and orange. We came to a bridge that had a walkway on both sides. A lot of people were photographing the dune hills. I turned my head to try to see what they saw and Wow! the colors were incredible. The driver wondered if I wanted to stop and I said no, since it is so hard to turn the Dragon around.
He went on for a mile or more and then announced that he would like to go back. So we did.
I’m so glad we did because the ruby reds with the cadmium oranges were incredible; especially, when they were on one green tree. I can’t leave this without trying to describe the other viewers.
Ham had returned to the wagon to get a bag for all his loot; and, when we left it was up hill and his bag weighed more than ten pounds. No wonder he didn’t take wimpy me up on my offer to tote the thing!
Soon after we got on the main road again, Evans finally called and gave a small report on his trip to Nepal. He was most impressed with the living conditions of the Kathmandu citizens and the happy, cheerful smiles of the little kids playing in sewage. It certainly makes a person think.
We fussed a bit about where to eat and ended up at Applebees. Then, Ham decided to stay at the familiar Wally Campground. Since this is our third night here, they should know us by now. Also, the congregation of kids who seem to have nothing better to do than hang out at Wal-Mart.
He has gone into the store to get some gadget to clean bugs off the windshield. It was so hot with the sun baking the interior, I opened the window a bit and turned on the fan after blocking the sun with the front curtain. Actually it is very pleasant now; and, I’m finished. nl
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Not mentioned yesterday was that after we left Appleby’s we saw a girl kicking something on the ground in the parking lot. It seemed to flutter a little and then just lie there quietly. I just had to see what it was. There were two of these things and they were little bats. Kind of cute little things that didn’t deserve to be kicked. I was getting ready to take their photo and they flew away. A guy came out of a store and said there’s another and pointed to one on a post. I took a picture and gave it a little poke, its furry back was very soft. It flew two feet and as I was trying to take its picture with its wings spread, it flew away like the other two. I am too slow a photographer.
We arose in time to get to Mickey’s for grease and oatmeal. Nan Lou ate the oats. Then we hit the road through Houghton, down to Baraga, and then to Marquette and Munising. We stopped at the place of the awning disaster just before Munising and saw the remnants of the awning were gone. In Munising we stopped for the old spouted stove top water heating device we had seen at an antique store. Alas, they were closed so we went to a restaurant called Dogpatch to drown our sorrows in food. It was themed around Lil’ Abner from the old comic strip. The food was bad. Munising is worse than Copper Harbor in the eatery category. Well, they did have a Pizza Hut which we saw as we left town.
We decided to bypass Grand Maris and go on down to US 2 along the north edge of Lake Michigan and see if there were any campgrounds open. The state forest campground called Hog Island was still open and we paid our $15 for a site with a lake view.
There were no beach walks today, no rocks collected. Just driving. No good coffee or good food. Not many colorful trees left to see, but there were a lot of Aspens along route 28 shaking and quaking, or is it shivering and quivering, and some white trunked Birches. One scenic stop in particular that was quite colorful five or so days ago was blah. I wonder what tomorrow will bring as we go through an area with the right trees that had started to color a week or ten days ago.
The last couple of nights were actually a tad too warm but it seems to be cooler tonight. It was a bit windy today but nothing like the awful awning wind of our trip through this area on our way to the Keweenaw. hb
Sunday, October 09, 2011
As Hammie predicted, it was cooler in the night. Nothing like the usual UP temperatures for this time of year, but cooler than we have had the last few days. The read bag still sufficed. I’m wondering how much longer it will do the trick.
Hamilton mourned the passing of color and described the area as “blah!” Was he in for a surprise! Suddenly the world turned red and orange. We came to a bridge that had a walkway on both sides. A lot of people were photographing the dune hills. I turned my head to try to see what they saw and Wow! the colors were incredible. The driver wondered if I wanted to stop and I said no, since it is so hard to turn the Dragon around.
He went on for a mile or more and then announced that he would like to go back. So we did.
I’m so glad we did because the ruby reds with the cadmium oranges were incredible; especially, when they were on one green tree. I can’t leave this without trying to describe the other viewers.
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They all wanted to get their pictures, but let me tell you, they were grim. Mucho grim! The narrow walk way leading to the bridge barely accommodated one pedestrian, so the trick was to turn three quarters so that two people could pass. Most people just came charging right at you and you wondered if you didn’t jump fast enough, if you would go barreling over the guard rail into the thundering traffic just inches away, or on the way back to the parking lot, possibly going
oopsy do right down into the canyon. I do hope these poor people enjoyed their day. They needed help.
We kept seeing smoked fish signs but thought we would go on a while. I saw a few wild rice signs for about $4.00 a pound . I did ask Ham to turn around at a likely place, but it was almost $7 a pound. It did look good and I didn’t want to run all around comparing prices and I suppose I’m cooking Thanksgiving dinner, so I figured I needed it. We needed to eat breakfast before we went hunting for fish. The little blue place by the bridge has pretty good breakfasts, which we learned a long time ago.Anything would have tasted fine, I think, since it was after noon, by the time we ate. Tummies satisfied we retraced our route to find the fish store that was belching smoke when we went past in the morning.. We had to go twenty miles to find it. But we figured it was fresh and we really loaded up on fish. We even bought a whole one that was 12 or more inches long with head and tail. A challenge for the cook later!
oopsy do right down into the canyon. I do hope these poor people enjoyed their day. They needed help.
We kept seeing smoked fish signs but thought we would go on a while. I saw a few wild rice signs for about $4.00 a pound . I did ask Ham to turn around at a likely place, but it was almost $7 a pound. It did look good and I didn’t want to run all around comparing prices and I suppose I’m cooking Thanksgiving dinner, so I figured I needed it. We needed to eat breakfast before we went hunting for fish. The little blue place by the bridge has pretty good breakfasts, which we learned a long time ago.Anything would have tasted fine, I think, since it was after noon, by the time we ate. Tummies satisfied we retraced our route to find the fish store that was belching smoke when we went past in the morning.. We had to go twenty miles to find it. But we figured it was fresh and we really loaded up on fish. We even bought a whole one that was 12 or more inches long with head and tail. A challenge for the cook later!
