Our Last Day of vacation

It finally cooled off - it was in the low 40s overnight, but warmed up nicely for our last day in Michigan.  We once again headed back to Mackinac Island.  This time we rented bicycles so we could ride the perimeter of the island.  It's eight miles around, and only took us a little over two hours when we stopped at least ten times.

Lake Huron reminds me of the Caribbean - bright blues and greens and very clean water.

We found these all around the shoreline.  They are rock cairns - small mounds of stones and pebbles built to mark biking and hiking trails.  It's traditional for each person passing by to add a stone.  We only added a few stones to a few cairns - too many to stop and look.

This was a natural spring coming off one of the hillsides.  We stopped for a very cold drink.  Unfortunately, 30 seconds after we drank, we noticed this:

Our next stop was St. Anne's Catholic Church.  They have baptismal records dating back to 1659.

The church was originally located in Mackinaw City, but in 1780 it was moved across the ice to Mackinac Island where it still stands.  Mass is still held on Sunday mornings.

After we turned in the bicycles we headed to lunch and then stopped for dessert.

We each had a gigantic white chocolate covered strawberry!

Tomorrow morning we start our travels towards home.  We're going to miss the fabulous view, sunlight until 10:00pm, and the very overpriced everything!  It's been a great trip and we can't wait to some day return.

A Few Pics From the Last week on the Road

It turns out we had a few musicians at the rally in Goshen last week. 

Carol playing her fiddle while Steve watches. She and Mark agreed to learn their instruments (Mark-banjo) so they could play at the Goshen rally.  Mark left the banjo at home. Carol is still in the early learning stage. Maybe next year in Tunica.

The "newbie" from Alabama.  He played the bagpipes beautifully and he's played for a number of Presidents!

We headed to the RV Hall of Fame Museum in Elkhart.  The best part was the room with all the old RVs dating back to the early 1900s.

Saturday afternoon we had a Belmont Stakes party at Pam and Windsor's new motorhome.

Windsor and Pam were the bookies.  Sadly, I won nothing.  I think Mark won back the $4 he put in.

Saturday night we said goodbye to everyone because Sunday morning we headed up to Mackinaw City, Michigan.  We always wanted to see this part of the country, and Goshen, IN was more than halfway so there was no reason not to just go.

We arrived mid-afternoon at the Mackinaw Mill Creek Campground.  This is a gigantic park with over 700 spots.  We don't have a view of Lake Huron from our campsite, but 100 steps away is this view:

Monday we took a ferry across to Mackinac Island.  It's a short 18 minute ride to a fabulous little island.  We paid for a 2-hour carriage ride to get the highlights of the island.

This is Salt Arch on the island.

Today we drove up to Sault Ste. Marie on the Canadian border.  First we had to pay to cross the Mackinac Bridge.  It's the 3rd longest suspension bridge in the world.

The Soo Locks were very impressive.  We were lucky enough to see two ships go through from Lake Superior to Lake Huron.

When we got here on Sunday, the temperature was in the low 90s which is unseasonably warm.  Yesterday was the same. Fortunately we golfed early yesterday (7:30a).  It was hot on the island but we had to ride the ferry inside because it was raining the whole way back.  Today we have a high of 59.  Mark had to buy a jacket up in Sault St. Marie.  Tonight - freeze warning!  Just got the electric blanket out from under the bed.  Tomorrow we plan to go back to Mackinac Island to rent bikes and pedal around the perimeter of the island before heading south on Thursday towards home.

We Just Keep Eating!

I'm going to try this again tonight.  Last night's internet was too slow to upload pictures.  Now I have to remember another day's worth of rally activities.

Tuesday morning we headed off to golf at a course 7 miles away.  We love Indiana golf - no hills.

We didn't score well, but we had fun. 

After golf we headed to the Shipshewana Flea Market.  (Nation's 3rd largest)  Not much has changed in the five years since we were here.  Just as many white cotton socks and $4.95 sunglasses.  All we bought was two gigantic pretzels. 

Tuesday evening we went to dinner with Steve and Carol and Windsor and Pam at the South Side Diner and Soda Shop which has been featured on the Food Network. 

I had the Philly Chili which comes in a large ice cream dish.  It was delicious.  We had to top off our dinners with desert - I had blueberry pie and Mark had strawberry pie.

Wednesday Mark went with the guys to the Mor-ryde factory tour while Carol, Pam, Sharon and I went shopping.  Carol and Pam are professional shoppers and I knew it would be a very long day.  Six hours after leaving the park, we returned.  It was a great day and I'm glad I only do that once a year! 

Mark and the guys saw this going down the street - a buggy pulling in boat.

After our Cedar Creek factory tour this afternoon, we headed to The Carriage House for a home cooked Amish meal.  Seth, the owner, serves dinners in a building on their farm.  His mom does the cooking and he does the serving.  He was more than happy to answer all the questions we had about being Amish. 

Jerry, Sharon, Peg, and Jack waiting for the food to start arriving.

We all helped ourselves as the bowls were passed around the table.  After the bread and salad came the chicken, roast beef, potatoes, gravy, noodles, and green beans.  Then the best - strawberry, lemon meringue, apple, and chocolate peanut butter pies were passed around.  Needless to say, no one left hungry.  It was all fabulous.

Mark petted the Clydesdale's on the farm.

On The Road Again

Since returning home from our short workamping job, we've mostly been working around the house.  The neighbor hired us to replace part of her front yard with sod.  We worked our butts off for about five hours and now her yard looks much nicer.  Unfortunately, all the dirt we cut off our her yard had to be put into our back yard, along with the few extra pieces of new sod.  We've spent a lot of time watering grass. 

In addition, we've been watching Matthew usually one night per weekend.

Matthew loves the swimming pool Grandpa bought him.

Yesterday morning we left the house at 5:30a to drive to Goshen, Indiana to attend the Cedar Creek owner's rally.  They had dinner ready for us yesterday shortly after we arrived. 

Today we had to go in search of a new switch for the water heater.  Luckily it was a $5.00 replacement part.   In our wanderings we had to fill up the truck.  $90 - it was near E, plus diesel is high in Indiana.  We saw it as high at $4.09/gallon.  At home it's $3.45. 

Tonight was the welcome dinner where Steve and Winsdor made their BBQ in the dutch ovens.  As usual, everything was delicious.

The meat went on at 2:00pm; we ate at 6:00pm.

The gang eating.  This is the only shade to be found.

Butch is learning to love other dogs.  He only growled at one of these dogs - the other black one, but then they all did fine together.  It helped that they are all the same size.  Perfect camping dogs!