Final Destination

The ultimate goal of this trip was to walk the Mackinaw Bridge on Labor Day. So, we headed back over the bridge to the rest area across the bridge for another "good" nights rest. Adam was driving again only this time it was in the dark. Yahoo! He was even more nervous and we only went about 25 mph with lots of prayers. We had had a few scary off road trips with the camper trying to find a campsite but finally gave up and went to the rest area. This time Adam and Natalie got a little paranoid and were afraid someone was trying to break into the camper or take the bikes. Even had to turn the camera on to see the back of the camper to check on bikes. Eventually they settled down and let us go to sleep. Morning came and of course another day without a shower. Sarah could hardly handle this. She did the sink wash up.

Gram doesn't look like she knows for sure where she is.

5 miles is the total length of the bridge with at least half of it going uphill. My feet are the worst feet and I was pretty nervous about them hurting me. I brought my tennies and my trusty croc sandals. The crocs are what I thought would work best for me. Well, the night at the campground was extremely cold and the furnace came on. I didn't realize that the rubber crocs were on the heat vent on the floor. When I stepped into them to go to the bathroom in the morning I couldn't get my right foot into the shoe. The heat had shrunk it so bad it would not fit. So, I was pretty frantic. Stuck them in the water and started pulling. Did get it large enough to wear and I ended up walking in them for half of the trip. Pretty funny.

First part of the walk was at least 1/2 mile to get to the place you line up at. They put you in a school bus and drive you across the bridge and you walk back. It was surprising how quick the line went. 50,000 people, including the governor, walk the bridge. Here we are in line for the bus.Here Leah is giving her mother a great big kiss on her first school bus ride.David and the trusty stroller

4 Generations at the starting point after being bussed across the bridge to walk back. 82 years old down to 10 months. I walked part of the way with a sweet couple and their 3 month old baby. After talking for a while they said they lived close to Edmore and I was saying how my church has a school there and camp every summer. They asked what religion, so I said SDA. Believe it or not, they said they were Adventists also. Turns out their new pastor is Willie and his wife Jodie Poole that was good friends with Adam and Sarah. Small world.

Leah made some new friends and even walked a little by herself.

David and I crossing the finish line.

The fun wasn't over yet. On to the ferry and over to the island.

First thing we saw as we approached was the grand hotel.

It felt so good to ride the bike and be off of your feet. Okay, the island is 7 1/2 miles around so I did exercise overload on that day. We didn't have much time to shop on the island but enough time to get to the fudge shop and make a big purchase. Riding is fun but the horses leave quite a few droppings that you have to maneuver around during the ride. No cars allowed on island, only bikes and horses. Notice I am not in the picture with everyone. I was so far ahead they could hardly keep up with me.

All in all it was a great trip. Kids are already planning a trip with Joe and Nilza joining us next summer. I guess we will have to invest in a bunk house to pull behind the camper. And then the boat, which they will not go without next time, will have to go behind that. I think you will have to tranquilize me to get me over the bridge in that caravan.

More up North

On Sunday we woke up in Munising, MI to another beautiful day. Time for a boat ride. The water was so beautiful the boys were so disappointed that they hadn't brought our own boat. Maybe we could have stuck one of those in the camper also......We reserved a spot on a boat tour for the Picture Rocks. Guess what? We couldn't all get ready and be there on time so we lost our spot..Dan sure was happy. But, never fear, another boat left in an hour so we made sure we were back on time. After all, what's the hurry. We were on vacation. First we parked gram under the tree with Walter and she pulled out her book for some good reading. Started out on the top deck of the boat but it sure got hot. Since the captain said it was a 4 hour tour, Oh no!, I eventually went down under with my book. Rocks looked the same going back as they did heading out. They are really amazing.
Heading out into Lake Superior.
This is the Indian profile.
Captain Woolf
This was the Vase.

On Sabbath, we actually found a campsite and spent one night there. A real bargain at $18.0o with electricity even. It was beautiful right on the lake. Bathrooms left a lot to be desired, but remember, we spent the last night in the rest area with no showers, so we were pretty happy for anything. Natalie and Adam found a hotel and got a great pizza and good nights rest with a little cable tv thrown in for the fun of it. There aren't even any Walmarts around to park in their parking lots. Here's Natalie taking a quick swim. Notice the wet suit.

Just down the road was the famous town called "Christmas". Wow, how far up north did we go?

In the afternoon we went to White Fish Point with White Fish Bay off to one side but we were on Lake Superior. Even witnessed a wedding on the beach. Believe me, they don't go all out for beach weddings like we do down south. I think the bride actually had a gown on, but everyone else, including the minister, was pretty casual. Told you we brought surfboards. To bad it was so calm without even a breeze. No waves all weekend. That's Adam itching to catch one. Leah's getting into the act. Notice, no hands from dad. She has a great surfing form.

Her favorite thing on the beach were the rocks. We kept pulling her out into the smooth sand, but right back to the rocks she went.
She must be looking for a different flavored one.
I think she really loves her daddy.
I love this picture of her in the dunes. It was a great day

Labor Day Activities

We had a great Labor Day this year. Looks like these girls are ready to go. You know grandma, she just gets in the vehicle and goes wherever it goes. She is just happy to be on the move just like Leah. Our destination was the UP.....LONG RIDE! But it turned out great. Dan says we drove over 1100 miles from Friday night til Mon. Our trip started with trying to cram 9 adults, 1 baby, stroller, bike carrier, bed, etc, 1 large dog, 4 surfboards, 2 bikes inside the camper and 4 more outside. To bad the boys couldn't fit in the golf clubs, they were pretty disappointed. It worked out great cause we were so busy there wouldn't have been any time for golf. Here is Adam taking the fins off of the 4 surfboards. Two were stored over the pop out in the camper and then two went inside the closet in the back, out across the bed, and into the bathroom. The two bikes were on the other side of the bed but there was still room to sleep two people pretty cozily on the back bed.
Natalie wasn't so sure about this trip......It did turn out good and she really loved Mackinaw Island. Thought we had transplanted her on a Carribean Island with the blue clear water and 90 degree temperature.
This is our vehicle.
Our start up driver. His first stop, Don Pablos in Flint, his favorite. They closed ours down and boy did he take that hard.

Sarah and David in their designated spot, the dinette. They can sit up in it or set it down and recline with Leah on the end at their feet so she can be strapped in.I'm already working on my vacation. Sarah and I put together the invitations to the baby dedication on the trip. Had everything all cut and prepped and they were finished when we returned. I think they turned out so cute. All Sarah's ideas.First night we spent in the rest area before the bridge. Did not pop out so it was very tight. Dan and I on dinette, oh my back, gram on couch, Sarah and David on floor, Adam and Natalie in back on tight bed with boards and bikes, and Leah in the bathroom in her car seat.Only problem is Walter is wondering where he is to go.. I think he ended up on bed crowding Natalie and Adam.Leah woke up not to sure where she was and who that was sleeping next to her.First view of the bridge from a great rest area in town. We had breakfast and a short walk here before heading into the UP. Beautiful view and way to start the Sabbath.Walter found his favorite spot.Okay, needless to say, I was very nervous about crossing the bridge in the camper. I am sure some of you remember when a car was blown over the bridge and the women died. We were pretty high up with only a little rail to guard you. Adam did the driving. He admitted being a bit nervous. Notice both hands gripping the wheel. I just looked out the side window and enjoyed the water view.
First stop we made was the Soo locks. Dan sure loved it but the rest of us were a tad bored. Luckily though a big boat was coming thru at the time we arrived so it brought back memories of doing the locks in the Ohio river on Uncle Eddies House Boat.
On to Tecquanamin Falls, (sp). Walter encountered his first bear.
Then Leah had to go have a touch for herself.
Couldn't pass up a ride on a moose head. Yes, we are voting for Sarah Palin, I mean McCain. Love those Alaskan people and Mooses.
It was just a nice trek to see the falls. Beautiful. Oh, and the weather was terrific, 88-92 degrees every day and not a drop of rain.
Here are the falls with three generations in front of them. What a beautiful sight.

Fun!

I guess pulling weeds isn't fun, but being with friends is. This little garden we have gets so full of quack grass, that we have to spend hours on it just pulling weeds. It looks pretty nice when it is finished. Joyce brought her little rotatiller over and cleaned it out good for us. Then it was off to get flowers. We brought some beautiful rose bushes, mums, and Russian Sage. They looked so nice but of course you know I didn't take a picture of it after we finished. Can't wait to get back there and see what it looks like. Hope it still is nice but I have my doubts. Doesn't seem to work that you plant it and then let it go for 4 weeks and expect it to still look nice. Well, we had a great time shopping for the plants anyways.
Following day was a nice dinner out with Cynthia and Lynda. Actually did Paneras for lunch and then Papa Vinos for dinner. Not to good for a WW diet........Of course we had to hit Macy's while we were in South Bend. We all got a new piece of clothing. Even had a bathing suit fashion show with the two Grams. How fun is that? Our time ended to soon and we had to head home to Detroit. But, that house looked good when we left. Had the carpets cleaned, windows washed, cleaned garage, washed and painted some cabinet doors, straightened all the cupboards, along with all the gardening fun. Hope we can go back soon and have some more of that good FUN . . .

Breakfast in Berrien

Here's your cereal Leah. Open wide.Let me see, do I like this or not. Mommy, are you sure that is the same stuff I always have.
I think she decides she isn't too fond of this flavor.

Here's Dan loading my Townie bike onto the Silverton boat. He spent the night and I let him use the bike to get around St. Joe. He takes a trip to Kilwins for a strawberry cheesecake cone or a hot fudge sundae. Good thing he is getting some exercise to get there. Adam and Dan brought the boat home from Michigan City boat show in the water. They left at 8:30 p.m. and didn't arrive in St. Joe until almost 11:00. Boy were they happy to be home. Waves were going over the top of the boat and Adam thought he was either going to run aground or hit the pier and ruin the boat. Angels guided them safely into harbor and to the dock with no harm to either men or boat. Mom and I had a great time at the outlet mall in Michigan City shopping while the boys surfed and went to the boat show. No luck selling the Silverton so will put her in storage for another winter and enjoy some more nice times on it next summer.
Ricky and his friend, who you can't see cause he went running when I came with the camera, were enjoying a dinner of kitty chow delight left out by my back door for the stray, Marble. They are pretty icky looking with those long pointy noses. Haven't seen them since thank heavens. I guess they beat a skunk or opposum sitting at the back door. Oh the joys of country living.

Leah Driving!

This is the first video I have put on the blog. Wow, that is too cool. We were going to Berrien Springs for a weekend and bought this little driving toy for Leah to keep her occupied. I think she liked it.

Yahoo!

Okay, I am not discouraged anymore thanks to some tips from my good friend Connie. I did lose the scrapblog header but will work on that another time. Kind of like that picture of Leah, don't you. She sure is growing up. Her first birthday will be here in October, only 2 days after mine. Where does the time go.

She is so much fun now. Her first steps happened about three weeks ago and we can't keep her still now. This week she started opening all the cupboard doors, so another job for mommy to make sure it's safe and then to pick up everything after she pulls it out. That along with her toys, the DVD's out of their basket, then her books, and then back to the DVD's, toys, etc. Mom says she is pretty tired at the end of the day. I think I still remember those days.

Discouraged

Wow, it's been over a month since I posted anything. We have done a lot of fun stuff in that time. I worked for several hours trying to put new pictures on the scrapblog top and then tried to get the cute background that Connie has and it's been so long since I did it I forgot how. Nothing is working for me and I am getting discouraged.

The place to get the backdrops won't register me and let me in to pick one. Even if I got in I am not sure I could put it on my blog. I need a hands on refresher course.

I will try again for a bit tonight and see what happens. Wish me luck.

Take A Look!

You just have to go to my daughter-in-law Natalie's blog and look at the cute ceramics that she and her sisters have done. Not like any other ceramics you have seen before, or at least in the ceramic stores. They are so creative. www.natisuzanne.blogspot.com