Itinerary:
To 7/10 St. Ignace, MI
7/10-713 Marquette, MI
7/13-7/16 Copper Harbor, MI
7/16-7/19 Deluth, MN
7/19-7/24 On the road to Rapid City, SD
7/24-7/31 Black Hawk, SD
7/31-8/6 On the road to Lolo, MT
8/6-8/10 Lolo, MT
8/10-8/13 On the road to Willamina, OR
8/13-8/17 Willamina, OR (Bob and MaryJane’s wedding anniversary party)
8/17-8/24 Neskowin, OR
8/24-8/27 Chahalis, WA
8/27-8/31 Circle 8 Ranch, WA (Advance and Challenge square Dancing)
8/31-9/8 Blaine, WA
9/8-9/20 Seattle, WA, to see our many friends
9/20-9/22 Dallas, OR (Bob and Lavonne)
9/22-9/24 On the road to Yuba City, CA
9/24-10/1 Yuba City, CA (Harvest Hoedown)
10/1-10/5 Bay Area, CA (PACE NorCal, Square Dance Convention)
Future Knowns:
10/8-10/12 Porterville, CA (Joey’s wedding)
10/12-10/15 Paso Robles, CA
10/19 Santa Clarita, CA
10/21-10/26 Harvest Hoedown, Yuba City, CA (Square dance festival)
11/8-11/15 Indio, CA RIVCO (Caller school and square dance festival)
11/24-11/27 Paso Robles, CA Thanksgiving with Don and Mary
11/27-11/29 Oxnard, CA PACE Extravaganza (square dancing)
What can I say about Michigan? Definitely the buggiest area we’ve been in for a long while. It rains so much that the ground is saturated, leaving large pools of water to navigate with the dogs while walking. These pools become mosquito breeding areas. We keep a fan blowing out the door so the mosquitoes don’t come in when we go through. The Thousand Trails campground is in a pretty dense wood area, so black and deer flies are everywhere. The dogs have tick medication, so I’m not so worried about them. Chris and I have been bit up our legs and arms, plus ears and eyebrows, and one big itchy spot on my cheek. When we pulled in we chose a spot near no one. We walked the dogs to come back to rigs on both sides of us. We took a drive, and the trailer to our passenger side now has a second camper on it and a tent. The tent is so close to our door that we are afraid we will step on it! We needed to go out again and stopped by the ranger station for them to look into how many people can be on one site. When we returned we found the second camper (the trailer’s workshop—no one is actually camped in it) moved over and the tent actually behind their trailer. Breathing room!
Lucky is not getting a break! He started limping on our walks so it was back to the vet for a checkup and x-rays. He’s got severe arthritis built up in his left knee, and a partial tear in his ACL in his right knee. Since it is not a complete tear, the advice is to keep him confined to his kennel unless walked—and then for only five minutes at a time. He’s on anti-inflammatories and pain relief meds, but he cries to be let out 24/7. Poor guy. We take him back in one week to see if he is improving. Rita, on the other hand, is acting really strange on our walks. Since Lucky is being carried in and out of the rig and only getting a short potty walk, Rita gets 15-30 minutes of alone time walking with me. Some walks are joyful – she’s pulling and dragging me everywhere, splashing through mud and water puddles (see above—there are a lot!) then jumping on me to say, I’m wet! Other walks she’s an old woman, gingerly taking three steps then stopping. She has to be encouraged to keep going! And then some starts out slow and ends up at top speed. We’re so gentle with her now as her heart is at risk. The vet says if she lays down while walking to carry her back, not to make her walk. On the other hand, she has taken to nipping at everything—Lucky’s ears, our fingers, the leash, the pickup poop bags (full or empty). Nothing really hurts, it’s just annoying.
Sunday (6/28) we drove to Port Huron and saw homes built in the early to mid 1800s, still lived in. We took a tour of the lighthouse grounds and Chris climbed to the top of the lighthouse. While walking the boardwalk we saw a train and so we toured the Thomas A. Edison Train Depot Museum. Because it was the last hour before it closed, everyone got in free. Very interesting on the life of Edison.
Monday (6/29) we drove back to Port Huron and had lunch at Freighters. Chris had walleye (a very light white fish) and me the pulled pork, Michigan style. The lobby had historical photos and background on the area, lighthouse, boat disasters… We then went to the Huron Lightship. This was built to warn boats like a lighthouse would, but was a boat itself. The tour took three hours—and would have been longer if we kept asking questions!
Tuesday (6/30) we tried to drive parallel to Lake Huron and the St. Clair River to St. Clair. Sometimes we went in complete circles due to one way roads and wanting to view really old architecture. We brought along a clock that needed a special kind of battery. Chris found a jewelry store that has been in the same building since it was built in 1835. Mosher. And $8, thanks for asking. We ended the day driving about an hour to an Advanced workshop in Gibralter. With us they just made two squares. One lady, Mary, was enchanted by our George Monighan Black Sheep swingers. Turns out she, like me, collects sheep things. She made me an origami sheep out of a dollar bill to add to my collection. I promised to email her a photo of my collection, which I did that night. Her email address starts off as Mary3ewe… Haven’t heard back from her as yet. Hope she knows how to open attachments. The club caller, Ray Wiles, gave us info on an Advance to C1 workshop and dance happening on Wednesday in Flushing, Michigan, and he also emailed us the particulars.
Wednesday (7/1) we drove over 90 minutes to Flushing, which is beyond Flint. Since we took the freeway all the way down, there was nothing in particular to see—just green everywhere. I drove down so that Chris could drive back. We got to the Senior Center with 10 minutes to spare, so the dogs got a walk. We were told that the dancers should be there any minute. At one minute to the hour we called the caller to find out he cancelled the event as everyone was coming back from Nationals and would be too tired… So we got back in the car and drove back. The wood that we got from our neighbor was finally dry enough to make a campfire, over which Chris cooked our steak. Coupled with corn on the cob and spinach salad, we ate pretty well.
If we go dancing Thursday, it will be with Ray’s A’s again, but this group is just learning A1. He told us that they may not dance as not everyone has gotten back to him about going. We’ll see. We also got a call from Kim, and we will be getting together with her and her family for lunch tomorrow.
Thursday (7/2) we found out that Ray’s A’s will not be dancing, but I was emailed by Mary (the sheep collector) that Jumping Jim Dandies will be dancing on Friday, and that she is bringing two sheep mugs and other sheep goodies for me. On today’s trip out I bought some sheep fabric and will be making her a quilted candy/goodie box. I will be posting a picture of it on Facebook. I also bought twice as much fabric and will be making myself one—or giving it to another friend who is a triple sheep (Aries, born in the Chinese year of the sheep—1955—and has a last name that means shearer of the sheep). So today we drove to Vasa Country Club which was established by Swedes in the late 1800’s as an enclave to keep Swedish traditions alive. Kim’s brother Kevin is finishing up a second house as he did his first house there with beautiful woods and tile. When we settle down again I want his imput –he and his wife, Cathy, have great taste!.
Friday (7/3) it was decided we have run out of underwear and need to do laundry. For the first time in ages, Chris sat in the laundry room and I got the freedom to quilt. I made three goodie boxes—two with the sheep on the outside and one inside, then used the scraps to make two eyeglass cases. That evening we went to the Jumpin’ Jim Dandies and met up with all of the people who also danced to Ray’s A’s on Tuesday. I gave Mary her box and eyeglass case, and she gave me a ten pound bag. Mind you, everything is either decorated with sheep or is a sheep itself, but inside were two mugs, hundreds of broaches and magnets, a dishrag and towel, statues (ceramic, wood, brass, pottery, basketry), toys, napkin rings… She had at least two of everything at home and so gave me half of those, then she broke up sets of four and six to give me pairs of my own. Please realize she and I were strangers until Tuesday. She is 89, square dances at least twice a week, has all of her facilities, and just loved the fact that I also shared a love for collecting sheep items. She loved my two items that I signed for her. I’m glad I took the time to make her a hand craft. As we drove home we oohed and aahed at the fireworks going off. Yes, in Michigan they seem to celebrate the fourth on the third as well.
Saturday (7/4)(still can’t believe we’re still without internet) we woke at six to Lucky’s rustling. Took them for a walk and went back to bed. Woke at eleven and walked them again. Everyone had a meal, washed dishes and vacuumed the floors. Because of the rain, we had trekked in mud and dirt, not to mention the dog hair all over everything. Took another nap and here we are. Not much to say. Not really celebrating the 4th. The park has not one open spot, kids, families, dogs everywhere. There was a decorated golf cart parade (missed it), kiddy t-shirt tie dye event (missed), band (missed), and chicken dinner event (we’re making steaks and spinach salad). We got a fairly early night, but between the fireworks and my insomnia, I didn’t knock off until 2:30 in the morning. I would wake up every 20-30 minutes and stay awake the same amount of time.
Sunday (7/5) it seems that not all of the fireworks were exploded as we kept hearing more booms and bangs. We ran errands until 2:00, then took Lucky back to the vet for a recheck. He is getting better, but it was recommended that he have kennel rest for at least another two weeks, only walking to eat and poop/piddle. We got more pain killers for him as well as an anti-anxiety med to stop him from wanting to be out of the kennel. Tomorrow we head to the upper peninsula!
Monday (7/6) no showers as we hurried on our way to the UP. We had to go over a five mile toll bridge to get to St. Ignace. Built in the mid 1950’s, it is the third largest suspension bridge in the word, and absolutely dwarfs the Golden Gate Bridge in California. When there is a stiff wind, the bridge can sway out 35 feet. I doubt that vehicles are allowed on the bridge then. It cost $14 for our two axile RV and the tow car. We had lunch at The Galley. Chris had white fish and I the walleye, both northern fish and greatly promoted. As we walked the streets, Chris bought a t-shirt and a hat, then we bought 2 ½ pounds of Michigan fudge. It was buy three half-pound slices and get two more free. Came out to $5 a pound. We drove down the road and saw Castle Rock, and so for a dollar each we got the privilege of climbing 170 steps to the top of a rock and photograph the view. With only two rest stops, that was a climb we weren’t used to. The views of the bay, harbor, ferries taking people to Macinaw Island, the seagulls, and the expanse of water beyond the bay were incredible.
Tuesday (7/7) we decided to walk the boardwalk and see the museums at each end. We learned about the Ojibwa Native Americans and their trials at the hands of the Iroquois, then the French, English, and finally the Americans. Walking the boardwalk and reading every point of interest signs we learned that in the 1800-present day white man had ruined the forests, plant life, water, and animal life in the quest to ravage everything the land in this area had to offer. They over hunted the beaver, over commercial fished, chopped down the timber and did not replant until the 1930’s. We got more information at Fort De Buade, equally dismal. We walked back along the commercial side of the street. I bought a sweat top with a more “girly” color than the navy/black/gray I have acquired. I also bought granulated honey. Never heard of it before and had to try it. It’s rather good, and need to tell Janet (my beekeeping sister) about it.
Wednesday (7/8) Lucky woke us far earlier than normal with incessant whining to be walked. After their walk Rita (again) refused to eat breakfast. This is becoming a pattern with her several times a week. She will eat dinner (but not a larger dinner) with gusto. It doesn’t matter what we add to her morning meal, including real hamburger. She’s just not a morning eater. Since we were up, we took the early morning ferry across the strait to Mackinac Island. We paid extra for the carriage tour, which turned out to be a fairly large group of people pulled by two draft horses. The tour guide was very informative, and also told us that she moved to the island because her boyfriend was born here and got her this job. We walked around the tour stops, including a free tour of the Governor’s Summer House, only open Wednesday mornings. Three docents gave us information about the furnishings, the style of building, but the best info was from the lady in front of us. In her late 80s, she was the one who petitioned for the house to be open to the public years ago. She greeted each docent personally (she knew two of the three) and introduced her grandson to them. She was one of the first docents, had meals there with the governor, and sat on the veranda having afternoon tea. Yes, we bought more goodies, this time peanut brittle. Every second shop sold fudge and you could watch them make it through the windows. Other stores sold the same t-shirts and sweat tops or were restaurants. For lunch we shared our two meals, one being a crab, spinach and artichoke quesadilla which was excellent. I didn’t get sick coming or going on the ferry as the water was as smooth as glass.
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