August 2011 - Part 2

Our adventure continues ……….

We spent some time with our friends Jerry and Linda Lockwood in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin.  The weather was fantastic and we spent quite a bit of time on the water in their boat.  We had a wonderful visit.

While visiting with the Lockwoods, we went to a water ski show near their home.  It was fantastic.  Those kids are so talented!

We drove up to Bayfield, Wisconsin on Lake Superior where we took a ferry over to Madeline Island (One of the Apostle Islands)  So much history in this area.

Next stop was Petoskey, Michigan, a cute little town on the shore of Lake Michigan.  A tall masted ship was in port.  This ship was a replica.

We drove to Sault St. Marie, MI where we took a tour of the locks.  There are natural rapids between Lake Huron and Lake Superior.  In days of old, ships would take 3 months to portage their goods around the rapids.  Today, they move through the 21 foot rise of the lake levels in just 15 minutes. The bridge in the background is the International Bridge between
Michigan and Canada.

Out of Mackinaw City, we took our bicycles on a ferry over to Mackinac Island.  This island was packed with people…..shops all over and gorgeous, huge “cottages” that must be over 6,000 square feet in size.  On the island, there are no cars allowed.  Bicycles …yes and Horses and wagons ….yes.  Even the UPS man was delivering his goods by horse and wagon.

While in Traverse City, Michigan, we drove to Sleeping Bear Dunes …. But unfortunately, it was socked in with fog.  Ugh!  By the afternoon, the fog had lifted and I got a pic of Mike in Lake Michigan.

We drove around Old Mission peninsula where there are many wineries.  The day was wonderful!

Next stop – Shipshewana, Indiana … Amish country.  I was fascinated by these people and their lifestyle.  This picture is of a number of horses and buggies parked at the local grocery store.  There were buggies all over the roads.  The Amish people were warm, friendly and always ready to answer the hundreds of questions I had.  We went on two different buggy rides, visited an Amish milking farm and ate an authentic Amish dinner. 

Moving on to Monroe, Michigan (just outside of Detroit)  We went to the Henry Ford.  First stop was the Ford F-150 Pickup Assembly plant.  Wow!  Unbelieveable!  I was so impressed by this plant!  Next we spent an entire afternoon at the Henry Ford Museum.  What an amazing man – This museum was humungous.  This picture is of a gigantic locomotive.  It was called the “Allegheny” 

This is the actual chair Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth.

The next day, we went back to the Henry Ford.  We spent the entire day at Greenfield Village.  So much history!  This picture is of the actual building that Orville and Wilbur Wright had their bicycle shop in (before they went into the
airplane invention business)  Henry Ford assembled this entire village in the 1920’s and 30’s.  The houses are not replicas …… they are actual houses from olden times that have been moved to this Dearborn location and reassembled.

Tomorrow we leave for Niagara Falls, New York – The adventure continues …..

August 2011 - Part 1

We’re on our way!  We have started our Great Fox Adventure –

our trip across America.

First stop – Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.  We spent time visiting with my sister – in – law Cathie and her new husband Wayne.  We had a great time with Wayne’s family.  We toured the Kroc Center, walked the boardwalk and drove through the town.
Beautiful weather.

Next stop – Missoula, Montana.  We stayed at Zane and Marilyn Sullivan’s fantastic home.  Zane and Marilyn are some of our “Indio” friends.  We had a great meal and a fantastic visit …… and their home … WOW!  I could move in tomorrow.

We then moved north to Bud and Patti Evans new home in Bigfork Montana.  (More “Indio” friends)  Their house is huge and beautiful with a killer view of the Swan mountain range.

While in Bigfork, Mike, Bud and Jay Youngman played golf 3 times. 
Mike LOVED the golf!

Heading east we caught a beautiful view of the mountain range that is
part of Glacier National Park.

North Dakota was so much more beautiful that I imagined.  I snapped this picture of
the fields of sunflowers that were everywhere.

On to the east!  The Mall of America in Minneapolis was beyond huge!  Three stories of shopping with a giant amusement park in the center – Wow!

We visited Kim and Alice Hanson (still more “Indio” friends) in Albert Lea, Minnesota.  Kim and Alice have a huge home that is over 100 years old located on the lake.  Inside the house – totally modern!  There are many big old homes in Albert Lea.  We had a great time with Kim and Alice.  Went on two boat trips around Fountain Lake and
had our first try at Walleye (great tasting white fish)

Mike and Kim had so much fun with Kim’s car collection.  This is Kim’s “Rat Rod”

They drove all over town I imagine pretending they were kids again.

The first half of August ends with us crossing the Mississippi River entering into Wisconsin.  A major river with oddles of history.  Impressive.

Stay tuned – our trip continues!