Sleeping Bear Dunes

Chris and I climbed the sand dune, the fluffiest, softest sand I have ever felt cool on my feet. We reached the top of the hill, on this overcast day, and the clouds began to part just enough to send a beam of light shining down on a passing tug boat. We stood before a painting, a work of art. I stopped in my tracks, Chris stood silent beside me, then I remembered to breathe. An experience that literally took my breath away. Sand dunes reaching 500 feet tall  dropping off straight into Lake Michigan, steep, steep you stand on the edge of a massive pile of sand looking down below to the narrow beach, magnificent blue clear water calm at the shore.

Somewhere...Bear Lake, MI

KAMPVILLA...look for the big yellow dinosaur. You should have seen Chris' face when he saw this big 'ol thing..he looked at me like where are you taking me? I laughed delightedly. Ahh...

Bug

Rode side Attraction

Montague, MI

Claimed World's Largest Weather Vane
48ft. Tall

Ludington, MI

Muskegon, MI

The first site of Lake Michigan!! Beachwood Park was pilled endlessly with sand, 3 lighthouses were in our view from the shore line. The Great Lakes never disappoint, another vast fresh water lake appearing to have no end. Signs in beach front houses read, "Free Sand!!," "Freer Sand!!," "Free Range Sand Please Take!!" It seemed to be a local competition of who could have the sign that conveyed the freest sand of all. The only thing that we could figure is there is to much sand, the wind piles it up against there houses, and small dunes form in their yards.

I called my daddy.

Stopping at the Great Lakes Naval Museum and Memorial we saw the USS Silverside that was launched in June 1942, and found its resting place at the museum in 1987. Also impressive was the USCCGC

McClane , a coast guard boat that sank a Japanese submarine in WII. 

In town we stopped to have bar-b-q at local diner. The place held about 5 booths, we ate at the counter sitting on there short cushioned bar stools, deciding on our next route. Signs read 2 or more people sitting in booths from 11am till 1am, we were sure it must get busy. The ladies working were delightful. We shared a bowl of their special soup, creamy clam chowder, had a bar-b-q sandwich (with secrete sauce that tasted similar to chutney), fries, a pepsi poured over ice, and just when we thought we were done I saw a chocolate milkshake, in a real milkshake glass being taken to the table behind us. How could I pass that up? As we were leaving the diner started to fill with locals. Driving out we noticed a small smoke house out back, with clear windows, allowing us to see bar-b-q on the rotisserie.

Grand Rapids, MI

Billy's Lounge

Mellow Mood w/Selecta Gramps & Johnnie

Another Overnight Adventure

Signs Matter:)

THE Henry Ford

 

The first Pop-up camper on wheels
(above)...just think we could be
traveling in that!! And of course
nothing needs to be said for the
Westfalia.

Gotta Love those Two Tones

yEAH..they hired
me for the day

Hill Climb at Pike's Peak
Bobby Unser

Ford GT Mark IV 

Mark Gurney drove to WIN

at LeMans

Find your place in time...
Took me back

Lots and Lots of Engines!!

Detroit City

We drove into downtown Detroit, our biggest city thus far. We parked after 15 or 20min, put some money in the meter, and set out on the streets of Detroit. We peered down allies that were trashed and covered in graffiti, straight out the movie 8 Mile. City pigeons hopped along the sidewalks, beat up, ran down, and not one looked the same. Each a different color, and marked with their own scar. The streets were desolate, with ghost warehouses reminding the inhabitants of the electronic seen that use to flourish. Back to the truck in 15 minutes, we figured we would save our energy for the next day, The Henry Ford.

Lake Erie

Passing through Silver Creek, New York, a tiny town, we spotted two little girls walking under the arch carrying towels. There faces were shinning with delight so we took the liberty of heading the direction they were coming from. Driving under the arch, Lake Erie opened up in front of us. We happened upon a pebble beach taking the opportunity  to stop and touch  Lake Erie. The Skew Arch Railroad Bridge, that we passed under, is one of two railroad bridges in the world built using a keystone (the Skew was the first one built).

Wally Burger

Wally's, a dive bar at 16 Phoenix Street, Canandaigua New York is famous for it's Wally Burger!! Yum! Wally's goes through 130 to 150 pounds of angus beef a week, and we experienced why!! Each burger is a one-third-pound patty topped with lettuce tomato, mayo, grilled onions and peppers, mushrooms, homemade hot sauce and cheese. The burger comes with chips, and pickles at a great price of $5.49. Yippie!!!!

Canandaigua, NY

Chris and I spent a couple of nights in Canandaigua. One night we headed to the city park to watch the sun set, and decided to take our chances, staying for the night. We saw no obvious signs stating, no overnight parking, so 'what tha hey', why not watch the sun rise as well. In the middle of the night I awoke to a police officer doing an entire circle around camper. I saw the bright light, nudged Chris to no awakening, then watched the officer drive away. We experienced a similar happening in Geneva (see Geneva post), but there were two cops parked up the hill with a clear birds eye view of us for several hours. Chris would awake during the night and they would still be there, he said he woke up at 4am and they had gone elsewhere. Many times we have been camping somewhere, besides a Walmart, and seen a police officer drive by, we atomatically would get up tight hoping he's not, going to come knocking on the door advising us to go elsewhere, that's just a pain. But, with each experience we have mostly learned that the officers are just checking on us, looking out for our safety, and the safety of their town...we may raise a little suspicion in our "Fabulous Trash Wagon." :) We have only been asked to leave, a Walmart of all places, in Detroit. Chris and I went in for some groceries, and came back out to see a security officer sitting about 10 feet away from our truck. He paid us no attention as we walked by, and still no attention as we raised the roof of our camper, and started to get settled inside. No sooner than we could set out our groceries, he was pulled up next to our camper saying, "Sir, Sir, can you come to the door". He said, "Your not plannin on stayin the night are you?', Chris replyed, "Well, yes...we had planned on it." "Well you can't stay here, but there is a Country Buffet across the street," he informed us. AWESOME, so we turned around, but the camper down, got back in the truck, and drove a difficult Detroit route across the street. See we are being looked after;)