Michigan Lighthouse Circle Tour

This past weekend we set out to see as many of the 124 lighthouses that are still in existence, according to the state of Michigan, along its huge lakes.  I have to admit it was a very sad attempt.  My best guess is we saw 21.  The weather was insanely cold, windy, and raining for the first couple of days.  At several of the sites they had barriers up blocking you from walking out on the break wall.  Due to those unforeseen events, I will have to confess that three of my photos are stolen from the internet.  Good luck guessing which ones... I'm not telling!

Our Lake Michigan Circle Tour began early Thursday morning with a two-hour drive across the state to start in St. Joseph.  That is where we spotted our 1st lighthouse that is listed on the Lighthouse Circle Tour.  Needless to say, we were not dressed for the wind.  Crazy us, thinking that it's June so it's got to be hot!  We quickly figured out we weren't in the South anymore.  Along our 1,500 miles, (Yes, you read that correct, 1,500 miles in 4 days!) we went through a lot of cute, small towns along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Here are just a few of them: Holland, Grand Haven, Ludington, Manistee,  St. Joseph, South Haven, and Traverse City.

Manistee

Traverse City

South Haven

Holland

St Joseph

Grand Haven

Mackinac Island

By late Friday, we had made it all the way up to St. Ignace, which is located on the UP side of the Mackinac Bridge.  On Saturday we headed over to Mackinac Island via a ferry to spend a few hours.  I really regret that we didn't have more time to hang out there but at least I got the most important thing done, buying fudge!  As a matter of fact, we bought eight different kinds.  I am now set for life!  Come to find out, the island is known for great fudge, horse & buggy rides, and bicycles!  They do not allow cars on the island except for emergency and police departments.  Next time, we will definitely rent bikes and cruise around the island.  On the ferry back, a local told us that in the winter, when Lake Huron freezes over, the full-timers on the island take snowmobiles between the UP and the island.  They line up donated Christmas trees on the lake as markers to create a temporary "road" on the ice.  Now that's crazy talk as far as this Southern girl is concerned.  You can not possibly get me on a lake in a snowmobile in the dead of winter or ever, as far as that goes.

Round Lighthouse	Fort Mackinaw

I think we found Chet from the Weird Science movie!	Fort Mackinac Park & Waterfront	Fort Mackinac

Fudge!!! Need I say more?

Pictured Rocks in Munising

After the 20-minute ferry ride back to the Upper Peninsula (UP), we threw the fudge in the hotel room and got back on the road.  We had a 2-1/2-hour drive across the UP to Munising where we would be going on a 2-hour cruise on Lake Superior to see the pictured rocks.  It was so worth the trip, folks!  I just wish the weather had been warm enough for us to sit on the top deck of the boat.  However, the view from below was still awesome.  Here are some pictures from that day.

Lovers Leap	Spray Falls
		Indian Head
Painted Coves

Lake Huron lighthouses

On Sunday we headed south along Lake Huron and stopped in on a few more lighthouses before finishing up our journey with a visit with some dear sweet friends that happened to be state-side visiting with their family.  It was a crazy 4 days but worth every minute on these Michigan roads.  Next time we will make sure Dennis is able to take more time off so we can spend some time in a few of the towns we sped through.

Cheboygan
Sturgeon Point	Forty Point Lighthouse	Tawas Point  Lighthouse

Visiting with Jesse and Mukadam

We were greeted by Jesse, his mother, and his wife Mukaddam holding their new baby, Jasmina, who is just as adorable as her big sister.  As we stepped inside, little Emerance came running around the corner and just leaped into my arms.  I could not believe how big she had gotten.  We happened to arrive at dinner time (perfect timing if I do say so myself) and were invited to join them.  We instantly felt like part of the family and totally enjoyed our short visit.  Dennis definitely enjoyed the venison.  He said it was the best venison he had ever had.  Shout out to Jesse' nephew on doing such a great job cooking it.

It was so wonderful seeing them again. I could not believe it had been two years since we last hung out with them and, sadly, it will be another two before we see them again.  We wish them well as they travel back to the mission field and will continue to keep them in our prayers.




This weekend, which will be our last full weekend in Michigan, we set out to visit Frankenmuth with the Ridlers!

Praising in Michigan

Jackson, Michigan

Meet Jackson the Frog
On Saturday morning we woke to a little visitor on our bottom step. After carefully washing him off, we discovered a cute little sticky frog. Only time will tell if he hangs around and where he might show up at next.

Visiting with the Ridler’s

Over the last week, we met up with our dear friends; Chris, Becky, and Noah in Eaton Rapids which is where Becky grew up!  Monday, we drove over to watch Noah play in his last soccer game of the season to find him in bed with a fever.  I know he hated missing the game and team pictures to boot. But PTL his fever only lasted a couple of days and he was back to his happy little self. 

On Friday, we met up again and took a ten-minute walk from their house to a local restaurant on the main street to have dinner.  Darb’s Patio is a must if you visit Eaton Rapids. The staff is very friendly and our dinners were awesome. I highly recommend the salmon. Afterward, we grabbed a scoop of ice cream at Turtle Tom's Ice Cream Shoppe next door. Very popular on Friday nights!

After a big meal and ice cream, we walked around town and explored the Island Park. I think every town needs a park like this one. It has a beautiful bridge, a waterfall flowing over the dam, and luxurious grass.  The idyllic setting makes you want to to put down a blanket and take a nap on it - well, maybe that was the full tummy talking.

Lansing, Michigan

On Saturday we traveled to Lansing, which is Michigan state's capital to visit the Apple Store. I know, priorities, right?  While there, we ate at Claddagh Irish Pub and just for the record, Dennis claims he has now had the best Rueben sandwich ever!  However, it isn’t exactly a Rueben since they add coleslaw to it and call it The Patty Mac. But regardless, he said it was to die for, which I believe is exactly what would have happened to someone if they had tried to take it from the man. I swear the sandwich was gone in 3 seconds!

After grabbing a quick bite, we drove around the downtown area and checked out the capital building.  Before we leave Michigan I would like to go back and take a tour for it is a very impressive building or at least from the outside. Come to find out, Elijah E. Myers of Springfield, Illinois, was the architect that designed the building.  He used the same central dome and wing design that he used in the United States Capitol design.  For the most part, downtown was very quiet and very small compared to Atlanta.

Oh, Come!  Let Us Worship!

On Sunday, we visited the First Baptist Church of Eaton Rapids where Chris is now on staff as the pastor of discipleship and worship.  While it is a small church, it is seeing a ton of new growth with lots to offer for every age.  The pastor is young, energetic and obviously has a heart that is full of God's love. After service, we found that they have a small time of fellowship with cookies and juice with tons of kids running around playing.  Absolutely loved seeing the kids laughing and playing at church. Those are what make up the great memories of childhood.  And let me go on record saying that having cookies after each service is something I can get behind!  Cookies and small talk, what's not to love!

It was so good to worship once again with the Ridler's. Chris did an amazing job (as always) with leading the worship. Oh, how we have missed his voice. After service and cookies, we headed out to a local Chinese restaurant for lunch with their neighbors.

On Thursday, we take off for a few days to visit the lighthouses along western Michigan’s coast and then head up north to visit Mackinac Island and the upper peninsula. Prayers for good weather!

Illinois and the Big Family Reunion

Grayville, Illinois

Rest Up Camping and RV Corral

Our stay at this RV park while visiting family has been very quiet.  We found out the park is only a year old and not really busy yet.  I think once the word gets out it will become very popular.  This place is cool.  It has a full-service restaurant that really looks like a saloon straight out of the old west.  It has the cutest ever playground and a 27 hole miniature golf course.  We picked this because it is right at the interstate and allows D to have a strong cell signal to use for work.  Unlike some parks, the noise from the interstate hasn't been bad.

If you are traveling along I-64 in Illinois I highly recommend stopping in if only to have a bite in the saloon.

Help! We need bail money!

Playground for the kiddies

Jerry, Dawn, Dennis, Christian, Hannah and Me.

Small town America! Gotta love it!!

Here are a few of the small towns we visited while here and the water towers that for some reason I have become obsessed with.

Vincennes, Indiana

Grouseland

Hometown of our 9th president William Henry Harrison (1773–1841) and Red Skelton Museum




















Mt Carmel, Illinois
Is in Wabash County and is a cute, quiet town in the middle of farm country.  The town is located near the Patoka River and not too far from the Wabash Cannonball Bridge.  If you are brave enough and have $1.00 for the toll you can still cross it today.  For the life of me, I can not understand how it is still standing. The scariest thing I have ever gone over in a car.

Carmi, Illinois

Wabash Cannonball Bridge

Miss Hannah

 Pizza night!

Way to go Hannah!

Friday has finally come but unfortunately,
 it also brings us nearer to the end of our week with D's sister Dawn, and her family. It has been a great week. We have played miniature golf here at the Rest up Corral, watched Hannah play softball - Great job, Hannah on getting the Game Ball!  We also recruited Jerry into helping us make a few repairs on the 5th wheel (More on that in a later blog), grilled out burgers despite the rain, bought bicycles, viewed miles and Miles and MILES of farmland, visited Metropolis - the home of Superman, and took a day trip to the Garden of the Gods. And per Dawn's request, D has made pizza! So during lunch, D made four dough balls and after work, we hauled them over to his niece Carrie's house so the whole family could pitch in on creating the masterpieces. Pizzas on the menu, per request, were; Reuben pizza, Mexican pizza, Sauteed Mushroom with Caramelized Onions, and a good old plain cheese pizza for the kiddos.





On our last day, we visited The Garden of the Gods Wilderness and Metropolis, Il.

Garden of the Gods

Is a 3,318-acre park that is located within the Shawnee National Forest. The nearest town of any size is Equality. Dramatic erosion patterns have created unusual sandstone formations; Mushroom Rock, Camel Rock, and Table Rock. It was well worth the drive and the weather was perfect.

Hey Dawn...Yo-dee-oh-lay-eee-hee

Brad, is that you? ***

Hey Dennis....Yoo-dee-oh-lay-eee-hee-heee

Metropolis IL., Home of Superman!

Metropolis is a city located along the Ohio River in Massac County, Illinois. Once again, our timing was off because Metropolis was pretty much a ghost town. In my opinion, it's from the huge casino that has been built there. Sad! We were told that NEXT weekend is their big Comicon / Superman Celebration! It seems that it will be the 41st annual event and features guest stars like; Katrina Law, Helen Slater, and Erica Durance. Dang it!

However we still found a few things to make the drive worth the while....

Our next travels will lead us to Michigan! We hope to visit with our dear friends, the Ridler's and do some site seeing too.

*** reference this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtPiGYsllos