August 04 - Week 3

Week Three

Sunday, August 15, 2004

Just as we had planned, today turned out to be a rather slow day as far as sight seeing is concerned. We did travel around for about an hour not long after lunch. We saw a lot of the Amish people gathered at homes for their regular Sunday service. Usually there are about 25 families in each 'congregation' and they move their meeting place around from home to home. They actually have services every two weeks, so it works out that each family is 'host' about once per year. The bishop travels around and I understand he is in charge of two 'congregations'.

By the time we were out after lunch, the services were concluded, but everyone was hanging around in the yard. We noticed that the women would be in one group, the men in another group, and the children all playing together elsewhere in the yard. Buggies would be all parked together, mostly with the horses unhitched. On the roads we also saw quite a few folks that were either riding bicycles or walking. We supposed they were returning home from the services.

We did get in a couple of Phase 10 games today. Donna is now leading by only 9 -7 !!

Monday, August 16, 2004

We went to Boyd & Worthmann's for breakfast again the morning. It's the local cafe with really good food. From there we headed north, by the back roads again, to the largest town in the area. Wooster is pretty large, with several colleges, including the Wooster campus of the University of Ohio. Jack and Lou had told us about a Rubbermaid store there, and we had quite a good time looking over all the selections.

We then headed back toward the Berlin / Walnut Creek area, again taking the many back roads and observing the Amish in their fields. Obviously, Monday is the main 'Wash Day', because the clothes lines were full. In a couple of cases we could see inside a utility building, and could see the gasoline powered 'wringer-type' washing machine.

We arrived in Mt. Hope about noon, so we had lunch at one of the more famous restaurants in this area called Mrs. Yoder's Kitchen.

We met lots of the various type buggies and wagons on the road, some hauling hay, some carrying folks on their daily errands.

We have noticed over the last few days a lot of little building located by the road, most about 4 feet square with maybe one or two windows and a door. Although the Amish do not believe in being 'connected' to the outside world, they also have need for a telephone. So, they build a little house right by the road, with a telephone connection inside the building. It even appears this connection may be shared by several families.

Back in Walnut Creek we looked inside the Der Dutchman Restaurant, bought a book, and inspected their menu. Although were weren't hungry, we noticed that the menu was very similar to the other 'Tourist type Restaurants that we had been in.

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Today was mostly just driving around and looking at the countryside. We wound up in Charm about noon and had lunch at the Homestead Restaurant. Actually, this was probably the best we have had, and they had a much more varied menu. Don't think I have ever had french fried sweet potatoes before but, man they were good.

We later drove over to the Alpine Alpa, another restaurant and gift shop owned by the same family. We didn't eat, but they have a Smorgasbord type restaurant. It is also the location of the 'Worlds Largest Cuckoo Clock', which happened to be broke, so we didn't see it 'Cuckoo".

After coming back to the coach, and a little nap, we went to wash the little truck. After being on lots of country gravel roads it had gotten quite dirty, and course its hard to miss all the 'horse dropping' in the roads. Its also hard to get 'horse droppings' off the truck and tires.

I don't think I have mentioned all the chicken houses we have seen in the area. Many, of not most of the family farms have a big chicken house, similar to what we see in East Texas.. 40 or so feet wide, and 400 to 500 feet long. Of course, few are connected to electricity, so they have rooms on the side or end that use large propane or natural gas generators. The major difference between here and East Texas is that the typical farm here has only one large house, where the typical farm in East Texas would have 6 house with a 20,000 capacity each.

In our travels we have seen innumerable little school houses, where the Amish send their kids to school. Each one was almost identical, in that it was one room, most with a basement. There would be two 'outdoor' toilet out back, a hitching post (or shed) for the ones that rode or drove horses, and a playground with minimal equipment, and a baseball diamond. Amish children are educated only through the 8th grade, after which they usually go to work on the farm, or hire to some small business or industry. A few may get some higher education, perhaps by correspondence, or maybe a GED.

We have been real fortunate for the last week to have access to a Wireless Internet Connection provide free (for now) by the park. Although the connection is normally good, occasionally the ISP is slow to respond. But, overall, it has really been good, and we have been able to publish the journal everyday, and been able to read the local news on the Lufkin Daily News website.

We are going to leave here tomorrow and head on further north into Michigan, to Traverse City and Machinaw City.

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

We left Berlin this morning right at 7am, and headed north toward Michigan. Intentions were to travel maybe 200 - 250 miles, boon docked for the night then go on into Traverse City on Thursday. The highways in Ohio that were traveled were mostly narrow, curvy, and hilly. However, once we made it to the Ohio Turnpike ( I-80 & I-90), we were able to make really good time.

Of course, we did have to stop at the first Service Plaza, because they had a Starbuck's & a Cin-a-bon. Just seems Donna CANNOT pass up a Cin-a-bon.. I kinda like them, too!

We stayed with the Ohio Turnpike to Toledo, then in Michigan we were on US 23, which was similar to an interstate. We joined up with I-75, continuing on to the north. By 5pm we were only about 85 miles from Traverse City, so we decided to continue on. Donna called the park, determined they did have space available, so we arrived about 6:30pm.

We got settled in to the site, and drove into Traverse City for dinner at Mabel's, a local family restaurant, that has won 'Peoples Choice' awards for the last 8 years or so. Was really good food.

Tomorrow we will start exploring the area, expecting to see some really different land and seascape, since we are right on the shores of Lake Michigan and Traverse Bay.

Thursday, August 19, 2004

We were out and about a little later this morning, and went back to Mabel's for breakfast, and it was just as good as dinner last night. After breakfast we drove up on of the peninsula just north of Traverse City. At the very end of the peninsula was a light house that was built in the early 1800's, used to guide ships into the Traverse Bay. We saw lots of high dollar homes along the water, many with little boat docks out in the water.

After the trip up the peninsula, we came back to the coach, took a short nap, then about 2pm we left to drive south to a little town of Buckley, about 30 miles south of Traverse City. Today was the first day of an Antique Tractor Show that will run through Sunday. The show was located on several hundred acres owned by a group of tractor enthusiasts that put on an annual show and Flea Market. We were not sure what to expect, and where shocked when we saw the size of the show. Way over 1000 antique tractors on display, with over 550 vendors in the Flea Market. There must have been over 500 RV's parked inside and outside the show grounds.

Shortly after we arrive, there was a parade consisting of at least a couple of hundred of the tractors, which was quite impressive.

We left there and back west toward Lake Michigan, and then north toward Sleeping Bear National Seashore, and area with huge sand dunes, We took a drive through the area with several points of interest, the most interesting of which was the overlook from a dune that was 450 feet high, looking directly down on Lake Michigan.

From there we drove further north to a little town of Glen Arbor, and went to a place called Boone Dock's for dinner. They and a band on the patio playing guitars, mandolin, and banjo, very good music, but was to cold for us Hot Weather Folks, so we went inside to the bar to have dinner. We both had excellent dinners, and found out the bartender was running for sheriff of the county. He was just a young guy, but had a good personality, so who knows, he might get elected.

Then about a 35 miles drive back to the coach. We played a game of Phase 10, which Donna won, and now she leads by 12-10. We also decided we would leave here in the morning and head up to the Mackinaw City and the UP ( Upper Peninsula).

Friday, August 20, 2004

We spent a leisurely morning, just hanging around the coach, and getting ready to travel on further north to Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, Michigan. We only had about a 100 miles to travel today, so we were in no hurry to get on the road. We would be traveling on a state highway through several towns and would join up with I-75 at Mackinaw City, just south of the Mackinaw Bridge.

We were down to a 1/4 tank of fuel, and figured we would find a place to get fuel on the way, rather than drive about 40 miles out of the way, to make our way back east to I-75, then north on I-75. As it turned, the further we went, the more we realized that finding a place with diesel was going to be a problem. We kept on going north and the fuel gauge kept on going south. It got below 1/4, then half way between 1/4 and empty, then into the red zone. Oops, we were beginning to believe we were in trouble.

We talked to several truckers on the CB, but none were aware of any place that we could get into. Donna was about to panic, and my blood pressure was on the rise. Finally, with the fuel gauge deep in to the 'red zone' we spotted a Shell station up on a hill, with difficult access, but they DID have diesel. After a considerable challenge we managed to get to the only pump that had diesel, right on the end with no way out except across a small curb onto a side street. It took over 45 minutes to pump 140 gallons, but that sure beat having to unhook the truck, go buy a couple of 5 gallon cans and find diesel somewhere.

Back on the road with a full tank of fuel, we were only a few miles from I-75, and the approach to the Mackinac Bridge, a 5 mile long Suspension Bridge crossing the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

We arrived at Lakeshore Park Campground about 3pm, got set up, locked in on the satellite, and then headed into the little town of St. Ignace to check out the ferry schedules to Mackinac Island. We also drove out to one of the Indian Casino's in the area, but saved our money, and did not go inside. We saw literally 100's for motorcycles arriving into town for a ride/rally.


Saturday, August 21,2004

We left the campground about 8:45 and headed into St. Ignace to catch the ferry, arriving at the ferry dock just as the 9am ferry left, so we caught the 9:30 one. There are three different ferry companies here, each providing service to the island from both St. Ignace and Machinaw City. We were on the Arnold Line, a big catamaran with huge twin diesels. The boat was three level with the bottom two levels enclosed and the top one open. Again this morning the temperature was in the mid 50's, so we opted for an inside seat. Most people were on the top!!

After a 17 minute ride we were on the island right at Main Street. We walked the entire Main Street area first to get acquainted with town, noticing that there were a LOT of Fudge stores. We Later learned there were 17 Fudge Shops on Main Street. About 11:00 we found a little Pub still serving breakfast, which seemed like a perfect time. After breakfast, which actually was surprisingly good and reasonably priced, we took a horse drawn trolley for a 2 hour tour of the island.

Guess I forgot to mention, but no motorized vehicles are allowed on the island. No cars, no motorcycles, no scooters, no nothing, just one regular ambulance, which seldom gets used. Everything is done by horse drawn wagons of various types, or bicycles. A lot of folks bring their own bike, but 3 or 4 rental place also rent bikes to explore the island.

The first portion of our horse drawn carriage was through the main commercial part of the island, guided by Ray, who was in his 5th year serving as a guide. We made numerous stops, where he pointed out the various significant building in town. He even pointed out the building that he said was the Most Significant Building of all. Making us ask why, he said 'Because that's were my girl friend lives'.

On further up the hill we came upon the Grand Hotel, which was originally built in 1895, and was originally constructed by over 300 workers working 24 hours a day, in 93 days. The hotel has been expanded many times and actually is still 'under construction'. The hotel's front porch, which faces the water, is 697 feet long. Ray's trolley wagon had 5 seats holding 4 persons each, and was pulled by two Belgian horses.

The company providing the tours has a stable of over 600 horses and over 100 wagon/trolley's. Ray informed us that the horses produce about 10,000 pounds of manure per day. He also pointed out that the Fudge Shops produce about 10,000 pounds of fudge per day. GO FIGURE!!

At the top of the hill, we disembarked to visit a museum about the history of the tack and wagons on the island. Adjacent to the museum was a butterfly room with literally 100's of butterflies. From the museum, we re-boarded a trolley wagon, this time pulled by 3 Belgians, because the wagon seated 35 people, for a tour through the State Park. We stopped at The Arch, which was a limestone arch, through which you could see the lake about 300 or 400 feet below, The next stop was the Fort Machinac, a fort that at various times was occupied by both the U. S and Britain. We enjoyed a very informative self tour of the fort.

Instead of re-boarding the trolley after the tour of the Fort, we walked down a stairway of about 200 steps back to the Main Street level, and continued to walk among the various shops and hotels and B & B's. The flowers and flower gardens were absolutely beautiful. They absolutely flourish in the cool weather and bright sun.

We made our way back The Pub for lunch, which like breakfast was very good and reasonable. Even though it was after 2pm, the place was full, but was only a short wait. After lunch, we walked around some more, the caught the ferry back to St. Ignace and to the campground.

We went back into St Ignace later, had a pizza at a little local pizza joint, the about 9:30 watched about 200 motorcycle parade through town.

By the way, if our friends down there is Texas are sweltering in the heat, I might point that for the last 2 weeks we have awakened to temperatures between 49 & 55, and the highs have ranged from 60 to 70. No wonder we are having such a great time.