Wednesday August 8th

On the way north we skirted Detroit to the west, but starting this morning we are already 'into' the metro area so trying to sort out what tack we should we take to get past the city.  Wait, we're not sailing - well if the saying fits use it right?  Rabbit trail: mixed idiom perhaps, I can't keep figures of speech straight.  So that makes it a malaphore right!  Ok, back on track.  Hey, what about straight east then hug the Detroit River shore all the way south to Lake Erie...  Humans are attracted to water like a moth to a flame so there should be something interesting I would think.

We so enjoyed breakfast with our nieces we ended up leaving pretty late, just in time for lunch!  Oh, and we are so close to empty the very first order of business was getting gas - or we'll be walking!

Reflections

So bike fueled up, lunch in our tummies and we are off.  Nothing really to speak of on 16 mile, blah.  It is curious to name streets by the number miles from the city center,  nice to navigate, utilitarian but pretty boring right?  We finally hit water at Lake Sinclair park - we would have ridding in and looked around but there was a pretty hefty fee just to take a gander so we moved along.  It was pleasant with water on the left and homes on the right.  The road is close enough to get some views now and again.  Homes were nice to over the top.

Detroit River Views

Grosse Pointe Yacht Club

Older Home

Newer Home

The city center is well, meh a city.  But, it is a big shiny bauble so, here's a photo.

Downtown Detroit

Interesting to see the Ambassador Bridge at kind of the business end of things.  This is clipped from GoPro footage so is certainly not a 'planned shot' but I enjoyed the fact that we captured trucks above and below, sometimes lucky is just as effective as good :-).  Interesting to note that over somewhere between 15-25% of US - Canadian trade passes right over head at this very spot.

Business End of the Ambassador Bridge

I remember seeing an article in the paper (Washington Post) some years ago describing some of the controversy over this bit of road connecting the US with Canada.  At the time I glanced at the headline and moved on, not all that interested in some local politic half a country away.  Now here I am riding under it.  Small world right?

So my curiosity is a piqued and I did a search, read a few articles.  Evidently the billionaire owner, Matty Moroun, is quite a character.  Described as a bare-knuckle business man, he is of Arab decent and grew up hard.  I'm not going to take time and space here to say all that much, if you are interested, it's easy enough to find out more.  Here are a couple of fun tidbits though.  An article in the Detroit Free Press recounts his ties with Jimmy Hoffa quoting Matty saying 'I was close with Jimmy, since he used to buy gas at my fathers station' and another recounting the day spent in jail at 83 years old for not fixing the bridge after the Canadian government rolled over and relinquished it's fight for control in exchange for his promises to repair the structure. They (Canadians) are now building their own bridge and it is probably safe to say that that no small part of their motivation to shell out $7.5 billion for an alternative is contempt of the Morouns.  Humans certainly are funny creatures.

Next stop historic Fort Wayne.  Cool looking place, mostly rotting away.  The original earthen works fort and sandstone barracks have been restored the rest is a decaying mess.  Evidently it was handed over to the city of Detroit, sorta wonder why they took it?  Had I known there was a museum to the Tuskegee Airmen there may have tried to stop (web site says by appointment only) so on we go.

Ft Wayne

I suppose one of the themes of the trip is bridges, today was certainly that way.  Lots and lots of bridges.  And like snowflakes, I suppose, they are all a different...  Some are fancy, others grand.  This one is rather industrial with a touch of grace.

Rouge River Bridge

The next bridge we crossed was a rather small at the entrance to Elizabeth Park.  Unlike the earlier park this one is open to the public with lots of trees and grass - and even a wedding party taking photos!

Elizabeth Park Bridge

And the next bridge?  The 'Free' Grosse Ile swing camel back truss bridge, how's that for a mouthful.  And here is what it looks like west - east.

Camel Back Truss Swing Free Bridge to Grosse Ile :-).

So why Grosse Ile?  I duno, why not?  Turned out to be a pretty spot, more houses and river views.  At the south end is a marina that had a certain charm (and two more bridges, of course...).  Here is a feel for the island.

North Grosese Ile ...

... Center Grosese Ile ...

... Center Grosese Ile

Hey, Gibraltar?  Have to go there!  Well, big name, not really that much going on ;-).  Worth a try right?

Gibraltar - Gotta Wonder Why

Well, we have used most of the day and are a whooping 33 miles (as the crow flies) from where we started.  Oh my!  Ok, time to pull up a map and tighten up the day.  Given the distance from our destination for the night, the time, the fact that we need to get an external hard drive (Hard drive on my laptop is full, and the memory card in the camera is nearly full...  At the end of the day it's all about logistics isn't it (Sean :-))  Looks like the best thing is some highway driving to Toledo, hit a Best Buy for the disk, grab dinner, then back on the small roads to our nightly stop.  So here we go...

Freeway Driving :-/

Korean Barbecue for Dinner

Back to Roads Less Traveled

We didn't really have time to explore Toledo but the building above caught our attention while we were sitting at this red light, mostly because one of these isn't like the other.  It's not particularly stunning but compared to the neighbor across the street and the others near by...

And what do you suppose came next?

A bridge - of Course!

Industrial Town

A baby version of the mighty Mac :-).  It crosses the Maumee River running through the once famed 'black swamp' which some considered to be so treacherous that it was only deemed passable by adult men!  Not so much anymore, lots of farms land and a city focused on industry. The glass capital of the world by some estimates and home to factories turning out Jeeps since 1941.  At the other end of the bridge we couldn't help but note and old historic church, and... some more friendly people!  I love the waves and interaction we have been privileged to enjoy on this journey.

Historic Church

Another Waver :-)

With the time pressure we didn't stop to take any 'proper' pictures, just more frames from the GoPro then back down the road.  Soon enough we were out in the country, just in time for a lovely sunset.

Serendipity

Sunset Photo Op

Well, one more bridge then we are home for the night.  A little time to rest and reflect, and wonder what will tomorrow bring ...

Portage River Bridge

Home for the Night

Sweet Dreams

If you have read previous posts you know the deal, if not here it is: more photos and additional details for your enjoyment on this interactive map ...

Tuesday August 7th

All too soon it's time to head towards home.  So hard to say good bye, even when you know it's only temporary...  We wanted to leave pretty early, in order to get close to Detroit today.  Funny enough it was comfortable getting back on the bike - just felt 'right' in so many ways.  Standing there letting it warm up as we finished getting gear on, then building speed; down the drive way, access road, then highway.  First half the the longer test ride down, falling into the rhythm of the road as we start off on the next leg, it's a thumbs up.

Having been introduced to the Tunnel of Trees we decided to backtrack and experience it on two wheels.  While we had planned the route up, mostly because of the time line and having to be 'some place' at a particular time, the ride home is wide open, no real plan, only a final destination.  Oh, fun story here to show how that worked... 

When I scheduled my vacation for this trip there really was no way of knowing exactly how it was going to turn out, so I planned long, just in case.  Having said that the idea in the back of my head was a quick ride back just in case it wasn't 'that great' and also to conserve vacation time.  In that plan we would have been on the road yesterday ;-).  So, as we were talking Sunday night looking at Joe and Janice's schedules for work on Monday (because of our desire to stay and visit longer) we decided to stay one more day.  Then Monday we were thinking that as long as we were not in such a rush to get back quite so quickly perhaps we should stop at my sisters in Detroit.  I hadn't shared anything about the trip with them i.e. that we would be in Michigan...  So, I cold called (actually texted) my brother in-law with a question:  "Hey, if we showed up on your doorstep tomorrow night would you let us in?"  Guess what his response was?  Their new address.  What a hoot, sure to love those guys!  So that was planning sequence for today.

Crossing the bridge early in the morning had quite a different feel than in the middle of the day on the way up Saturday.  Quiet, not so many vehicles, cool with low lying clouds.  Looking out from the mid-span I imagined Mackinac Island was off in the distance... Not so, it's Round Island the smallest of three.  Until I looked at a map while writing this I had no idea there was more than one out there.  Funny how something popular or trendy (Mackinac island in this particular case) just drowns out everything around it.  Hummm, how much do we miss?  Well, that's kinda what this trip is about isn't it, roads less traveled - connected threads.  Like sunrises and sunsets.  Water and the air we breath :-).

Morning light dancing on the water near Round Island

Back in 'the mitten' we move over to the east coast of Lake Michigan and settle into the rhythm of the road.  A narrow ribbon of asphalt twisting and turning through the forest.  An occasional glimpse of blue waters through the trees.  Not another car on the road - perfect.

Ribbon of Asphalt

Lake Views

At the southern end is the town of Harbor Springs.  Its a cute place, a little touristy so there are shops and restaurants, including several coffee shops.  It was fun to see folks sitting out front drinking there coffee and talking this morning as we rolled through.

Cafe Life ...

... Coffee and People Watching

Swan + Flamingo = ???

For some reason this caught my eye - swan meets flamingo!  What people buy and why is quite a mystery isn't it?


Post Script: You know what's even odder?  I saw a gal carrying 'this' flamingo at a resort in Tunisia a few months later.  What's up with that?

In the Wild! (half way around the world)

On we go...  By Elk Rapids we are ready to stop for some food.  Ok, if I had this backdrop would I run every day?  After looping around we stop, could you get a more traditional diner?  :-).

Exercise with a View

Classic American Diner ...

... Hard to get zip, but the cook managed to find some peppers ;-)

I noticed Cadillac and it's mostly on the way, stop?  Of course!  Have to say I was a little disappointed though... I mistakenly imagined that the car company had some association with the town, not so.  Rather both were named after the French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac.  Oh well.  Good news it's a nice little town, lake is beautiful, nice parks.  Stopped and stretched our legs a bit, enjoy a look at the lake, then on we go...

Hey....

... great place to rest a spell.

At this point in the day we started to feel a little time pressure.  We started out early but had been taking a some time, no rush.  So, to pick it up a bit we decided to get on the highway.  Oh my, such a good reminder of what we really don't like to do :-/.  Made good time, but, so boring.  As we approached the Tittabawasee river just couldn't help but take the exit to break up the monotony.

As we pulled into Sanford we were also looking for a convenient place to pull out the jacket liners too - what was comfortable on the lake shore at 6 AM wasn't really working so well now :-).  Rolling in and hey, a museum on the left, wonder if it's any good?  After the garment change in a local park go back to see - shoot not open, but outdoor exhibits are pretty cool.  They have moved historic buildings onto the site: train station complete with some track and cars, general store, church, and one room school.

Rail Road Depot...

...and Cars

General Store

Church

School

There was a fella cleaning the caboose so I poked my head in and looked around a bit.  We talked a some, I commented about how nice the displays were, thanked him for his hard work keeping everything looking good and he says "oh you should see how much stuff is in the main museum".  Oh, I'm sure it's pretty amazing... "I have to do some work in there, would you like to see?"  Are you kidding??? Of course I would!

The collection was fascinating to be sure.  Such a broad set of themes.  From Native American 'prophesy' to state and regional history, to an exhibit honoring a civil war heroine and a fella given the Bronze Star in WWII. Wouldn't you like to meet them?

Indian Prophesy

Morphing of Michigan

Lumbering Diorama

Salt collection...

... showing the scale

Pearl: A Union Spy During the Civil War

Well, now we really do need to get going if we want to make dinner tonight... So back on the highway and pretty uneventful the rest of the ride. As always, more photos and additional details on this interactive map...

Saturday August 4th - Monday August 6th

Well, we're here!  The four day journey is done and we are about to surprise Joe at his concert... Oh, have I mentioned that yet?  The pretense for this trip was to come to the concert.  We timed it right, Joe is off starting the set up and we have just enough time to get ready and ride up with Janice.

From Motorcycle to Car

Kinda funny to spend days traveling then hop right into a car and drive another hour :-).  It was sure nice though, catching up a little on the way.  The event is at the Point Iroquois Light on Lake Superior's White Fish Bay.  A pretty spot for sure, complete with a very official looking light keeper!

How's that for a 'keeper' look?

We had time before the concert to take a tour of the light.  The miniature chapel reminded me of the perils of the sea for some reason, and the ship in the background was so perfect. The view from the top hints at the vastness of the lake - and this is only Whitefish Bay.

Model Chapel

Iroquois Point Light

"Laker" Steaming Out

The concert was lots of fun... always good to see these two up front performing.  Joe did a great job on the format; song story song, all maritime themed with lots of stories from his time in the Coast Guard.  What a hoot!

Wonderful Music, Great Stories...

After the event we walked down to the shore...

Cairn: Marking the Way

Yes, we were actually there :-)

Time together isn't complete without food right?  As we were walking to lunch I couldn't help but grab a picture of the house across the street... It's so charming, and look at the flowers!  Oh, we are in car country right?

Nice house... and with the car sitting there, sweet shot!

Sitting on the waterfront can't help but think of an
east coast comment: "There's beaches in Michigan?"

Check this dude out!
What a cool idea right?

Monday night we went to a very special place for dinner.  Out in the middle of the woods along lake Michigan Leggs Inn is worth a special trip.  I love the history of it - Polish immigrant with a little wild artsy in him found a place that reminded him of the homeland and went to work creating his dream.   He passed in the late 60's but the family has continued on, and what treat.  Here are a few photos, enjoy...

Named by the stove legs on the roof-line

Fantastic sculptures through out...

So much going on!

This bee kept getting lost in this giant flower :-)

Grounds and gardens as lovely as the meal

Sit and watch a sunset?

After dinner we stopped by the Gold Mine Jewelry store, pretty interesting place.  I particularly liked the kaleidoscopes - and they had all kinds.  Little ones, big ones, even binocular styled.  And guess what?  You can take pictures through them!




Well, the weekend was so sweet; visiting and dining while seeing a couple of local sights.  It's sure is fun to reconnect with folks like this.  All too soon it's time to go, but before we do take a moment to enjoy a some additional pictures, stories, and details available on this interactive map...