20040808

August 8, 2004 PhotoLink
Sunday

Start: Niagara Falls KOA, Niagara Falls NY
End: Port Huron KOA, Port Huron MI
Miles: 209

Temps: High 88.9, Low 58.5. The high probably happened while we were waiting on hot concrete under the sun at the customs gates.

We got started a little late, but it probably didn't matter.

We paid the bridge toll to get into Canada, then answered the questions of the Canadian Customs officer satisfactorily and got onto the Queen Elizabeth Way toward Hamilton. At Hamilton, we did some interesting weaving and wound up on 403 westbound which ends at the merge with 401 coming from Toronto. A little later we veered off on 402 for Sarnia.

The day was mostly sunny, temps in the mid-to-upper 70's. Traffic was flowing smoothly, but running a lot faster than the posted 100km/hr (we were doing 110 and being passed frequently).

At Sarnia, things slowed. The gates for the toll bridge out of Canada stopped all traffic except trucks for about ten minutes for no apparent reason. After we finally got through that, we stopped on the Blue Water Bridge in the queue for the US Customs officers. Very slowly, we edged toward the person. Finally we got to her and answered her questions satisfactorily and were re-admitted to the US of A.

Then we got onto one of Michigan's worst roads (I think), I-94/I-69 and then only I-69, on our way to the campground. This road is falling apart. Big gaps between slabs of concrete. Yuk.

We found the campground and checked in. It took some doing to back into our site due to trees and signposts. Then we got set up and settled in. It's a large place with lots going on - two pools, a 1/3 scale train, shops, pedaled-vehicle livery stable, volley-ball, other games, kiddie playgrounds, and an adjacent small amusement park free to campers.

I ran out with the truck to fuel up for tomorrow and picked up a few groceries, wine and beer.

We ate (steak and new potatoes, salad), and then went off to do laundry. Then we took hikes and sat outside with books for a while. There were lots of campfires burning and the smoke got really thick, so we went inside.

Now it's these words and get ready to go tomorrow morning.


20040809

August 9, 2004 PhotoLink
Monday

Start: Port Huron KOA, Port Huron MI
End: Holland, MI
Miles: 206

Temps: High 87.4, Low 59.5. The high is probably too high.

We got up a little late and chatted with a neighbor (Gunter) while we got the trailer unhooked and ready to travel.

Then we got onto I-69 West to the west side of Flint MI. We thought we'd try state highway M-21 for a while.

First, we ran into an 18-mile construction zone, inside which were three bridge rebuilding one-lane sections and one paving complex of trucks and machines. We continued through the small towns and villages, rejoining the interstate at I-96 and I-196 to go through Grand Rapids. Then on to John's house just north of Saugatuck.

We said hi to John & Nancy and chatted for a while. John & I got the trailer into position and up on boards (very un-level to start). We plugged in the electrical and water and turned on the refrigerator. Then, walking through the garage, we heard a phone ring, but we couldn't locate it. Later, Dolores & Nancy accused the electrical panel of ringing (impossible) because they heard a ring coming from it. The ring turned out to be from Niel's cell phone inside a bag on his bicycle next to the panel.

Niel came and went and Dirk came home. Donovan & Mallorie Parkinson (visiting from Cumming, GA) showed up, then Niel returned with his kids. We tended kids and sat in the garage talking until Nancy & Mallorie made up dinner (brats, hamburgers, squash casserole by Mallorie, potato salad, and the fixings). We fed kids and ate and put away the dishes and talked some more.

Later, we got into a game called "Apples to apples", a fun thing requiring no intelligence and laughed at each other as we played it. We quit about midnight.

A good day.


20040810

August 10, 2004 PhotoLink
Teusday

Start: Holland, MI
End: Holland, MI
Miles: 0

Temps: High 73.8, Low 58.1. Cool & cloudy.

We rose leisurely and started the day.

I went into Saugatuck with John to the Sand Bar Saloon, owned by Bill Steininger (a church and school buddy), for coffee with the group there. Owen Smith was there, with Russ, Bill, and Bob the town patrolman.

Owen Smith is involved in helping a homeless veteran to get help from the VA, so he's taking the guy to Grand Rapids for the physical exam and other tests needed to get him some help. Lately, the guy has been living under a pine tree next to the market in Douglas.

We chatted and drank coffee till nearly noon. We returned to the house and chatted there, made up lunch and ate. It rained lightly off and on in the afternoon, so we didn't do anything outside; we watched a railroad video we'd bought John.

I finally went out and tracked down the reason the transmission cooler fan in the truck wasn't running - blown fuse. Replaced fuse and it ran just fine. Reworked the ground connection for it and other things while I was at it.

We found out late in the afternoon that Donovan was suffering from an intense migraine. We persuaded Mallorie to come out anyway, and she did. Then John, Dirk, Mallorie and the two of us went into town to eat at Wally's. Most of us had the lake perch dinner and beer, along with more talk.

Then back to the house for a game of Apples to Apples. Mallorie said they'd visited three game stores in Holland yesterday to get a copy for themselves. Had fun, got tired, Mallorie headed back to the motel, we went to bed in the trailer just as Nancy drove in after doing her shift at Hospice.

Nice day.


20040811

August 11, 2004 PhotoLink
Wednesday

Start: Holland, MI
End: Holland, MI
Miles: 0

Temps: High 63.9, Low 54.1. Cooler & cloudy.

After breakfast, Dolores & I went into Holland to the farmer's market. We came back with blackberries, new potatoes, and other things.

Then we had lunch and the four of us headed into Saugatuck. Mallorie & Donovan had called and told us they'd be there and gave us their cellphone number. We called it (with weak signal) and left a message; a bit later we received a message they'd sent with a weak signal. Between the two messages, there was enough information that John & I found them. Dolores & Nancy had continued their shopping but found us after a while.

We had a couple of beers in the Sand Bar Saloon, then went out for a little more shopping. We went into the Butler Hotel and had dinner there, overlooking the Kalamazoo River.

It seemed that showers went through every ten minutes, then there'd be a glimpse of sunshine, then back to clouds and then rain again.

After dinner, we returned to the house and talked. Somebody suggested card games, so we played games until 11:00pm or so. The Viking horns made the rounds and pictures were taken. Donovan looks good in horns.

At that time, Mallorie sang "It's Over", which nobody heard but Dolores, who laughed like mad. Turned out she was referring to the saying that it's only over when the fat lady sings. Hysterical.

They departed, and will be leaving for Indiana and then home tomorrow morning.

We headed to bed to rest up for another day.


20040812

August 12, 2004 PhotoLink
Thursday

Start: Holland, MI
End: Holland, MI
Miles: 0

Temps: High 70.5, Low 55.8

We got up & ate & went into the house. We got the hurricane reports on "Bonnie" and how she threatened Panama City Beach.

Turns out Bonnie turned right and left and calmed a bit before it hit the coast well east of PCB. When we saw TV coverage of PCB, we saw blue skies and high surf indicating it was all over but the shouting. Now we worry a little about hurricane Charley, currently south of Havana, and where it might go. More about that tomorrow.

John & I went into Saugatuck to the Sand Bar Saloon and had coffee with Bill and Owen Smith. Dolores & Nancy went out for manicures and pedicures. We got together back at the house, then went to Crane's Orchard & Bakery east of Fennville for lunch. Lunch was nice, and we bought two pies to bring home. We stopped at two antique outlets on the way home but only John bought anything - a small anvil.

On returning to the house, we just stopped. We talked a bit, we wandered around a bit, and we took it easy.

Later, we had chicken noodle soup with various breads and cheeses. We talked some more, then had pie at 9:30pm. We all agreed an early-to-bed night was in order and did it.

We're doing the computer chores and watching weather on Grand Rapids TV for news of Charley.


20040813

August 13, 2004 PhotoLink
Thursday

Start: Holland, MI
End: Holland, MI
Miles: 0

Temps: High 74.1, Low 57.9. Cool, cloudy but turning mostly sunny.

We got up & ate & went into the house. We got the hurricane reports on "Charley".

John & I went downtown for coffee. The Weather Channel reports made it appear that Charley wouldn't affect PCB.

After we came back to the house, Dolores & I went into downtown Holland to look around. The Pendleton Store we liked is no longer there. We found a few things here and there on 8th Street.

On the way back to the house, we stopped to pick cat-tails. I managed to stab myself (lightly) with the knife, but we got the cattails. Back at the house, we found the best preservative for cattails is cheap hairspray, so we went into Douglas to get that.

Bill Steininger showed up about six and Owen Smith and his friend, Karen Hammond, showed up a little before seven. We talked, then had steak, corn-on-the-cob, salad, squash, and other goodies. Then we talked and laughed about many subjects, including high school, mutual friends, travel, cruises, and just had a great time.

Owen & Karen left, but Bill stayed for a bit. Then we got the late update on Charley that showed it leaving Florida near Daytona Beach. Places around Fort Myers appear to have suffered most, but it will be well into tomorrow before much is known on that.

We folks in the panhandle missed two bullets in one weekend.

Off to bed (12:07am 8/14).