20030920                   Open new window with today’s pictures.

September 20, 2003
Saturday


Start:   Poncho's Pond RV Park, Ludington MI
End:     Lake Park Trailer Resort, Fennville MI
Miles:   109
Hi Temp: 71.2
Lo Temp: 53.6


After the front went through, the skies cleared and the temperatures got cooler. Now, at 8:30pm, it's 55 and going down quickly.

The drive was simple, straight down US-31 to the exit nearest this campground that fronts on Lake Michigan. We've stayed here before with the Busschers. All the sites are seasonal except for a couple that they keep open for guests of seasonal customers. Some of their customers have had their trailer here for years. When Labor Day comes, they all show up and get together to have fun and say good-bye until next year.

Mr Busscher said hello and had us go inside. Mrs Busscher is laid up, recovering from a broken hip.  She says she'll be using a walker for the next three months, but she sounds fairly chearful.

We were told to back into a seasonal site where the users have pulled their trailer out for the winter.  It was a long backup down a narrow lane to get into the site, but it was worth the effort.  The back window looks down onto the beach and the lake. The waves hitting the beach can be clearly heard.  We can walk down to the beach from our trailer door.

After we got set up, we went into Douglas for groceries. We looked at church times, then returned to put the groceries away. We changed and went to church. Afterward, we returned and grilled steaks for dinner.  Then we did a short hike on the beach.  I got out the camera and took pictures of the sunset, since we may not have skies clear enough again (the forecast is for clouds).

Now, we're settling in with TV and computer and books. We'll see relatives tomorrow and for the next few days.
Then we'll go to our daughter Susan's place in Ohio for a few days.  Then it will be time to go home.

 

We missed a day’s notes here.

20030922

September 22, 2003
Monday


Start:   Lake Park Trailer Resort, Fennville MI
End:     same
Miles:   0
Hi Temp: 73.2
Lo Temp: 45.7


An interesting weather day.  Everything from cloudy but calm to rain, hail, wind, lightning and thunder. Right now (11:00pm) the wind is kicking up good-sized waves that are rolling ashore with considerable noise.

We got up and went to brother John's place.  Then John and I went to the attorney's office and picked up a paper I have to have a witness sign under my signature according to the "Medallion Signature" process employed by banks.  I'll take it to Manassas, get it done, and mail it back.

Then we went to Mom's old tax accountant.  He had prepared her taxes (Fed & State) for 2002, and the trust's taxes (Fed & State) for 2002, ready to mail. He told us to research the gain/loss in any stocks held by her (none) or the trust (some) so that he can prepare the final returns when the dividend and interest statements come in early next year.

John then dropped some veteran's stuff he had in the car at the VVA office.  Then we went to the market and picked up a few groceries; we took them to the trailer where I put them away and got out their cheese from Wisconsin. Then we went back to John's.

We had lunch, then chatted for a while, and looked at pictures on the laptops (theirs and ours). I got our email. We read the papers for a bit.

Nancy's sister Barb came to keep an eye on their mother, Ethel, while we went out to dinner downtown in Saugatuck.  First, we went to the trailer for a glass and to show Nancy the spot we have on the lake.  We wound up at Wally's and ate perch, the old standbye there.  We ran into a shirt-tail relative by marriage and talked with him.  Then back to John's, talked a while, and Barb left.

About three minutes later the wind, lightning, heavy rain and little hail blasted through. It only lasted five minutes, but it was interesting while it was there.  The wind kept up afterward, so some front must have gone through.

We hung around for a little longer, then went back to the trailer for the late news and to settle in for the night.

 

20030923

September 23, 2003
Tuesday


Start:   Lake Park Trailer Resort, Fennville MI
End:     same
Miles:   0
Hi Temp: 64.2
Lo Temp: 55.0


In the night, we had a lot of wind and some rain.  When we arose, the waves were about 4' high on the lake and the wind was still blowing, but the sun was coming through.  By the end of the day, it was clear and the wind had diminished to 10 knots or so.

Dolores had a case of yucky-tummy this morning, so she stayed at the trailer while I went into Saugatuck to the sand Bar Saloon for coffee with Bill Steininger and the other regulars.  Owen Smith came in, as did Ernie Oliviera.  John came along a little later. We had a good time chatting and telling jokes.

Around noon, I went back to get Dolores. We packed up all our laundry and took it to John's house.  We were in and out on various trips to the store and hikes, but over the span of the day we got the laundry done.

John & I worked on his 1952 M-37 Power Wagon's oil pressure gage, but didn't get it fixed.

Bill S. came out later in the afternoon so I showed him some of the pictures.  Then we grilled steaks and ate and talked. Then Bill went back home to host his regular Tuesday-night card game. John & Nancy & Dolores & I sat a bit longer, just chewing the fat.

We came home about 9:30, put the laundry away, and settled in for the night.

 

20030924                    Open new window with today’s pictures.

September 24, 2003
Wednesday


Start:   Lake Park Trailer Resort, Fennville MI
End:     same
Miles:   0
Hi Temp: 68.0
Lo Temp: 55.6


Dolores stayed in again this morning, although she's feeling better. I ate breakfast, then went into downtown Saugatuck to have coffee with Bill Steininger and the regulars.

After coffee, I came back to get Dolores & we went to John's place at 1:30pm.  Nancy & John & Dolores & I then took off on a ride through the country, including the old New Richmond area and Fennville. We stopped at Crane's Orchard for lunch, then stopped at an antique shop nearby. 

Dolores got a few small items at the shop. Then it was back to John & Nancy's house.  We played three games of cribbage; the Virginia Carlsons won two.  We saw a mommy deer and her two fawns out in the little field between the house and the road.

Then Bill S. came up the driveway, scaring off the deer. We talked for a while, until it was time for us to return to the trailer and prepare to leave tomorrow.

It's been cloudy most of the day, with intermittent rain.  On return to the trailer, we found the wind blowing mightily again, and the trailer being bounced around again. Acorns are dropping from the oak over the trailer again, sounding as though someone's knocking at the door.

We put things away and made ready as much as possible. Now we're settling in.