Saginaw 'n All

Friday, 6/7/2013

It was cloudy, cold and damp on the Lake Huron Coast this morning -- not very inviting for a bike ride around the area. We perused our bike books and decided to try the Saginaw River Valley Trail. It would be a bit of a drive, but also would bring us closer to home. After packing up and giving our lakeside cabin a fine farewell, we went for breakfast at a local cafe down the street then headed west.

There is not much to go to Saginaw for, and entering from the southeast side showed us its worst side. Many homes and most business buildings were abandoned and in very bad repair and there were very few people or cars about. But - as Vickie said -- there was at least this one thing that made visiting Saginaw worthwhile.

Diane M -- these photos are ones I think Billy would enjoy. A creative way to recall some of the past and allow us to get all nostalgic. And here is another one for Billy -- I know it is a dumpster - but what a nice dumpster!

We eventually found the trail that would wind us to the small town of St. Charles. A delightful ride and we were almost the only ones using it on the Friday afternoon.

Entering the trail

Farm buildings along the trail

At the end of the trail we had our lunch at the conveniently placed picnic pavilion and watched the lazy river. It is a mystery to us about this living dead sign as the building has no other sign on it.

Don't know what this is about, but an interesting sign

Got a nice shot of the Rail Trail Bridge and the water falls leading from our picnic spot down to the river, then were ready for a little more riding.

The other end of the trail

Falls lead from our picnic spot to the river

As the trail is somewhat short, be meandered off into the outskirts of town. This is often how many interesting things are discovered, and we were not disappointed on this ramble. The Outdoor Learning Center is part of the Saginaw School District and I wish I knew more about it, like who gets to come here to learn about all these interesting things. Hopefully everybody.

The building was closed so we could not "check in" as all visitors are requested to do. We rode around some of the paved pathways following signs to "survival area"; 'pioneer house"; "old mine"; "challenge course", etc..

Earning 60 -70 cents per ton!!!

Miners rest

Pioneer House

 

Then we took the road to the "Red Barn" to find yet more learning opportunities about farms, farm animals and farm life.

Red Barn serves as a classroom when learning is in session

 

Time to head back on the trail with the delightful wild flowers and tunnel of trees.

Don't know what these are but the line the trail beautifully

Vickie found this along the trail

Vickie & Gerry -- the only riders on the trail

Happy!

Arrived at Hagley's Chippewa Pines to dinner that Len had prepared for us. Quite an unexpected treat. Thank you Len.

 

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Thumb time

Thursday, 6/6/2013

We drove a few hours over to the Thumb of Michigan and to the coast of Lake Huron. We thought we might do some riding but once here we decided to spend time on foot and in the car, exploring some of the Thumb.

Entering the town of Port Austin we came upon the place we would stay the night -- Lake Vista Motel and Cottages.

 

The courtyard outside our cottage

Our cottage on the Lake

Checked in and somewhat unpacked, we strolled around our grounds and out onto the jetty.

Looking back at the shore from the end of the long jetty

Vickie and Gerry fight some wind

Could not resist adding this bike rack photo to my collection

The next driving excursion took us to several small towns on the Lake coast, one of them being Grindstone City. Our main reason to visit this town was to find the beach from Vickie's past that she remembers having lots of flat "grindstones" that she would build "houses" with. Every local person we asked about the location of this beach looked at us as if we were speaking a foreign language, and had no idea what we were talking about. Oh well, we had fun visiting the General store and exploring the little town.

A bit of history: Grindstone City had the largest and finest grindstones, scythestones and honestones in the world, until "carborundum" killed the industry after World War I. In the mid 1800s, sailors that landed on the beach began sharpening their tools on the stone slabs, and there began the idea to shape the stones for honing knives and tools. Quarrying began and it was a huge industry for the town.

 

Grindstone on display by the General Store

 

Some residents use grandstone as pillars for their driveway

We moved on to the town of Harbor Beach and then to Bad Ass Axe where we stopped for a few groceries and some adult beverage for the evening's sunset-watching before heading back to Port Austin.

We were in wonder about the Hygienic Dress League

 

Ending the day, we took a walk along our beach where we skipped stones on the lake and found flat stones to build a house for Vickie (made her happy), took some more photos, had some visits with birds, and said good night to the sun.

Our beach walk from our cottage

Vickie getting a good shot

 

We found out shortly that this mamma Killdeer was squawking at us to protect her baby that was just a little ways from her

 

Swans were feeding in front of our porch

 

Sunset at Lake Huron from our cottage

Good night.

 

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Ride to St. Louis?

Wednesday, 6/5/2013

So Vickie said "I have been wanting to ride to St. Louis". Well, she wanted to go to the mirror house and that was a fine time. So, let's follow her on her next wishful trek. I suppose Gerry and I would have simply sucked it up and ridden as far as we could get to St. Louis (Missouri) but were quite happy when we learned this St. Louis is here in Michigan, and about twenty miles away.

Riding around here really involves no hills! Very different from our hilly terrain everywhere back home. The farmlands and roadside views are interesting and we stop several times for photos.

This garden lady is made from clay flower pots

 

Can't pass up a bike photo

 

This very old gas station stop had us very intrigued

 

The numbers were not readable so we could not tell what the price of gas was when this was in operation

Owners of the station obviously lived behind the station and had some farming to do

As we rode along Vickie told us we were cycling through the Porter Oil Fields, and lo and behold -- there was an oil drill.

Right beside the road, I don't know that I have been so up close to one of these

A delightful old barn not far from the oil drill

 

Soon felt we were running out of fuel and needed lunch. We had packed sandwiches and goodies for a roadside stop somewhere, and we found the perfect place.

 

Lunch on the porch of an abandoned home

Doesn't get a whole lot better...

Continuing on into St. Louis, we learned (from Vickie) some history of the Pine River that we were riding next to (the river runs from St. Louis to Midland, so we have been with it for most of our ride). Years ago there was a chemical company (not Dow) that polluted the river with DDT, then another chemical company took over and polluted with other chemicals and PBBs. So -- don't eat the fish! The fish actually died for a while and some from adjoining rivers have found their way into the Pine. But still -- don't eat the fish!

 

We approached St. Louis and found ourselves in the "middle of the mitten".

 

When we got into town and found a place for the coffee drinkers to have a "good" cuppa, we learned that the high school senior project of a few of the seniors was happening. They were painting a mural of the "middle of the mitten" and the Spirit of St. Louis.

"Spirit of St. Louis"

Time to head home now and a little (I mean little as in maybe four feet tall) woman stopped to talk to us. Said she was in the "beauty parlor" and saw us ride by with all that bike gear and was proud of us! Never see that around St. Louis, she said -- three women (and I believe she was thinking "of your age") riding all that distance (she was in amazement that we would be riding 40 miles today)! No wonder you have all the gear you need. I wish I could be doing that, but I won't be now anymore (she was maybe my age, possibly slightly younger), should have done that when I was younger.

Made us proud!

 

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Michigan 2013

Tuesday 6/4/2013

On Monday evening Vickie (appreciatively) drove to Detroit to pick us up and drive us to her Dad's home for another adventure in and around Midland, Michigan. After our stay here last year, it felt a little like "coming home".

Len always wanted to have his own farm -- and has enjoyed his for these many years

"Big Red" serves to transport Len the quarter mile to and from his mail box

Back in the day, Len did a lot of bow hunting -- bagging a deer a year

 

Vickie had set up our sleeping quarters, picked fresh flowers for our room, and left a welcome trinket on our pillow.

We got ourselves settled in and hit the pillows quite readily after a long day of travel. Our room is actually the whole basement with our own bathroom, and the laundry conveniently in the next room. Beds are covered with quilts handmade by Vickies grandma and a treasure they are.

As usual, I was the first one to arise in the early morn, and took a little walk around the property.

 

The river is higher than usual because of recent rain and flooding the town has experienced

 

The geese in family formation were also up early. The river is red/brown color due to the tannin from the trees that line the banks, and probably some iron content as well

This swing hangs from Vickie's childhood (favorite) tree, and one can imagine a child swinging by the river enjoying country sounds and sights

A nice quiet time roaming the farm, then everyone was up and we were planning our day for bike riding. Our first step was to rent bikes. Last year Vickie drove here from home and brought her other bike so I rode her Bike Friday that she keeps here at her Dad's place, and Gerry rented a bike from Ray's Bike Shop. This year we rented two bikes and a bike rack for the car.

Securely attaching the bike rack to the rear of the rental KIA Soul for our upcoming adventuring

We drove the bikes back home and geared up for a ride beginning from Len's house. Vickie said she has wanted to get a closer look at the "mirror house" that is just off the highway. What an interesting stop. We took back roads with little traffic to get there and spent time wandering around the abandoned building and site.

Though there are a couple of broken windows in the back, it is hopeful that preservation will prevail

 

The entire house is covered with broken pieces of mirror, mosaic tiles, and other objects found lying around

 

One side of the rear doorway

A splash of color in the back weeds

The "grapes" are rusted bolts

Bike Friday by mirror house

 

I couldn't resist this one..

 

After the mirror house visit we found our way (well, Vickie found our way) the the Pere Marquette Trail that led us into Midland and the coffee shop for our afternoon tea and crumpets. We stopped at Ray's Bike Shop for a little fine tuning that the rentals needed and were soon on our way home.

 

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