Frankenmuth, MI

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Another cold morning found us taking a drive to the "Bavarian" town of Frankenmuth (basically a tourist shopping and eating mecca). Vickie had never been there and of course neither had Gerry or I, so we thought it a good cold weather outing. We arrived during a "lull", easily finding parking in an almost emptly lot, and looking at goods and trinkets in almost empty shops. Soon however, the throngs arrived and our thoughts of lunch in one of the town restaurants were rearranged as the throngs of visitors lined out the door of every eatery in town. The after-church crowd had arrived and filled the parking lot as well as the streets, waiting for our parking space to empty so they could pull in.

 

 

Plaing in Frankenmuth

 

 

Vickie was taken with all those ghords

 

Gerry thought this side more colorful

After stopping for lunch in a "mom and pop" cafe outside of Bay City, we drove home in what seemed like warmer weather! Once home, we quickly wrapped up in some warmer clothing and got on our bikes for a delightful hour ride around the quiet neighborhood and traffic free roads that surround Len's homestead. We were all happy!

 

Time to get the bikes out for ride!

 

A stop at the gravesite of Vickie's aunt Dorothy

 

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Cold Enough for SNOW

Saturday, October 17, 2015

With temps in the mid to upper 30s for the past two days, we find it too cold to bike. This morning we went to town to the Farmer's Market. Vickie wanted to get some of what will soon be the last of the delicious tomatoes, and we would also take a little walk around town.

 

May be the biggest sunflower I have ever seen

 

Many many pumpkins

 

White fire escape against a red wall

 

The one breakfast place available had a waiting line out the door, so we came home for breakfast ala Vickie. Afterward we bundled up in whatever clothing we had (I had packed little in the way of cold weather gear so donned double/triple everything) for a walk in a snow shower. We drove to the Chippewa Nature Center and took the two and a half mile River Trial. Just as we began our walk, the snow shower started. Snow showers! It was off and on for most of our walk, and as has been typical, the sun came out the minute we got back to the car at the end of the trail.

 

 

A burst of color

 

At the Nature Center

 

Where the Pine River runs into the Chippewa River that runs into the Titabawassee River

 

Indian Seasonal Camp

 

Walls of thin bark

 

 

There has not been much in bright Fall color this year but the few colorful trees that we see are vibrant and beautiful. "They" say that the weather is to warm up for the next few days for the end of our visit here in Michigan so we are hopeful to get on the bikes for some riding.

 

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White Pine Trail - Rockford MI

Thursday, October 15, 2015

The sky was clear blue with not a cloud in it when we left Shipshewana at mid-morning. As we entered Michigan the clouds started to gather and eventually brought rain off and on for the day. The cold rain thwarted our plans to bike along a trail in Kalamazoo. It cleared and dried up for our arrival in the cute town of Rockford where there was anohter trail for our outing today -- The White Pine Trail.

 

 

Vickie and Gerry enter the trail in Rockford

 

Rogue River Dam in the town of Rockford

The one drawback of this trail is ---- no restrooms! We stopped at the Brewery for that.

 

A convenient bicycle rest at the brewery

 

A more official, and innovative bike stand at the brewery

 

Creative carvings in an old tree stump along the trail

 

Across the river in town is a picturesque walking bridge

After our ride we decided to have an early dinner in town and first tried the Brewery. But ... it is a brewery and not a pub, so no food there. We found a different spot nearby and enjoyed our meal in Rockford. Then we drove the two or so hours to Vickie's Dad's house in Midland, MI. And here is where we now are.

I have no internet access at the house, so any posts I will do will be at least a day late as I wait to travel into town and the Espresso Milano Coffee House. The weather has turned quite cold for today and tomorrow so we may find it not pleasant for riding. We'll see.

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Shipshewana, Indiana

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

To another adventure...

We had a long day yesterday, but things really went our way. No traffic on I-5 for the drive to SeaTac; easy check in and luggage drop at Delta; AND our boarding passes listed us as "TSA Precheck"! Than meant we got to go into the shortest possible line to get checked through to our departure gate. I was dumbfounded as to how that could be, but Vickie tells me they do this randomly and she has had it happen to her a few times. Whatever the reason, I will take it. That was the easiest and quickest time I have ever had going through the TSA check line.

 

Vickie drove 2-3 hours from her dad's house to pick us up in Detroit, with rental bikes on the back of her car. Then we drove another 2-3 hours to Shipsawana (I love that word) for our first night in Indiana. This is Amish Country, and shortly before arriving at our motel, an Amish buggy passed us with its yellow lights aglow on the sides of the carriage and the horse clippity clopping along. It was midnight, so we aren't sure where this Amish person was going or coming from so late at night. I have been in Amish country in Pennsylvania several times, and in Wisconsin once, and have seen many buggies, but this is my first to see clipping along at night with lights glowing. A very nice way to begin our time in Amish country.

 

You know you are in Amish Country when...

The thick gray clouds that blanketed the entire sky this morning very gradually thinned, then broke, then let in some blue to end the afternoon with sun, blue sky and just a few fluffy white clouds. Such a spectacularly perfect day for our bike outing.

I am so taken with all the Amish buggies around every corner in in many driveways, as well as driving down the roads and streets all through the day. I could not get enough of them -- as you are about to see in the number of photos I took.

 

 

 

Note the sign -- for horse vehicles only

 

Vickie visits with one of the parked horses

We took a route from a website that shows maps of some bike riding events. Leaving from the door of our motel we traveled along very traffic free roads through many Amish farms.

 

A display on the way out of town. Horses made from corn husks.

 

Buggies in driveways and garages much like our cars are kept.

 

 

Farming is big among the Amish and the silos and corn cribs are filled with feed.

 

We crossed the tranquil Pigeon River

 

More of evidence of a framing culture

As we rode along, I would wave to each buggie driver that we passed or that passed us, and they would give an immediate one hand up wave back. This is such a simple and quiet life -- except that now there are many tourist attractions (buggy rides, gift shops, demonstrations) and it seems that the Amish way of life has a slight feel of exploitation to it.

I did not get a photo of laundry hanging out on the line to dry. It seemed that every other house had some laundry hanging out in some part of the yard. Just like in the "olden days" ;'-)

As we drove along some of these neighborhoods, we passed several Amish schools. One had the playgrounds up on a hill and as we passed by the children waved enthusiastically to us. Two other schools were grades 1-8. We learned that from the Amish woman who had the M&M bike shop. I was disappointed to not get a photo of the store that did not look like a store -- more like the barn it was. With the Amish woman standing in the doorway saying goodbye to us, I could not take the photo with her in it (against their beliefs).

 

The kids all bike to school. And Vickie pointed out that the bikes are not locked!

In addition to the buggies, there are lots of bike riders commuting to somewhere or running their daily errands -- with no helmets, and the women dressed in their ...... Amish dress. At that bike shop a fellow riding his bike stopped to chat and tell us about the Pumpkinvine trail. We found it and rode it to the next town -- Middlebury, about five miles away.

 

Vickie and Gerry on the Pumpkinvine

 

Along the trail, the corssways are marked with warnings that there are buggies on these roads.

We made a few stops along the trail before reaching our tea and crumpet stop in Middlebury.

 

 

Look what we did...

 

Watching us at our lunch stop. His dirty knees made me smile.

 

Tree face along the trail.

 

Tea and crumpet at the Legendary Cafe before heading to our motel for the end of this fantastic day.

 

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I'm going to Michigan

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

My trip to Michigan this year is a little too close to my New Mexico tour, but I didn't think of that when I planned them both ;'-) Gerry and I will be flying to Detroit this afternoon where Vickie will pick us up this evening.

My pre-trip adventure included a delightful country road cycling outing with a small group of our local bike club. Signs and colors of fall accompanied us all the way. Bill L led us through the fields and roads of Fall City at a perfect time of the year.

 

Little school kids line up for the Farm hay wagon ride through the fields

 

Pumpkins are everywhere

 

Self-serving organic farm

 

Love old tractors

 

 

Rich and luscious fresh produce -- prices and weighing stand to the right

We enjoyed the nice easy adventure and topped it off wth a tea and crumpet stop in Carnation at Sandy's cafe. I highly recommend the scones!

Now to finish up last minute details and get on the road in the air.

 

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