Tahquamenon Falls

Today was an outdoor day...sunny and warm. We walked all along the upper and lower falls and walked a variety of trails. We did have rain but not until we had settled into our hotel room in St. Ignace where we will launch our trip to Mackinaw Island and Mackinaw City over the next couple of days. The scenery was spectacular, which is wonderful because there was NOTHING in site for hours. All we saw were trees. Still have not seen a deer and I love seeing them!

We have been eating breakfast at our hotels, eating lunch out and then eating dinner in our room. Tonight's dinner: yogurt, nacho chips, string cheese, soda, red wine (only for me) and fruit. We are feeling a bit frugal but also enjoying lunches out...today, we had a "special" at the Lower Falls...had a chili hotdog, cole slaw and a root beer float which was the biggest float I have ever seen. Kenz finished hers...I did not.

Upper Peninsula stories

This guy was huge...just sitting and watching the world go by. Liked his markings. And clearly the bear had been socialized...they followed us around. Saw several swimming and bathing and the cubs were segregated and having quite the frolicking time wrestling each other.

Kenz feeding a year old cub some fruit loops. Had a ball with these bear.

More UP stories....

We ended our day driving down HWY 2 along Lake Michigan after driving through Engadine and Brevort...two tiny towns...oh Naubinway was a must see also. Had to get gas in Engadine and there was no charge card reader on the gas pump. So, went in to pay...the woman said you pay after you pump the gas. There is NO crime up here. This photo is of the lower falls...really the calm part of Tahquamenon Falls. Just pristine...we loved the upper and lower falls.

We started our day off by visiting a bear preserve and Kenz fed some cubs some fruit loops...little guy loved them and we were surprised how soft and fluffy his coat was.

More UP

This is one view of the Algoma Steel mill on the Canadian side. Huge and odorous...fumes everywhere. I guess the good news is...it employess over 4000 people.

Kenz and I have ended up eating at two interesting places...a diner with Coca Cola memorabilia in Grayling and the Cozy Inn Bar and Grill on the way to the Iroquois Lighthouse. Both have had incredibly wonderful food and the Grill had a juke box which Kenz had never seen before. We played quite a few songs.

Here is the lighthouse....

and I actually climbed to the top. Not so bad til we had to come down. The windy stairs were an open weave metal, so looking down meant looking ALL the way down. I hate heights...very scary but glad we went to the top to look out over the Sault, Lake Superior, Lake Huron and the town.

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan with Kenz

We arrived in Sault Ste. Marie last night and took off this morning for a day of adventure. We took a boat trip through the locks where we rose up 21 ft. to the height of Lake Superior, cruised by the Algoma steel mills on the Canadian side and then back through the locks where we were lowered 21 ft. down to the Lake Huron water height. Very cool to watch the locks closing and the boat rising and then, falling slowly.

We also went to the Tower of History, actually built to represent the three crosses on Calvary but went to the top and looked over the "Soo" and the town. Went to St. Mary's Catholic Church, the home of the first Archbishop of the UP, Bishop Baraga. See the stained glass window...church is gorgeous.

Michigan Bound

Am sitting in the airport waiting to leave for Michigan to take Kenz, and hopefully, Logan on our annual grandma trip. Given that Logan is not being particularly family friendly, I am unsure if he will be joining us. Hoping so but betting not. I have, however, decided that his presence will not make or break this trip. I will have a great time with my chattering grandaughter who is so full of life and love. We shall see and do things neither of us have done/seen but the trip has been altered due to the uncertainty of whether we shall be three or just two. I didn't want to buy expensive tickets and get stuck...and so glad I listened to my inner self on this one.

Should also hear today or tomorrow at the latest as to the sex of our newest grandchild who will be joining the family around Christmas this year. This will be Kristin and Pat's third, and I hear tell...last!

So, leaving my doggies and men folk to go visit the girls and their families. We need to be closer. I am trying to make that happen. Richard is dragging his feet.

hugs

Home, at last!

The trip home was exhausting and boring. At one point, I just sat in the plane and airport doing nothing. Just people watching. Realized I couldn't even manage my usual sudoku puzzles. Brain wouldn't work. Saw two movies on the plane....more than I have seen in a couple of years. Saw "Seventeen Again" and "Young Victoria."

I may have mentioned a couple of years ago (yes, years) about a pair of orange leopard flip flops my friend, Mary gave me when I went off to Colombia for six months. Well, those flip flops have been packed for every trip since and they long ago lost their spots and have become very thin and worn. I smile as I pack them and I talk to them when I put them on...and no, not losing my mind yet! I just tell them that Mary would be enjoying where we are going and what we will see and do.

When I got moving this morning, I saw that I had mail on the desk up by the bed. And there was a box from Nordstrom's. Now, I don't shop there very often and we don't have one here in Ft. Myers. Opened it and there was a beautifully wrapped box...inside, from Mary are a gorgeous new pair of black elegant flip flops. Was first excited and then sad...means I shall have to retire my orangy flattened, world travelled pair that have accompanied me to three different continents and at least six countries. New ones feel new and they have been told that we will be seeing the world together. Kinda hard to tell but I think they are receptive. We shall see!!

I noticed, sitting in the Amsterdam airport, that I had seen no adults in shorts since I arrived in Africa nor did I notice a woman without a bra. Funny what you miss until you see it everywhere. Everyone wore long skirts, dresses or slacks. Am sure it has to do with malaria and cholera and wanting to keep covered. I found that Africa is very religious...oh, people go to church Sunday mornings and they stay for hours and hours...five or six hours on average. The Catholic Church near my hotel in Kampala had mass for no less than three hours straight! Then they follow church with social time.

Tried several times to work on my expenses and my report due this next week but again, cannot get my arms wrapped around much more than slowly unpacking. Have a board meeting and a doctor's appointment today. Got to something for the raging trots and also figure out why I cannot breathe. A lady on the Entebbe/Amsterday route asked if I had been a heavy smoker!! Sound horrid and Michelle called while I was in Atlanta and couldn't even finish a conversation, I was hacking so badly.

Went to bed last night around 11 p.m. and at 12:30 a.m. our alarm system went off. I say our alarm system, but we haven't had one connected. Richard took out the battery after talking with a friend and nothing happened. Screeching was going on til 1:00 a.m. when we called a neighbor who came over, couldn't get it to shut off so he cut the wires!! Silence IS golden. Figured I was so hyped up I wouldn't sleep but I did. Up early, as usual but now, just up from a three hour nap. Hope I can rest tonight.

Hugs and thanks for following my life on the blog!