Travel Journal 2021
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Here I sit, on a cold January morning in Columbus, Indiana,
just returning from two months with Rose, in Senatobia. It’s good to be home
and Terry and Daisy were glad to see me. I keep a journal for my reference
purposes but I also share it with anyone who wants to read it. At this point, I
want to make some notes about my time with sister Rose in Senatobia,
Mississippi.
Rose had a mid-November 2020 fall and broke her leg, so I traveled
to Senatobia to be her care-giver. After surgery and rehabilitation in the
Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto, I brough her home to continue her recovery.
We had Sta-Home of Senatobia provide a weekly, in-home visit from a nurse,
physical therapy, and occupational therapy specialists. Things went well but I
soon began to realize that Rose would not be able to regain total independence
and return to independent living.
Unfortunately, regardless of practicing the precautions, I
began to experience an illness that felt like something serious was wrong. My
12-21-2020 positive COVID-19 test confirmed my fears. I managed to survive the
illness and thankfully Rose remained free of the virus. We had a real challenge
during my illness because Rose needed me and I did the best I could, and we got
through the issue.
Next, we prepared Rose for a 1-7-2021 bronchoscopy, which
did not go well. Her O2 number could not be restored to a suitable level, so
the doctors admitted her to the hospital. Now, comes a series of ups and downs
for Rose. Over 11 days in ICU, she made cyclic progress followed by setbacks.
While in the ICU, her doctor gave me her bronchoscopy diagnosis and it was a
small-cell, aggressive lung cancer, in advanced stage. By 1-15-2021, Rose had
suffered two cardiac arrests and was dependent on support systems in the ICU.
At noon, the doctor called me and said that, given her multiple health issues,
he wanted to remove the breathing tube and she probably would not survive much
longer. I approved his recommendation and we let her go, in a comfortable
state, attended by two loving, ICU nurses, former NWCC students, who held her
hand until she breathed her last.
Now, my focus turned to “what now”. Thanks to some fine
medical professionals, the accommodating and supportive folks at Coleman
Funeral Home in Southaven, and incredible family and friends, I am negotiating
the immediate and subsequent tasks of final arrangements. Blessings and
gratefulness to them all!
We will be returning to Senatobia soon to prepare Rose’s
house for rent. Her house is a duplex, with two individual addresses and
separate utilities for each apartment. She has lived in the west side and has been
renting-out the east side, throughout her entire tenure at Senatobia.
Sunday, February 14, 2021
Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! When we were traveling
and doing our volunteer services in Parks and Recreation, I was mostly
unswerving in conserving my notes and travel log up to date. With the COVID-19
pandemic and adapting to housekeeping, we have been too busy to document any
annotation on our activities. Now I need to make an outline and catch-up on our
topical activities. I transcribe our experiences for reference purposes,
enjoyment, and sharing with friends and family. Now it’s catch-up time:
New car
While I was in Senatobia, as Rose’s care-giver, Terry was
left without a car, in our new town and neighborhood. We are very close to everything
that we need in Columbus but being alone, without a car is wearisome. Terry was
very resourceful in planning her shopping and rented a car, as the need arose
but that too, was exasperating. So, she bought herself a new Toyota RAV4 and is
very happy with her new-ride! Toyota says; “Whichever fits you best, you’ll
find the perfect blend of sport and utility that will empower your ambitions.”
My ambition is to drive that car around for fun! My dilemma
is, that she won’t let me drive it! Well, she will let me drive it to go get
stuff and run errands for her!
Bird feeding
Our bird feeders are positioned in our back yard, just
outside the sliding-glass doors and patio. Our back yard abuts Haw Creek and
the Columbus People Trail System. The wooded zone along the creek is a mecca
and haven for all sorts of wildlife and we are constantly surprised by wildlife
visitors.
Autumn in Indiana is a time of birds disappearing as well
as appearing. Catbirds and brown thrashers, Baltimore orioles, rose-breasted
grosbeaks, and scarlet tanagers disappear. Unlike spring when the date of first
appearance of a species is noted, the date of disappearance is rarely known.
One day the bird watcher just notices the catbirds are gone from the bushes
around the yard, the brown thrashers from the trees along the stream, the
tanagers from the woods, that they haven’t been seen in days. Yellow warblers
and common yellowthroats are also gone.
In September people with hummingbird feeders begin to
wonder how soon they should bring those feeders in. Some people become
concerned that having their feeders out may be the reason a few hummingbirds
are still there and that those birds may be caught by an early frost. However,
this is a myth. Keeping your hummingbird feeders will in fact help feed these
tiny migrants on their long journey south.
By the end of September goldenrod blossoms are fading, the
plants going to seed. The leaves of walnuts have fallen though there are still
nuts on the trees. Cottonwoods have lost their leaves except a few that crown
the very top. Maples and tulip trees, oaks and hickories and dogwoods and other
trees have lost their green and turned to yellow and orange, red and brown.
While the trees are changing to their brightest colors, warblers are passing
through, many in their dullest colors.
Fall migration of little birds is far different than spring
migration. In spring those birds were in breeding plumage, the warblers so
brightly colored they have been called butterflies of the bird world. They were
singing. They seemed full of energy, ever active, easy to spot but difficult to
get a good look at as they flitted about. In fall they are in eclipse plumage.
They look dull, shop-worn. They don’t sing though they do call occasionally,
the warblers with faint lisps and seeps. They appear to move more slowly, more
deliberately, the warblers and vireos almost seem to be sneaking through the
tree branches.
October is the peak of fall color in Indiana. It’s then or
early in November that Hoosiers go to Brown County in southern Indiana to enjoy
the color and the weather. October’s bright blue weather is not just a saying
but usually a fact. The temperature dips, there is often frost at night toward
the end of the month but the temperature during the day is mild. Mosquitoes and
flies and other insect pests no longer bother us when we’re outdoors.
In October and into November flocks of ducks and geese are
migrating through. This is a good time for bird watchers in the state to visit
the Indiana Dunes and look for birds that are rare visitors, perhaps a brant or
a Eurasian wigeon, a glaucous or Iceland gull. For birders who don’t want to
travel that far or risk being there when the wind is strong and cold and
blowing across the lake onto the Indiana shore, any lake in the state may be
visited by flocks of waterfowl.
Fall, of course, is the season when hunters as well as bird
watchers look for ducks and geese. Deer hunters are also out and birders should
be aware of this when walking in the woods. Hunting seasons are set by the year
but are usually fairly liberal in Indiana. The wise birder will take note of
them, not just for safety, but also because if there are duck hunters at a
marsh or lake there won’t be ducks or geese nor likely many, or any, other
birds, at least not for long.
As in spring, when the weather is fair and the wind
favorable, blowing from the north in fall, bird watchers can go out in the
country and watch for birds flying over. They may see flocks of ducks or geese
or even sandhill cranes. They can watch for a white whooping crane among the
gray sandhills. They may see red-tailed, broad-winged, Cooper’s, and
sharp-shinned hawks, northern harriers, and a bald eagle or even two or three.
Golden eagles have been seen in Indiana during late fall and winter.
Late October and early November is the time when bird
watchers from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin and even farther make
a trip to the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area to see the sandhill cranes.
We had awesome sightings of Sandhill cranes in the agricultural fields, around
the Columbus area. Unlike in spring, in fall the birds gather and stay, often
for a couple weeks or longer as others keep coming in. They feed in harvested
grain fields around the area during the day, fly in and gather in the evening
in a field called the goose pasture and sometime soon after dusk fly to shallow
marshes on the property where they roost, standing in the water. Anywhere from
10,000 to 30,000 sandhill cranes may be at Jasper-Pulaski at the peak, usually
early in November. Late afternoon is the time to visit, go to an observation
platform, then stand, watch, and listen as the birds gather. Stay until nearly
dark to see and hear as the birds take off, almost en masse, to fly out to the
marshes.
To see more of the cranes, get there earlier and drive
around the surrounding country looking for small flocks standing and feeding in
harvested grain fields or flying across the sky, often quite low. Staying at a
motel in a nearby town let’s get out before dawn to see the birds leave the
roost. Watch as they stream out in all directions and separate into small
flocks, flocks of only a few hundred each. Watch closely for a white one-a
whooping crane.
We were treated to huge flocks of Sandhill Cranes in the Ag
fields and river bottoms around Columbus. I loved seeing and hearing them
daily, as they pass, when the migration started.
In November (as long as the experiment establishing a
migratory flock of whooping cranes that spends summer at the Necedah National
Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin and winter at the Chassohowitzka Refuge in Florida
continues) bird watchers in Indiana can check the news to learn of the progress
of these birds as they cross Indiana. Often the news includes a viewing site
and time where birders can go to see an ultralight plane leading the cranes.
By the end of November, the more common birds that nest
farther north and winter in Indiana have arrived. Dark-eyed juncos and American
tree sparrows have become regular visitors at bird feeders. Red-breasted
nuthatches are scattered and uncommon but there are some present every year and
the bird watcher who has one coming to a feeder is considered lucky.
Thanksgiving passes and with it, it seems, so does the
fall.
Since the colder winter weather has arrived, we’re seeing
quite an assortment of birds frequenting our feeders. December is usually a
drab month in Indiana, a cold month. Leaves are nearly all gone from the trees.
They blanket the ground where they have not been raked up and disposed of.
Weeds and wildflowers along the sides of roads create a miniature forest of
yellow and brown stems. The fields of corn and soybeans are gone, replaced by
fields of stubble or dark earth where the ground has been plowed. Frost puts a
glitter on the leaves and stems and stubble at dawn but the glitter disappears
soon after the sun comes up.
The most common birds, in December and throughout the
winter, are year-round residents, cardinals and blue jays, house sparrows and
house finches and goldfinches, chickadees and titmice and white-breasted
nuthatches, downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers. They are seen at nearly
every bird feeder, joined there by those winter visitors, the juncos and tree
sparrows and occasionally a few white-crowned sparrows.
There are flocks of starlings about and sometimes a gaggle
of these insatiable birds will descend on a feeder. There are stragglers, too,
perhaps a small flock of red-winged blackbirds, or robins in a wood where there
are berry trees with fruit still on the branches, a few bluebirds in a tree and
brush lined fence, a morning dove, or even a small flock of mourning doves. The
starlings will be around all winter, the other birds may or they may be gone
after the first snow.
Canada geese are on the lakes and rivers. There are a few
mallards and, sometimes, other ducks, until ice puts a lid on lakes and ponds
and marshes. A few great blue herons and occasionally a belted kingfisher
linger until ice covers the water. Bird watchers look for all these stragglers
and try to keep track of them so they can list them on Christmas Bird Counts,
held between late December and early January.
There are crows and red-tailed hawks and a few kestrels.
There are great horned owls, barred owls, and eastern screech-owls though these
are rarely seen. Late in December, however, the great horned owls call often at
dusk. Their hoots are meant for each other but they also let birders know that
the owls are about and beginning their late-winter nesting cycle.
The winter weather in Indiana is as unpredictable as the
most erratic winter birds. There may be snow as early as November or not until
January. Some years there is a lot of snow, some years almost none. Some years
snow blankets the entire state, some years it is almost limited to the “snow
belt,” an area in the north around the shore of Lake Michigan.
Whether there is snow or not, there are Cooper’s and
sharp-shinned hawks in Indiana in winter. Though not numerous, individual birds
are sometimes conspicuous as they hang about the vicinity of a particular bird
feeder, perching nearby, swooping in now and then and snatching a chickadee or
goldfinch or other bird feeding there. Though a natural, even exciting event, such
raids are usually decried by the feeder owner.
Winter is a quiet time outdoors in Indiana, particularly
when there is snow on the ground and ice on the rivers as well as the lakes and
ponds. It can be, and frequently is, an unexciting time for bird watchers. But
for the birder willing to roam about the countryside there is always the chance
of seeing a “good” bird or even a flock of them. The usual red-tailed hawk
perched on the branch of a tree or on a power pole may, after a closer look,
turn out to be a rough-legged hawk.
A flock of horned larks seen flying over a field, if
followed and checked may have Lapland longspurs with the larks. Those flocks in
windswept fields should always be checked to see if the birds show flashes of
white when they fly for there is always the chance of seeing a flock of snow
buntings, particularly in the northern part of the state, in winter.
There are other winter wanderers, too, erratic,
unpredictable birds that add a bit of suspense to birding when the weather is
cold, days are short and there is often snow covering the ground. Some of these
birds are solitary and some travel in flocks like the snow buntings do.
A few snowy owls are seen in Indiana every winter. Rare
anywhere in the state, they are especially rare south of Indianapolis.
Short-eared owls are also seen nearly every winter, almost always, like snowy
owls, in the northern half of the state. Usually, these owls are seen singly
but occasionally there is a small group of them. They often hunt during the day
in overcast weather and may remain in the same area most of the winter, often
roosting in a stand of pines or other evergreen trees.
Two more species of owl are seen in Indiana, usually in
winter though both have been known to nest in the state. But it’s in winter
that bird watchers walk through pine plantations looking for the tell-tale
whitewash of owl droppings and pellets, and when they find them, searching the
branches overhead. There they may find a northern saw-whet owl, often at eye
level, usually wide eyed, staring back and showing no fear. Or, perched higher
up, a birder searching evergreens may spot a long-eared owl.
A flock of little birds in Indiana in winter may be pine
siskins or redpolls. Every bird in a flock of redpolls should be checked through
binoculars, because a hoary redpoll is always possible among the commons. Other
birds seen sometimes in flocks in Indiana during winter are evening grosbeaks
and both red and white-winged crossbills.
Siskins and redpolls, evening grosbeaks and crossbills are
irruptive, seen outside their usual range in large number some years. Certainly,
this describes the appearance of these birds in Indiana. Hoosier bird watchers
speak of the winter of the siskins or redpolls or evening grosbeaks, a winter
when the birds indicated seemed to have been everywhere.
Nearly every year there is a period of warm weather, a
winter thaw, in January or February. Bird watchers who have been content to do
their birding through the windows of their homes, watching birds at their
feeders, get out in the woods and around the fields and think of spring. Then
they may find that the old nest of a pair of red-tailed hawks is now occupied
by a great horned owl. They won’t see into the elevated nest, but they’ll know
that the owl has eggs. This, even more than the weather, will make them think
of spring. But it’s too early. Even though the owl is incubating, winter is not
over. Nor is the possibility of seeing a rare winter visitor, perhaps a
northern shrike or a northern goshawk or a small flock of pine grosbeaks. And
spring, along with the return of our favorite migrants, is not far off.
Our feeders are giving us immeasurable hours of
bird-watching entertainment. Observing their behaviors is an education in
itself. There is so much enjoyment and satisfaction in sustaining back-yard
bird feeders.
New home furnishings
In our new home, we have been slowly furnishing the house
with all the things that make for comfortable living. With the COVID-19
epidemic, we resorted to buying on-line and that has been an amazing
experience. We started with the necessary dining set, beds, night stands,
living room sofa, tables, and chairs. We furnished three bedrooms because we
had planned on having Rose in Columbus with us and also having a guest bedroom,
that doubled as an office. Between Amazon, and several other vendors, we
ordered on-line, and received the furnishing right at our door. We had an
amusing challenge at putting all the stuff together. (Some assembly required).
We really marveled at the materials, engineering, and workmanship of these
items. Just an amazing line of products that traditionally covered showroom
floors. Terry chose mid-century modern as her motif and it looks terrific in
the house. I researched her motif term and discovered that; German architects
and designers who migrated to America as a result of economic changes in
Germany after the second World War started the design movement known as
Mid-Century Modern. It's characterized by simplicity and functionality. Now, I
can relate it to the “new 1950’s homes” that saw as a young boy.
New appliances
Another enhancement was to upgrade the kitchen appliances. The
house included the appliances but we had some issues that led to our decision
to replace it all.
Our research produced the following Appliance Shopping Tips
end:
1. Listen to the Criticism
Whether it’s your friend who complains about their
extremely noisy dryer or online reviews, pay attention to complaints about an
appliance before you buy it. Ask your friends what they do and don’t like about
their appliances, and even check them out yourself if possible. Also, there are
tons of online resources that provide endless opinions from actual consumers.
Just make sure that it’s a reputable source, since there are a lot of fake
reviews out there too. Consumer Reports is a great resource, but requires a
fee.
2. Avoid Impulse Buys
Especially if you dislike shopping for appliances, it’s
easy to fall into the trap of buying the first thing that looks good. To avoid
disappointment later, it’s best to make an informed decision instead. Go into
appliance shopping with a list of features that are a priority for you. This
could include qualities such as, “energy efficient,” “quiet,” or “lifetime
warranty.” Compare different models, and consider waiting until you find what
you want on sale. If you just can’t handle avoiding impulse buys, try bringing
a family member or friend who can help you keep a level head!
3. Know What You Need
It might be tempting to get the prettiest appliance or the
one that’s on sale, but it’s more important that your appliance suits your
individual needs. If you tend to keep a lot of food in the freezer for later,
even the most expensive fridge will be disappointing if it doesn’t have enough
freezer space. A huge washer/dryer combo is great for certain homes, but if you
don’t do large loads of laundry, they would be a waste of money.
4. Read the Fine Print
Before you make a purchase, take a look at the instruction
manual. Particularly for high-tech, modern appliances, you can pay a lot of
money for complex, precise options. This is great if you know how to work the
machine and will use those settings. However, if you only need simpler options,
there’s no need to pay extra for settings you won’t use.
5. Take Measurements
It’s an unfortunate truth that sometimes the perfect
appliance just won’t fit in your house. Be sure to take measurements of the
space where the appliance will sit and compare it to the appliance’s size. Pay
attention to all dimensions: width, height, and depth. Also don’t forget to
measure the path leading up to the location. It’s a horrible feeling to realize
that the new fridge will fit perfectly into the kitchen spot, but won’t go
through the door or hallway leading to it! If in doubt, make a map of every
important angle and space in the house and bring it to the showroom.
6. Don’t Ignore the Doors
Take the swing of the doors into account when measuring
appliances. This includes the doors of the appliance itself for fridges,
washers and dryers, and ovens. It also includes the doors inside your home.
Will the pantry door conflict with the fridge door? Will the washer door knock
into the laundry room door? Many large appliances come with options for door
styles and even the ability to swap which way the door swings open. Pay
attention to these details to avoid annoyances later.
7. Don’t Fall for Looks Alone
When planning your house, it’s tempting to go for the unit
that looks best with the surroundings. Unfortunately, the appliances that will
perform the best are not necessarily the ones that will look the best with your
décor. Decide what is most important to you, and be prepared to deal with the
consequences if you make a purchase based more on looks than efficiency and
reliability.
8. Listen to the Machine
If sound levels are important to you or certain noises
grate on your nerves, don’t forget to listen to an appliance before purchasing
it. An extremely noisy washer and dryer might work in one home but not another.
For example, extra noise can become a problem if the laundry room is directly
connected to the living room.
9. Don’t Forget the Extras
Some appliances require supplemental equipment to work
properly. This includes things like the right kind of exhaust fans and vents
for a particular cooktop or dryer. If you purchase a powerful washer for an
upstairs laundry room, make sure the floor can handle the stress. It’s also important
to include a drain tub for your washing machine, especially for upstairs units
where water would cause huge amounts of damage to the floor and rooms below.
10. Prepare to Haggle
Haggling is a tradition as old as currency, and modern
technology adds to the arsenal of bargaining techniques. These days, many
stores are willing to price-match their items to offers you find from the
competition. You might also be able to bundle more than one appliance together
for a discount price. Requesting free delivery and installation can also cut
down on costs.
The dishwasher, refrigerator, and stove all had issues, so
we shopped Lowes and Menards in Columbus for a package deal, which was
delivered in three separate deliveries. That worked well, as we had time to
place and install each item. Terry did the electric stove all by herself. I was
reminded, that appliance prices do not include the electric cords, hoses, and
miscellaneous part expenses that astoundingly add up to an astonishing extra expense.
We had a fun challenge getting it all in place and working and now we have
discarded all the boxes and packing materials that cluttered the house while we
were installing.
COVID-19 vaccination
On February 3rd, I received my first COVID-19
vaccination and it was a breeze. It was a snow-day, so I came home and shoveled
the driveway and sidewalk (a city ordinance for home-owners), amassing a large
snowbank that will no doubt last until spring. Thinking that my shot was going
to be uneventful, I went to bed, awaking in the night with symptoms that
persisted for about 24 hours. I had a sore injection site, fever, chills, body
ache, lethargic, elevated pulse, and weakness. The bright side of the
experience was that I had signed up for V-safe, a Smartphone tool for daily
reporting of vaccine side effects to the CDC. That made me feel like I was
contributing to the effort and gave me reassurance that I would probably
recover soon. I did recover and am now schedule for my second shot on March 2nd.
Snow and ice
For several, weeks, we have had record-setting cold and
snow, winter-weather episodes. The most annoying part of this weather is the
arduous task of donning the heavy boot, coats, gloves, and hats, just for a
short dog-walk, taking out trash and recycles, or filling the bird feeders.
Although not the
wettest time of the year, winter is the cloudiest season. The northern and
especially northwestern parts of the state receive more snow than the south
because of the winds that blow across Lake Michigan to produce lake effect snow
bands. Lake effect snow is heaviest near the lake, but lake-induced snow
showers and cloudiness can sometimes extend as far south as central Indiana.
Snow accumulations vary each season, but mean totals range from about 15 inches
in the southwest to over 70 inches on the shores of Lake Michigan. Measurable
snowfall usually begins in late November and ends in late March. Daytime high
temperatures in January, the coldest month of the year, average in the middle
30s, with overnight lows averaging in the upper teens.
So far, this January had been pretty brutal, with lots of
sleet, snow, freezing, and ice. The impressive part of the winter season is the
around-the-clock, plowing, salting, and deicing of road surfaces. Even in
extreme winter conditions, the DOT, county, and city are conducting their
operations 24/7.
Rose business
We have spent an inordinate amount of time in organizing,
arranging, and managing Rose’s business. We have managed to recompense her
bills, cancel newspapers, magazines, journals, superfluous notices, and reports
that come on a monthly or cyclic basis. Mail-forwarding has worked well,
allowing us to conduct the business at home, in Columbus. The only aggravating
issue, is that we cannot change address on certain accounts that encompass
security and identity protocols. Her wallet was stolen while she was in the
hospital and we struggled to cancel credit cards, distinguish fraud, and reject
identity theft. Security is a necessary thing but it can deactivate the
executor of your estate in managing your business. Rose did not have an extensive
estate but she worked all her life to accumulate it and we did not want to see
it stolen from her. This has been a learning experience for me and I have not
learned how to avoid this conundrum. Lawyers be the answer but be prepared to spend
a long time and expense in dealing with legal actions, death certificates,
financial institution policies and procedures, and notarized letters, forms,
and affidavits to get it done. I’m still
learning on this one!
TIPS:
· Arrange
Funeral — Request burial or cremation, organize memorial, order death
certificates, etc.
· Take
Inventory — Find and organize all estate assets and debts
· Become
Executor — Get appointed by the court (if going through probate)
· Send
Notifications — Notify friends and family, social security, banks, credit
cards, etc.
· Manage
Estate — Maintain and care for assets; plan asset disposition
· Resolve
Debts — Pay off debts in full, or arrange for debt forgiveness
· File
Taxes — Submit relevant tax returns: decedent income, estate income,
inheritance, etc.
· Make
Distributions — Distribute net assets to heirs
Wrap It Up — Finalize the estate settlement, including
probate final accounting (if applicable)
Managing the property in Senatobia
In my absence, our Senatobia renter has taken an “eyes and
ears” role, in watching the property, keeping me informed on arising actions, and
representing me on facilitating the removal of contract, leased, or rental
equipment and technology. I owe her and make sure that I do pay her well!
Also, we’re going through a list of activities in getting
Rose’s apartment ready for rent. Her house is a duplex, of two apartments, on
the east and west side respectively. The rental market is good in this historic
district and I already have a renter waiting for the apartment. These are both
good, long-term renters that make me confident to try long-distance renting, on
a trial-basis.
Frigid snow and ice are making us recall familiar warm
destinations
It had been a long, uninterrupted period of cold, snow, and
ice during this part of the winter, and we’re fondly recalling the last nine
years, spending the year-around, in a “shorts and tee shirt”, moderate climate.
As Parks and Recreation volunteers, we went north to higher elevations in the
summer and south to lower elevations in the winter. Sure, missing that about
now! Might be making an imminent trip to a warm climate!
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Happy Mardi Gras Day! No matter where you are, Laissez les
bons temps rouler!
With the COVID-19 pandemic, along with other factors, we
decided to buy an Indiana house and trade the nomadic “Parks and Recreation Volunteer”
lifestyle for the homemaking lifestyle.
Our first winter at our house in Columbus Indiana has been
a record-setter so far and we reminisce about the year-round shorts and tee
shirts climate that we had as snowbirds. I have daily shoveled snow for the
last two weeks, in deep-freeze temperatures. City ordinance requires that
homeowners must shovel or clear the snow of their driveways and sidewalks. We
also try to accommodate the postman by shoveling off the path that he walks,
from house-to-house, across our yard to and from our mailbox.
Interestingly, Indiana Hoosiers don’t let a winter storm
stop them. INDOT is out 24/7 plowing, treating, and deicing the roads and
bridges. Businesses and sub-divisions are plowed and cleared of snow by an army
of private snow removal contractors. They don’t really remove it, just push it
up into huge mountains, that don’t melt until May.
Appreciatively, we have everything we need here, along with
family, friends, and good neighbors. All said, we’re enjoying the winter in Columbus!
Monday, June 7, 2021
Now, from mid-February, we have been renovating the garage
and laundry room. We’ve been taking our daily walks, visiting family and
friends, working on Rose’s final business, and keeping our yard and landscaping
maintained. When we were on the road, working in Parks and Recreation, I kept
my notes fairly current. Now, for four months, I’ve been dormant in making any
notes and can’t remember what’s noteworthy. Not sure why, just the way it is!
On Tuesday, June 8th, 2021, we head down to
Mississippi to hold Rose’s Memorial Service. We have produced the program and
the headstone is in place, so a couple of days there will finalize that part.
We’re driving Glen and Kim’s RV, so that will be comfortable, with our own
little home-on-the-road. We’re also
using this trip as a get-acquainted experience with the Class C RV. We’re
considering buying a Class C.
Friday, July 2, 2021
We took an Indiana road-trip today, just to have some fun
and ride round. We cut through Atterbury, the vast Indiana National Guard
training center. This would be a great visit, with its Welcome Center and
Museum. Lots of WWII and POW stuff.
At Ninevah, we didn’t see Jonah or hear a sermon but we did
get a donut at the town bakery. According to the Historical Marker, this is the
home of William Merritt Chase, a great artist.
Next, we drove a winding, woodlands road through the hills
and hollows of Brown County, following Salt Creek down to Gnaw Bone. Nobody
knows for sure where the name originated but the Bear Wallow Distillery is
located there and may be part of the story!
For lunch, we popped in to the Farmhouse Café at Bean
Blossom, Indiana. It’s really out from Bean Blossom, in the woods, on Bean
Blossom Creek. You just can’t make this stuff up; Bean Blossom is in the
middle-of-nowhere but Bill Monroe’s Music Park put it on the map. Today the
Uncle Pen Fest presents some of the best in bluegrass music in the country,
featuring four full days of entertainment. Attendees can look forward to vocal,
music and instrument workshops, jam sessions, camping, food vendors, and the
induction of renowned songwriters into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. I say
“boredom is the mother of entertainment”!
Lastly, we went down to Nashville, Indiana and visited the
T. C. Steel State Historic Site. This site has the home of artist Steel and his
wife Selma. The gardens, cemetery, and the old out-buildings from the original
farm are open to the public, in a beautiful hills-of-Brown-County setting.
Returning to Columbus, it was obvious that this is a big
weekend. Solid lines of traffic were ascending into the hills of rural Brown
County for the holiday weekend. Stay safe and have a terrific 4th!
Monday, August 9, 2021 Lake Michigan loop-trip or glacier-tour
In need of a vacation, we departed Columbus, Indiana on
Saturday, August 7, 2021. Our goal is to move to cooler weather and travel the
Lake Michigan loop, in our new rig. I’m also calling this a “glacier tour”
because much of our route through Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin experienced
cyclic advancing and retreating glaciers. I’ve recently read about this topic
and find it fascinating. Parts of Indiana were shaped by glacial activity (one
to two miles thick) and the early settlers to the area were perplexed by the
marsh, swamp, and mound features, on the prairie. Now, we see it, and now we know!
With summer waning and schools starting, we’re on the third
day of our Lake Michigan loop. Our first day was traveling from Columbus,
Indiana to Benton Harbor, Michigan. We passed the huge crops of corn and
soybeans in Indiana. I had considered a campsite at South Bend but decided on
something new. We had a warm but enjoyable day, and took a campsite at Eden Springs
Park, in Benton Harbor. The campsites are nice pull-thru with grass, full-hook-ups,
plentiful space and the area nice for our daily walk. The Park is an early
twentieth-century theme-park, which has been converted to an RV park, with
entertainment. The little train-ride attraction circlets the park and a local-talent,
Shakespeare theatre program is offered, by published schedule. It was
interesting to walk around the old hotel and buildings and imagine what the
1900 park was like.
On Sunday, we traveled along the Michigan western shore and
US 31 to Holland, Michigan for lunch, fuel, and a look-around. Holland has 4
very distinct seasons, but throughout the year the town and this area of Lake
Michigan receive a surprising number of sunny days. Holland was settled
one-hundred years before I was born (1847), by Dutch separatists escaping
persecution in The Netherlands, and much of the Dutch culture and religion have
remained strong influences in this city. Holland and the surrounding area are famous
for their windmills, tulip production, architecture, food, music, and Dutch
traditions. Gotta return for the Tulip Festival!
Afterwards, we headed north to Manistee and moved on to a camp
site at the Bluffs, on Manistee Lake. This campground resort was very
accommodating, with spectacular views of Manistee Lake, river and town. It’s
designed for 55+ and has a clubhouse facility, with everything to keep seniors
entertained.
A very significant feature along the west Michigan
lakeshore is the clear, cold rivers that flow into the lake. At every river
mouth, there’s a village, berg, town, or city that’s very much connected to the
lake. I read that in the early days of settlement, the lake was the only access
to the settlements because there were no roads, just trails through the dense,
inland forests.
Monday morning, we made pancakes on our outdoor griddle,
did some maintenance, then headed to town for some touring. Down at the town,
we enjoyed the Manistee river-walk, assortment of boats, landscaping, trees, and
architecture. We had lunch at the “Taco Bout It”, with a splendid view of the
river and lakes. The town sits on Manistee River, with Manistee Lake and Lake
Michigan, in view to the east and west, respectively.
Tuesday, August 9, we headed north to Grand Traverse County,
and Traverse City, Michigan. From Manistee, we took the MI 22, which follows
the lakeshore through the sand dunes. A very scenic and nostalgic drive. This beautiful
drive, under the canopy of heavily wooded dunes is like driving through a winding
tunnel. This is the west shore of Michigan or the east shore of Lake Michigan,
depending on your perspective. The massive sand dunes are exposed at the
lakeshore but heavily wooded (Hardwood and Pine) inland. We loved the big tress
like (Beech, Oak, Sycamore, Cottonwood, Walnut, Maple, and a long list of
others.) Several old villages or bergs are nestled into the natural pockets or
bays along the coast. Some of these communities now occupy old Ojibwa
village-sites, which were historically abundant around the lake. We took a
campsite at the Traverse City KOA on MI 37.
There are ferry connections that connect to Wisconsin. The
fastest is the Lake Express ferry route between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and
Muskegon, Michigan, crossing Lake Michigan in just 2-1/2 hours. Walk-on fares
start at $100 one-way. The lake-distance is 90 miles.
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Today, we had breakfast, then headed to the Sleeping Bear
National Seashore Visitor Center, at Empire. Along the way, we noticed downed
trees and debris from the storms that passed through overnight. Our new rig is
a sound retreat because we slept right through the storm. At the Visitor
Center, the power was out so we picked-up a brochure/map and headed out to the
dunes.
Along the route, we saw lots of small to intermediate
farms, producing truck crops, fruit, corn, hay, grapes, timber, and other crops.
We bought corn and fruit from one of the numerous roadside stands.
Grand Traverse County is northern Michigan’s most popular
resort community. Centered near the 45th parallel, the area enjoys a temperate
climate, moderated by the Great Lakes and other bodies of water. The climate,
rolling hills, and predominately sandy loam soils are ideal for growing fruit
crops such as cherries, apples and wine grapes. Hops, berry crops, vegetables,
field crops, livestock, dairy production and agri-tourism are also part of the
very diverse and vibrant agricultural scene in the county.
Most of the coastal villages are mainly resort areas, with
fishing charters, beaches, and vacation rentals. The Lake Michigan shore is
white sand beaches and stunning turquoise-blue water. Entering the Sleeping
Bear Dunes, we were enchanted with the serene beauty. Miles of sand beach,
bluffs that tower 450’ above Lake Michigan, lush forests, clear inland lakes,
unique flora and fauna make up the natural world of Sleeping Bear Dunes
National Lakeshore. High dunes afford spectacular views of the lake. This is
truly a very special place. The dunes, are actually glacial moraines, covered
with windblown sand. In observing the terrain, there’s abundant evidence of the
powerful glacier effects on the geography. The National Lakeshore has a Visitor
Center, scenic drives, hiking trails, beaches, picnic areas, overlooks, rentals,
and all the accommodations for tourists. Great visit!
Returning to Traverse City, we shopped at Meijer’s, then
grabbed lunch at Scalawag’s Whitefish and Chips, whose motto says, “Take a bite
of the Great Lakes”!
Historical evidence indicates that Native Americans were
here 8-thousand years before Europeans entered the old Northwest Territory. The
Traverse City area is home to the Ojibwe, Ottawa, and Potawatomi people. They
lived through the European colonization and the establishment of the Northwest
Territory. It’s a challenge to pronounce the place-names around here because
there’s Native American, French, British, and early American influence, not to
mention the hordes of (1800’s) European immigrants flooding into the new
territory from many other countries.
As you may know, the State of Michigan is composed of two
peninsulas, the lower peninsula has Lake Michigan of the west and Lake Huron on
the east. The upper peninsula has Lake Ontario to the north and Lake Michigan
to the south. The two peninsulas are linked by the Mackinaw bridge across the
Straights of Mackinac. Amusingly, the upper peninsula folks call themselves
“yoopers” and they call the folks under or south of the bridge “trolls”. The
two peninsulas are very unique, with the south more urban and the north more
rural.
That’s our experience so far! Any ideas, tips, suggestions,
or comments?
Friday, August 13, 2021
During our stay at Traverse City, I managed to reserve-ahead
campsites for the next ten days. Leaving Columbus, Indiana, we elected to just wonder
along our route and take campsites as encountered, however, the demand is too
great to risk being without. School and vacations are over for most but
campsite demand is still high, mainly retired and seniors like us.
After three days in and around Traverse City, we’re
continuing north along the Lake Michigan western Lower Peninsula shore, across
the Mackinac bridge onto the Michigan Upper Peninsula, and our next campsite at
St. Ignace. With more bergs and villages along the route, we’re excited to
discover more Michigan wonders. The major towns along the route are Elk Rapids,
Charlevoix, Petosky, Mackinaw City, and St. Ignace. Other little villages and
hamlets were fun to explore. I’m always curious about the history and place
names, and there’s always a hidden story:
Elk Rapids- the town is split by the Elk River which runs
right through town. Now a very popular resort town.
Acme- named from the Greek word acme meaning summit. (It’s
high compared to the lake level but not that high!)
Torch Lake- the Ojibwa name Was-wa-gon-ong meaning
"Place of the Torches", referring to the practice of the local Native
American population who once used torches at night to attract fish for
harvesting with spears and nets. For a time, it was referred to by local
European settlers as "Torch Light Lake", which eventually was
shortened to its current name.
Charlevoix- named after Fr. Pierre François Xavier de
Charlevoix, a French explorer who traveled the Great Lakes looking to make
“good Catholics” of the Native Americans.
U.S. Life Saving Service, part of the early shipwreck
rescue efforts on the Great Lakes that led to formation of the U. S. Coast
Guard.
Petosky- Ottawa name means “where the light shines through
the clouds”. Now the Native American Casino says “where the neon lights shine
all night”! Unfortunately, Petosky is an area known for its contribution to the
extinction of the Passenger Pigeon.
We stopped-off at the Friske Farm Market for some produce
and other fresh supplies. I got an apple fritter that was beyond yummy. It
restored my belief that there are real bakery’s still in existence. So often I
get a bakery product that has a lengthy list of ingredients, which is extruded
from a machine, and does not remotely qualify as a bakery product.
We had a picnic lunch at the Conway Town Park under the
shade of a blood-red maple tree. A picnic lunch is always a treat for us
because we always have something special, usually from the milieu.
Now this is it! Mackinaw City on the Straits of Mackinac,
crossed by the five-mile Mackinac Bridge, and surrounded by awesome history and
breath-taking sights. The water where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron merge is
turquoise at the shallows to sapphire blue, at the deep. It windy and cool.
Lovin this place and “home away from home”! We took a campsite at St. Ignace
KOA on U.S. 2 west, at St. Ignace.
The historic Mackinac area is a very popular tourist area
but looking past all that stuff, it’s authentic and unforgettable. You can just
“feel” the history here! Michilimackinac is derived from an Ottawa Ojibwe name
for present-day Mackinac Island and the region around the Straits of Mackinac
between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. We be chillin in Michilimackinac!
St. Ignace- dates back more than 300 years and is rich with
Native American (Ojibwa, Huron, Odawa), French, British, and American history.
It is the third oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States and has
always thrived because of its rich soil and active waterways enabling farming,
travel and trade. Jacques Marquette was a priest and French explorer that established
a mission in St. Ignace in the year of 1671. The city was named after St.
Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit religion. The Jesuits left in
1705 and the English then took over. After the American Revolutionary War
ended, the village of St. Ignace became an official part of the United States
of America.
I’ll always remember Mrs. Wallace’s SPHS, American history
class when I see these places. Jesuit Father Jacques Marquette and Louis
Jolliet had an enduring influence on this area.
Saturday, August 14, 2021
We awoke to a crisp, cool, clear first morning on the
Michigan Upper Peninsula. We’re now in Yooper country! Now, this is what we
were looking for! Today, we’ll head on over to Munising for a campsite at the
Munising, Michigan KOA. Munising is famous for the Pictured Rocks National
Lakeshore, waterfalls, Lake Superior beaches, great forests, lighthouses, and
outdoor adventures.
Taking U.S. 2 west, we enjoyed a scenic drive along the
north shore of the Straits of Mackinac and the north shore of Lake Michigan. US
2 is the northernmost coast-to-coast federal Highway. Actually, it connects I-5
just north of Seattle and I-95 near Bangor, Maine. We’ve traveled it all and
consider it a great rubber-necking route! The Great Northern Road Trip is a
“highline” adventure you’ll never forget.
Along this US 2 Michigan coastal route, there are numerous
offerings of smoked Whitefish and pasties. Great Lakes Lake whitefish is the
primary catch for Michigan commercial and tribal-licensed anglers. A native
fish abundant in the Great Lakes, lake whitefish is known for its flaky
texture. It can be grilled, baked, broiled, pan fried, deep fried, poached,
steamed, roasted and even pickled. We’re working on sampling Whitefish prepared
in every way! We also found some delicious Whitefish pate’ at one of the
markets.
Cruising along, we took MI 77 north and made a roadside
stop for a picnic lunch. This is really beautiful country! There are lots of
pleasant walks to take, using all the extra calories available!
Sunday, August 15, 2021
This campground specializes in dune buggies and snowmobile
riding, as they are adjacent to large public lands, with an expansive trail
system. We had a good, quiet night at Munising KOA, and a nice leisurely
morning with our morning walk included.
From Munising, we head to Gitche Gumee RV Park Resort on
the shore of Lake Superior, for a week of naturally refrigerated air, clear night
skies, and leisure. Gitche Gumee RV Park is a unique place to experience
Michigan camping at its finest. Located right off the sandy beaches of Lake
Superior near Marquette, MI, Gitche Gumee (Ojibwa name for the big lake) is the
perfect place to escape and relax.
Departing Munising, we stopped by Muldoon’s and got
ourselves some nice pasties for lunch. In approximately 1864, Finnish
immigrants, along with Cornish miners, came to find work in the "Copper
Country" of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Pasties were the perfect, hardy meal
for the miners. Their wives were able to use the potatoes and meat from
leftovers, and envelope them in a crust which could be placed in the miners'
pockets in the morning, and they would still be warm at lunchtime. Pasties came
to be known as a "one-handed meal." The miners, with their dirty
hands, could hold on with one hand and eat their way through the pasty, leaving
only a small crust left over. To this day, pasties remain a staple food and
tradition for many Upper Peninsula families.
The pasty, pronounced "pass-tee", are traditional
meat pies that began in England and were brought to Michigan by Cornish miners
when they migrated to Northern Michigan in the 1800’s. Pasties are a beloved
tradition in Michigan, particularly so with the “yoopers” of the U.P. (Upper
Peninsula). A pasty is a British (origin) baked pastry, a traditional variety
of which is particularly associated with Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is made
by placing an uncooked filling, typically meat and vegetables, on one half of a
flat shortcrust pastry circle, folding the pastry in half to wrap the filling
in a semicircle and crimping the curved edge to form a seal before baking. My
grandma, at Progress, made a similar fried-treat that was a fried fruit-filled
treat. She always kept them in her pie-safe, as treats, especially for us kids.
When I was at LSU, I encountered fried meat pies in Acadiana, that were really
good. They must all have a common connection of some sort. I always thought
that would be a great fast-food idea. Gotta try all the local stuff!
We arrived at Gitche Gumee RV Resort about 2pm and moved
onto our site. It was in full sun and our power breaker tripped several times
on their outlet box. I turned off the electric water heater and solved that
problem, so we had a nice dinner, evening, and restful night.
Monday, August 16, 2021
We popped out about 5am this morning to enjoy some great
star-gazing. The moon is waxing, so the sky had some moonlight that
bleached-out (Terry term) some stars.
We made breakfast and after that, I got approval to move to
another site that we liked better. This was a good move and we are happy that
we moved. As it sometimes happens, this campground was over-rated and
overstated by the ads. The campground has mostly good sites but the facilities
are run-down. It works for us now, but we won’t come back here.
After lunch, we drove to Marquette to look-around, walk-around,
and shop. Marquette is a jewel on the shore of Lake Superior. The city has
attractions, food, expansive hiking and bicycle trails, University, and
everything to make a great vacation spot.
Back at the campground, we took an evening walk out to the
beach. The Lake Superior shoreline here, is a high bluff of sand. The beach is very
attractive but the access path is a bit difficult. The view is superb and we
enjoyed it until sunset!
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
This morning, a cool, clear morning, we made a green Chili
Rellenos Casserole, outside, in our convection oven. After breakfast we drove
to Presque Isle Park, followed by a picnic lunch at North Michigan University
campus, then bakery treats at Baby Cakes downtown.
We walked the Presque Isle trail for some stunning views of
Lake Superior and a peaceful, scenic walk through the woods. We took pictures
and enjoyed the morning. Lake Superior is a huge, crystal-clear, cold body of
water 160 miles by 350 miles.
Summer, 1891. Fredrick Law Olmsted, a landscape architect,
most famous for his role in designing New York City’s Central Park, visits
Marquette to work on a design project. To make the most of his visit, the city
also directs him to a large peninsula just north of town (Presque Isle) in
hopes of designing a management plan to turn it into a suitable park. Upon
touring the land, he gives the city relatively straight-forward advice that can
be summed up in three words: “Don’t touch it.” Some natural attractions just
need no development!
Our picnic lunch at North Michigan University was followed
by a driving-tour around campus. They say: Northern Michigan University (1899),
located in Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive
university that has grown its reputation based on its award-winning leadership
programs, cutting-edge technology initiatives and nationally recognized
academic programs.
Marquette, Joliet,
Champlain, Nicolet, and other European explorers and navigators are credited
with many discoveries, but the Native Americans were their guides. Volumes of
fascinating history are written about this area.
Another observation is: the Great Lakes were all connected
and were navigated by canoe, but the development of the Great Lakes Waterway
GTW has created a system of natural channels and artificial canals which enable
navigation between the North American Great Lakes. It enables ships to ascend
and descend the Niagara Escarpment and bypass Niagara Falls, passing into all
the Great Lakes, allowing about 3,000 ships, which transport about 40,000,000
tons of cargo a year, to visit inland ports, from the Atlantic. Using
locks allows for raising and lowering boats, ships and other watercraft between
stretches of water of different levels, on river and canal waterways.
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
We had an easy morning, with breakfast, then some
maintenance and cleaning chores. Next, we headed to Marquette, for some touring
and walking. We stopped-off at the Michigan Visitor Center and checked-out the
abundant racks of tourist information.
Along the way,
Coke oven- we visited an old coke oven at a site where
charcoal was produced for the early, nineteenth-century iron smelting industry.
In it’s prime, the area had banks of ovens, producing charcoal.
Mattson Park and Marina lakeshore walk- this park is
located along the Lake Superior shore, in downtown Marquette. The beautifully
landscaped park has the old ore dock, an expansive marina, a farmers’ market,
entertainment stage, and connects to the expansive trail system.
Purchased smoked salmon at Thill’s Fish Market- Best fresh
and smoked fish
Lunch at La Catrina Cocina Mexicana- superb Mexican!
Shopped for some RV furnishings
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Starting an early day, we had coffee, gathered our gear,
and headed for a hike to the Sugarloaf Mountain summit overlook. At Marquette,
we got breakfast at McDonald’s drive-thru, and enjoyed a picnic-breakfast,
while we watched the sun come up. Next, we headed to Sugarloaf Mountain,
finding no one else around.
Sugarloaf Mountain is a short-hike with amazing views! There
are viewing platforms on the mountain's summit which provide a spectacular view
of the rugged coastline and surrounding forestlands for miles. Most people come
to Sugarloaf for the view, but the forest canopy that envelops the trails is
worth mentioning. With century old trees and ancient rock outcroppings, along
with histrionic signs of primeval volcanic and glacial activity, there’s plenty
to stir the imagination!
We got organized and began our trek up the trail. It’s a
short hike but steep, with lots of step-segments, interspersed with a rocky
path. Informative placards along the way provide interesting and informative
insight into the area’s history, flora, fauna, geology, and geography. At the
top, the sun was up, making picture-taking to the east problematic. Regardless,
we observed stunning views in all directions, especially Lake Superior, Presque
Isle, Marquette, the North Michigan University campus, to the north, and the
expansive Upper Peninsula forests, in the distance to the south. On our
descending hike, we met numerous hikers and had a pleasant exchange with them
all, some first-timers, some regulars.
After our hike, we opted for a late-lunch at Marquette. We
headed back to Marquette for lunch at the New York Deli, then briefly shopped
around downtown. By mid-afternoon, we headed back to Gitchee Gumee campground
for an afternoon rest.
It was another great day in Michigan, on the Upper Peninsula!
Friday 8-20-21
A warm day, with a cooling front moving in, beckoned us to
stay in the campground. We did some cleaning and maintenance, then relaxed and
enjoyed a peaceful day. In the evening, we made some reservation and travel
plans for the remainder of our Lake Michigan loop-trip. I also set-up an
account on the Illinois Tollway System, in order to conveniently pay tolls
through Chicago.
Saturday, August 21, 2021
On the last day, of our week at Gitchee Gumee, we made a list
of things to do in Marquette. We made a scrumptious breakfast, then headed to
town. Our first activity was to take our daily walk. Today, we choose a trail
at the Marquette City Cemetery. Our daily walk this morning was Marquette City
Cemetery. A landscape of trees, gardens, lakes, and of shady trails. Also, final-resting-place
of past historic characters.
We discovered the Huron Mountain Bakery. Real from-scratch
bakeries are hard to find and this one, in Marquette, is superior (no pun
intended). A long case loaded with goodies! I had an apple fritter, then went
back for a cheese Danish. Soo yummy!
This is the wood-dome at North Michigan University in
Marquette. YES, WOOD! Largest in the world! Would love to see a game here! It's
called the Superior Dome.
We had a restful evening at the campground and enjoyed the
windy, cool-front moving in. Made some preliminary preparations for tomorrow’s
travel to Green Bay.
Sunday, August 22, 2021
Today ends our stay at Gitchee Gumee campground on Lake
Superior and our visit to the Marquette area. Now, we head down to Wisconsin
and Green Bay, following the Lake Michigan (UP) eastern shore. From Marquette,
we took US 41 south to Escanaba, Michigan, then MI 35 along the Lake Michigan
shore. At Menominee, we rejoined US 41 on down to Green Bay, Wisconsin.
From Marquette to Escanaba, we traversed the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan, through some rural farm lands and forests. Catching MI
35 along the Lake Michigan shore, we enjoyed the small villages along the
lakeshore. Near Cedar River, we stopped for a picnic lunch and trail-walk at JW
Wells State Park, located on Green Bay, about 30 miles south of Escanaba. The
Park has a stunning picnic area, gorgeous beaches, beach and woods trails, splendid
Civilian Conservation Corps structures
At Menominee, Michigan, we crossed the Menominee River onto
Marinette, Wisconsin. The Menominee name comes from the Native American term
for the wild rice that the native people harvested for food, along the marshes.
Looking east, across Green Bay, from Menominee, Door County was visible on this
clear day. Green Bay is an arm of Lake
Michigan, located along the south coast of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and the
east coast of Wisconsin. I never realized before today, that it is so large AND
the Door County, Wisconsin peninsula extends almost the full length of the bay,
on the east.
Marinette, named after Marie
Antoinette Chevalier, a French/Indian, called “Queen Marinette”, was the site
of her trading post. Leaving these twin-towns on the Menominee River, we
continued to Green Bay.
After, traveling down from
Marquette, we arrived at our campsite on Apple Creek, just south of Green Bay,
at De Pere, in Brown County, of the Fox River Valley. This Apple Creek
Campground is ideal for our visit to the Green Bay area.
Monday, August 23, 2021
Green Bay Packers Lambeau
Field Tour
Directions and Parking
Coming from the south on
Interstate 43
Take I-43 north to Highway 172
west. Take 172 approximately 6 miles to the Oneida Street/Ashland Avenue exit.
Turn left (west) on Pilgrim Way to Oneida Street.
Turn right (north) on Oneida
Street. Continue north on Oneida Street for approximately 2 miles to the
stadium.
Alternate route: Turn right
(east) on Pilgrim Way and continue to Ashland Avenue. Turn left (north) on
Ashland Avenue and continue north to Lombardi Avenue. Turn left (west) on
Lombardi Avenue and continue to the stadium.
Coming from the south on
Highway 41
Take Highway 41 north to the Lombardi
Exit (exit #167). Turn right (east) on Lombardi Avenue and continue for
approximately 1.5 miles to the stadium.
Alternate route: Exit Highway
172 east (exit #165) and continue to Oneida Street/Ashland Avenue exit. Turn
left on Vanderperren Way and continue to Ashland Avenue. Turn left (north) on
Ashland Avenue and continue north to Lombardi Avenue. Turn left (west) on
Lombardi Avenue and continue to the stadium.
Visitors to Lambeau Field may
park in Lot 3 and enter through the American Family Insurance Gate. Parking is
free on non-game days.
After breakfast at the Apple
Creek campground, we drove into Green Bay for a tour of Lambeau Field. Our
two-hour tour took us to every level and every area to experience the Green Bay
Packers’ history-rich facility first-hand. It is so gigantic and amazing that
they can make it all work on game-day. An amazing experience!
After the tour, we had lunch
near the stadium and then drove around downtown to admire Green Bay and the Fox
River. Jean Nicolet founded a 1634 trading post at the sight, making this one
of the oldest European permanent settlements in America.
The Fox River, at the south
end of the bay, is the largest tributary of Lake Michigan. It’s a beautiful
river and obvious why it was so attractive historically. It was a good day in
Green Bay!
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
This cool, clear morning, we
made breakfast, packed a picnic lunch, and headed to Door County, Wisconsin,
for a day of exploration and rambling. From Apple Creek Campground, we drove to
Green Bay, then took MI 57 and Nicolet Drive along the west shore of Door
County Peninsula, on the east side of the Green Bay.
Door County, Wisconsin’s most
easterly county, is a peninsula protruding into Lake Michigan, just north of
Green Bay, Wisconsin. The county is bordered by the Green Bay on the west, and
Lake Michigan on the east. We learned
that Door County got its name from the dangerous ship passage (Porte des Morts)
between the tip of Door County peninsula and Washington Island, called “death’s
door” by early navigators.
Now, the peninsula is a very
popular tourist attraction. The white-sand beaches, lighthouses, shops,
restaurants, Parks, hotels, and natural beauty, flourish to serve the tourists.
We visited the sprawling, but
rural, University of Wisconsin – Green Bay campus. Beautiful campus with lots
of nice buildings, space, trees, paths, and green lawns.
At the Belgian Heritage Center,
it tells the story of the Belgian settlement in Wisconsin and works to preserve
unique elements of Belgian culture such as foods, beverages, customs,
architecture and the Walloon language. The Belgian Heritage Center campus
includes the former St. Mary of the Snows church, school/convent and St. Roche
votive chapel. It is adjacent to the historic parish cemetery. We walked the
campus, in solitude and read the informative plaques about the area.
We visited several Green Bay
parks to take a walk but the mosquitos were too numerous and aggressive. It was
warm and humid, making it ideal for the little pests!
The County Seat, at Sturgeon Bay, named for
its bay on the west, is a quaint town, with a nice maritime museum, marina, shops,
restaurants, trails, bay-walk, architecture, ship-building docks and port. After settlement, they built a ship-channel
from Green Bay, through Sturgeon Bay and the peninsula, to Lake Michigan. The
canal put Sturgeon Bay on the maritime map, for commercial shipping and
recreational boating, on the Great Lakes. In Native American days, the bay had
lots of Sturgeon but now it’s the best sport-fishing on Lake Michigan and Green
Bay.
The ships at the commercial
dock caught my attention as unique, but how? Well, my research revealed books
of information on the subject! Generally, what I’ve seen on my 1640-mile-shoreline-trip
around Lake Michigan is the thousand-foot “laker”, a bulk carrier, with the high,
stern pilothouse or bridge and the high, aft self-unloading gear, engine room,
and cabins. The center is a flat, lower deck, with the rows of cargo holds,
each individually covered with a steel lid or cover. That permanent crane can
move forward and aft to unload or do all sorts of heavy lifting, for the ship.
Looking past all the tourism,
the peninsula is a case-study of the glacial effects on the geography of the
county. Also, old mines and quarries abound on the peninsula, as a result of
the presence of dolomite and numerous other minerals. Also, an ethnic collection
of cultures is represented on the island, due to the early immigration by
European Americans. All this makes gorgeous Door County, one of the most
popular tourist attractions in the Great Lake region.
Wed. 8-25-21
This is a cleaning, planning,
and maintenance day, so after breakfast and some small tasks, we headed to the
Green Bay coin-laundry. Afterwards, we had lunch a Chinese-lunch. We then spent
most of the afternoon just driving around Green Bay, admiring the homes,
landscaping, architecture, gardens, and historical sites. Finally, we stopped
by Zesty’s, a Green Bay and Brown County tradition, for some frozen custard.
Finding ourselves fairly close to De Pere, we fueled=up and headed to the
campground.
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Being a travel-day, we had
coffee, planned our route, had breakfast, and hooked-up for a pull down to Fish
Lake Campground at Volo, Illinois. We headed south on I-41, and quickly cut
east to WI 32/57, then caught WI 55, continuing south along the east shore of Lake
Winnebago, down to Fond du lac. Then I-41 to Milwaukee. Next, we took US 45
south to Volo, IL, and a campsite at Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort.
The Wisconsin south route took
us through:
Greenleaf- an old railroad
town that has become a tourist attraction, with wineries, dairy farms, and
festivals.
Appleton- situated on the Fox
River in three counties, Appleton had numerous attractions and is know for the
quality paper produced in its mills.
Forest Junction- named for
it’s 1873 rail junction, now it’s a highway junction.
Sherwood- Sherwood founded in
the woods in 1854, was named for the stage coach driver who carried the mail
from Fond du Lac to Green Bay.
Stockbridge- Stockbridge is
known as "The Sturgeon Center of the World," and was named after the
Stockbridge Indians after they moved here in the 1830s from Stockbridge, New
York, where they had settled after being expelled from Stockbridge,
Massachusetts. All that moving is another story! Sturgeon fishing is still the
big draw and there are lots of guides and shops to help you.
Brothertown- Another town that
was inhabited by the Brothertown Indians, who moved here from the state of New
York from 1831. I didn’t see any of these guys either! The Brothertown
leadership led the move west so they could live in peace away from
European-American influences. NOT! Now the town has lots and festivities
and activities to attract tourism.
Calumetville- once on an old
military road running from Fond du Lac to Green Bay, its now a great recreation
spot on Lake Winnebago.
Pipe- On the same Military
Road but much earlier, it was an Indian Village where the early voyageurs
smoked the “peace pipe” and gave it the Calumet name.
Peebles- 1880 town named after
Ezra Peebles, who developed and grew the town on
Lake Winnebago is a large
glacial lake in a beautiful setting. On the east shore, we were awestruck at
the attractive farms, homes, and scenery. The Fox–Wisconsin Waterway is a
waterway formed by the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers which connects the Green Bay to
the Mississippi River. In the early days, it had a short portage between the
two watersheds but the 1848 canal made a continuous water route. Marquette
& Joliet were credited with the discovery of this route but the Native
Americans had been using it for 8-thousand years before and guided them to it.
Also, we passed another
historic portage too. Near Chicago, the 336-mile Illinois Waterway, connects Chicago
to the Mississippi River. Later canals were dug that eliminated the portage. Currently,
the US Army Corps of Engineers, operates and maintains all of the inland
waterway canals, locks and dams. We have cruised and visited these waterways
all over the US and this system remains a major asset to commercial and
recreational boating, in our country. Most people are not even aware of this
extensive waterway network.
Fond du Lac- situated at the
bottom or south end of huge Winnebago Lake. This is our first visit along the
eastern shore of Lake Winnebago and the lakeshore, with its gently sloping
prairie to the east, is beautiful, with farmsteads and crops. During winter,
the Lake can have ice shoves, which are dangerous and destructive, but I would
love to see and hear it. From the south end of Winnebago Lake, I can say that
this east side is very beautiful.
Kewaskum- Named for Kewaskum,
the leader of a group of Potawatomi Native Americans, who was friendly with the
American settlers but got moved-out anyway. Some Potawatomi still live in
Wisconsin.
West Bend- Ancient
mound-builders were here first, then came the Potawatomi and Menominee. Now,
only the mounds remain!
Richfield- Another Menominee
and Potawatomi village, the area had numerous lake popular for recreation and
vacation.
Menomonee Falls- This too was
an Indian village. This is a busy suburb of Milwaukee and has all the stuff
that every city has. It does have a waterfall and famous for its can industry.
Makes can for all sorts of food products.
Milwaukee- Bright lights, big
city. They have it all!
Franklin- suburb of the city
of Milwaukee with nice home, shopping, and suburb stuff
Wind Lake- A striking town
with a beautiful lake and close to Chicago.
Sturtevant- Named for the B.
F. Sturtevant Company, a Boston-based manufacturer of fans. It became a leader
in the manufacture of industrial air cooling and ventilation systems.
Bristol- settled in 1830,
became a town in 2009.
Illinois line- America’s Daily
Land to the Land of Lincoln
In Illinois:
Lakemoor- A village with
recreation facilities. Lots of camps and camps on the lakes and river.
Volo- An area of glacial lakes
and rivers. With lots of recreation facilities.
Friday August 27, 2021
Departing our site at Volo. We
headed south to the Illinois line.
At Milwaukee, we had lunch,
shopped and looked around.
Leaving Milwaukee, we traveled
on south into Illinois, passing farm crops and villages.
The US 45 route in Illinois
was through rustic farm county with large, pristine farms.
Nearing Chicago, we decided to
take the IL 57 route through the west side of Chicago. I had set-up and account
with the Illinois Tollway System, hoping to avoid stopping for toll gates but
it would not allow me to enter a future travel date, so we decided to skip the
Tollway. IL 57 was a good route through Chicago, just lots of traffic lights.
When we got down to Joliet, we headed east of the Lincoln Highway to Merrillville,
IN and I-65.
This was the first time in all
of our camping experience, that we could not find a site. The RV Parks were
scarce and they were all full! Consequently, we drove on down to Lafayette,
Indiana, for a room at the Comfort Inn. They had a large parking lot for our
rig and the hotel was nice with a breakfast.
On Saturday, we headed south
to Seymour, Indiana to park our rig with Glen and Kin, had lunch, then returned
home to Columbus.
This was a good trip, with
lots of fun, entertainment, sights, and dinng experiences.
