Mackinaw Island, Michigan

June 20, 2006

After leaving the Mulaski’s, we made our way up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We stopped for one night to see Mackinaw Island.

The only way to get to the Island is by ferry. Cars are not allowed on the island, only bicycles and horse drawn carriages. We took the ferry and brought our bikes with us.


Bicycles were everywhere. It was the best way to get around. We rode around the island and through the downtown area.
It was a typical tourist trap with many gift shops and fudge shops.
The Grand Hotel, a beautiful and expensive hotel, is located there.


After a nice outdoor patio diner at the Pink Pony, we left the island and prepared to travel on through the Upper Peninsula toward Minnesota to see the Vances – our Texas friends who moved to Eden Prairie, MN about 10 years ago.

A Lake Cabin in Tawas with the Mulaski's

Tawas, Michigan
June 12 – 19, 2006


We decided it was time to visit with Mary Jane and Dave Mulaski again. This time the place would be Tawas, Michigan – at the Mulaski’s summer cabin on Lake Huron.
They have a beautiful cabin with a gorgeous view overlooking their private beach and Lake Huron. It’s a summer paradise!


Mary Jane and Joni kayaked daily. Lake Huron is one of the Great Lakes and it’s beautiful, big and has sparkling clear water. We would kayak north and south of the cabin along the coast.
Pictured are the 2 kayaks on the beach in front of the cabin overlooking Lake Huron.



Delton and Dave went fishing for walai in Dave’s fishing boat.
They caught their limit of 5 each on 2 of their outings and almost caught their limit on the third. We enjoyed eating the fresh fish and were able to take some along with us when we left.


Since the Mulaski’s had just moved into their new cabin there was a lot to do, so we helped them rake leaves and do a few other odds and ends.
They bought 2 “tree faces” to nail onto their many surrounding trees. They blend right into the tree and look like they are apart of the tree.

Among our other activities were biking, walking, bridge and tennis. Also, Delton played some golf. We have many interests in common with the Mulaski’s. Our times together are very enjoyable. But, after one week together it was time for us to move on. We look forward to seeing them again in the fall when we go back to Texas.

Greenfield Village, An Old Town in Michigan

June 7, 2006

Greenfield Village is like stepping back in time.
It takes you back to the sights and sounds of our past. It’s like an outdoor museum that comes alive. The people that work there are all dressed in traditional clothing of the time and work as they did hundreds of years ago.


Shown is part of a “working farm” which is run as it was years ago. They (volunteers) grow their own food and eat it, raise their own animals and dress as they did years ago.
Shown is an old saw mill and a machine shop.

Many houses and shops were moved to Greenfield Village so that history could be seen in one place.
Shown is Thomas Edison’s house. Edison wired his house with electric lights – showing his inventiveness.


Also seen at Greenfield Village are Model T’s driving all over the town, people playing 1867 baseball, the workshop and home of the Wright Brothers, Robert Frost’s home, the courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law, and much much more. We watched glass blowers, pottery makers, weavers. We watched “life” as it was long ago.

Pro Football Hall of Fame

 
Canton Ohio: June 5, 2006

Delton spent most of the day at the Pro Football Hall of Fame museum. Joni is not much of a football fan, so she decided to spend some time back at our camp site.

The museum is an interconnected five building complex with exhibits (some interactive) that give you a sense of both past history and current information on the game and those that made it great.

 
The Hall of Fame Gallery includes a bronzed likeness of each member. It also has several interactive computer systems where you can get film footage, interviews and biographical information on each member. Of course, I looked for all of my favorites including Roger Staubach, Tom Landry and a few other Dallas Cowboys.

 
The Dallas Cowboys exhibit included these inductees: Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Tom Landry, Tex Schramm, Tony Dorsett, Randy White and Mel Renfro. Troy Akman was inducted last year.

There were a couple of video rooms. One featured last years Super Bowl teams and their preparation from training camp to the big event. The other had a variety of films that they rotated through. I sit in on a NFL Bloopers film. 

Niagara Falls, New York

June 3, 2006


We left New Hampshire and headed to Niagara Falls. Joni had seen the falls many times when she lived in upstate New York, but Delton had never been there.

We drove through New York and passed Rochester, where Joni’s sons Jim and Chris were born. Next trip we will travel throughout upstate New York as there is much to do and see there.


Since we had only one day to see it all, we decided to take a bus tour around the falls area and since they are best seen from the Canadian side, we took the Canadian Tour.
Shown is our bus driver Jim, who had many interesting stories to tell.


As part of the tour, we took a ride on The Maid of the Mist, a tour boat that goes as close to the falls as anyone can get – from below. Shown is another sightseeing venture you can take by hiking down to the bottom of the falls on steps that take you behind the falls.

We were given rain ponchos, but still got real wet from the mist. It was also very windy.

This is a view from the top of the Canadian Falls.

Since it was a rainy day, the bus was not full, so we were able to get to know our fellow tour members.
Shown is our group!