8/25-9/1 - Camp Sandusky, Sandusky, OH

This is an interesting place.  They have cabins surrounding the camping spots.  We are getting 379 cable channels!  We met an interesting couple from Dayton, and answered a lot of questions about full-timing.  Hard to believe that we are the mentors now, after just 3 years!

the zebra thinks it is funny

up close and personal!

Our first trek is to the African Safari Wildlife park.  We get to feed the animals as we drive through.  We go early, while they are still hungry.

the gibbon drinks water like Dottie-dip the paw, lick the paw

white aligator

We toured the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, which was the first actual Presidential Museum and Library.  It was not authorized by Congress, but was built and funded by the President's son.  Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed in the actual home.  In early pictures (without the beard), Hayes is quite handsome, reminding me of the actor that played John Grisham in the TV series.  He was an interesting president, with a hotly contested win (by Congressional Commission), he refused to run again, so he spent all 4 years actually serving the people, instead of his party!  What a guy!

the top of the monument

Perry Monument...TALL

One of the ships in port

On Thursday, we take the ferry to South Bass Island, and Put-In-Bay.  We are fortunate because this is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812, and the Tall Ships are in port for a re-enactment of the battle.  Commadore Perry wins the battle against the British by sheer luck, it seems, and there is a Peace Memorial here.  Perry was only 28 when he fought this battle, and already had 14 years of sea duty.  Must have started as a cabin boy.

We also toured a winery, a Butterfly House, and an antique car show and museum.

this one was stuck on my leg the whole time!

Beautiful!!!

8/21-8/25 - Waldenwoods Family Recreation Resort, Hartland, MI

Wow!  This place has everything!  A fancy restaurant that picks you up and brings you back to your campsite, cottages, campsites, pool, lake with boat rentals!

We toured the State Capitol building in Lansing and visited a winery (of all things :))  We tried to tour a telephone pioneer museum, but AT&T packed it up and stashed it somewhere, and no one knows where it is.  If your GPS also tells you there is one in Lansing, don't believe it!

even under the stairs is painted!

8/14-8/21 - Thousand Trails, St. Clair, MI

at the car show

This is a nice preserve and Cathy takes time to update the blog while Steve tours.  He was able to catch the Rumble in the Park car show in Marysville city park and the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Jimi Hendrix self portrait

one of the cool buildings in Detroit

We were able to take a short trip into Detroit, and had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.

freighter on the river

the blue river

We spent a couple of afternoons in St. Clair, where the river is SO BLUE!  We also saw one of the big freighters come up the river right by our restaurant table!

ford estate

FLW#2

Another day we toured the Edsel Ford Estate and saw 2 of the 3 Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the area.  We just couldn't find the 3rd one.

FLR #1

8/11-8/14 - Tiki RV Park, St. Ignace, MI

This is our second time at the Tiki, and we have a pull-through spot.  This campground is right in town!  However, the rain seems to be following us around.

Guess who we are following around?  YES, Brad and Nancy join us for lunch and the view at the Hilltop Cafe, and then we drive to Sault Ste. Marie and look at the Soo Locks.  Then we drive some more and look at the Tahquamenon Falls (apparently second only to Niagara on this side of the Mississippi).

8/4-8/11 - Michigami Shores Campground, Michigami, MI

Here we are with a nice view of the lake, but it is cloudy most of the time.

it looked like this all week!

working chain saw

with Brad and Nancy at Donkers

life boat at the museum

We had lunch in Marquette with Brad and Nancy!  Seems like we are following them around, but it is really a coincidence (ha).  We toured the Maritime Museum with them, then took a drive through Preske Park.  Steve toured the Iron Ore Museum on another day.


We went into Marquette another day and toured the Landmark Inn, an Historic Hotel.  Also took in a classic car show, went to the county fair and saw lots of horses (including Clydesdales) and an antique car show.

front desk at the Landmark

copper stair railing at the Landmark

one of the cool buildings

warthog at the fair!?!

grilling chickens at the fair

antique camper!

at the falls

On another day we toured Canyon Falls and L'Ance (where we got the 1 pound sweet rolls!) YUM!

The last day we took a sunset cruise to Pictured Rocks out of Munising.  Beautiful!

7/28-8/4 - Ogstons RV Park, Saginaw, MI

This park is part of a working farm, with 2 lakes and vintage Corvettes!

We immediately drive into Duluth for the Tall Ships Festival.  There are about 14 sailing ships here now, with some available for tours, others for cruises.  Both big and small ships, but not as impressive as when they are sailing.  Steve goes into town on Monday to see the ships take off for their next port.

The bridge lifts to let the ships go under

 Steve meets up with Brad and Nancy, who are staying in a park right across the port.

One day we take a trip up the North Shore Drive from Duluth to the Grand Portage National Monument.  On the way, we stop at the Split Rock Lighthouse.

View of Lake Superior

Steve reads the Historical Marker

Two Harbors Lighthouse

 Grand Portage is the place where the British and French traders brought their ships to trade for pelts.  This was a thriving Ojibway village until after the Revolutionary War, when the British moved their trading post to Thunder Bay, Canada.

Fort at Grand Portage

Sample pelts

Split Rock Lighthouse

Colobus Monkey with new baby

 Another day we tour the Zoo, Aquarium and take the Skyline Drive tour.

would you like to clean these?

  

hanging out in the sun