Time for a Road Trip! Goodbye, Barry. Hello, Road!
Yes, yes, it’s a little soon to be taking another trip. The adventure visiting my daughter in New York City just happened.
However, our sweet young niece has just graduated from high school and there’s a big graduation party next Sunday down in the Thumb of Michigan, and I wouldn’t miss this for the world!
(Barry can’t get away from work for a week right now…)
So I’m coming to you LIVE from the Gaylord Public Library on Computer Station F. What an interesting twenty four hours it has been! First, the family is ribbing me mercilessly because it is taking three days to travel 550 miles downstate. I argued that it will only be 48 hours. They disagreed, announcing that it will be Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. They insist that’s three days.
We shan’t quibble with them, as I LOVE road trips. I meandered through Marquette yesterday, enjoying an outdoor adventure with umbrella in the rain. Book stores, coffee shops, restaurants, walks…yes, it was fun. Later in the evening I decided to drive further east and checked into a motel in Munising. As the skies darkened, the rain poured and the cold 40 degree temperatures blew windy off the bay, I realized more time was needed outdoors to satisfy the outdoor commitment.
It was challenging. The rain poured sideways and trickled beneath the umbrella. My fingers froze gripping the umbrella handle and cell phone. It was too cold to take photos. The tennis shoes quickly became soggy. I tried to relax into the experience and almost succeeded. Almost. It was one of the more challenging outdoor adventures thus far.
This morning still dawned cold, but clear. I walked about three quarters of a mile to a lovely little restaurant and enjoyed scrambled eggs , toast and coffee before driving very slowly down toward Gaylord, stopping often. Everywhere people complained about the weather. About the cold. The cloudy skies. They lamented that summer had not yet arrived. The waitress this morning even suggested sun lamps to help our spirits. It made me happy to be heading downstate to the Thumb of Michigan, where temperatures generally are ten degrees warmer than the Upper Peninsula.
It’s been 328 miles thus far. Gas is $2.94 a gallon. Gerry, from Torch Lake Views, who comments regularly on this blog, and I are meeting probably tomorrow morning for breakfast or tonight for dinner in Bellaire. (Bellaire is the town near my brother’s cottage. That’s where tonight’s layover will be. Will try to take some photos there, as it was one of my favorite growing-up places. Years ago I took driver’s training in this little town…)
I suppose computer time is almost up. Oh this has been a lovely stop. On to Bellaire! Will update you with more photos and stories tomorrow night from my parent’s home in Yale. Until then!
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June 9, 2009 at 3:43 pm
cherokeebydesign
Any time is a great time for a road-trip.
Before I was married, and before the children came along I would take a road-trip at least a couple times a month.
With me being a poet and photographer, it may take me 2-3 times longer to get somewhere, for the simple fact I would see something I needed to snap a photo of, or there would be something that struck a feeling deep down inside and I would have to pull-over and start writing.
Be careful and stay safe.
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June 10, 2009 at 6:59 am
Cindy Lou
You’re off! Again! I love road trips, too – especially the kind where you have no time schedule and can just meander around to your heart’s content! And it’s so cool you get to meet Gerry – say ‘hi’ from me!
Yes, we do heat with wood – the stove’s in the garage (about 100 yds. from the house) and heated water is pumped to the house so it heats home and garage. I’m glad on those sub-zero mornings that it’s not my job to walk over and stoke the stove… thank goodness for husbands! And sons as I’ve not had to help with any wood this spring as Ricky said, “That’s not a mom job – I’ll do it!” Wow! They really do grow up!
June 10, 2009 at 1:47 pm
flandrumhill
It’s been colder than usual here too. But if it discourages the blackflies that’s fine by me. I’m sure you’ll have fun with Gerry
Maybe you’ll even get to meet the Cowboy!!
June 11, 2009 at 7:50 am
centria
Cherokeebydesign, you have described it perfectly! I have two notebooks along on this trip and stopped countless times to take photos. And read. And meander. It’s wonderful when we can have the time and space to do this. Back in the days when the kids were along on these trips, it was quite different. Although, even then, we had some fun side trips. Once I took our four year old son and six month baby on a side trip to Mackinac Island. That was kind of crazy. Guess we all survived it though. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Will try to check out your site after this trip.
Cindy, sounds like you might have one of those “best of both worlds” scenarios. A husband AND a son who are doing it all. But I’m not whining, really. We are excitedly waiting for Christopher to get home, though. He’s already offered to help with the wood. Hurray!
Amy, hope you’ve read the blog about our meeting yesterday. It was so much fun to spend that time with Gerry. I’m still smiling thinking about it. By the way, my mom said it’s been a much cooler spring than usual ‘way down here, as well. Today’s high will be 70 which sounds lovely. (don’t know how that translates to celcius.)
August 21, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Under the umbrella in the rain (for ten minutes anyway) « Opening the door, walking outside
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