Michigan Friends

This is what our camp site looked like when we were ready to leave the Petersburg campground on Tuesday, June 1st. Lots of rain wherever we seem to land!

We drove less than 100 miles to Mike and Mary Jo Carpenters in Holt, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan. We met them two winters ago at our RV Resort in Apache Junction.

JB backed the coach into their driveway. It fit very nicely. We meet Erickson's for lunch. They were our neighbors at the RV Resort last winter and are from Mason...just a few miles down the road and Mike's hometown. All four of us got our hair cut in the afternoon so we are all good for a few weeks.

On Wednesday Mike took us on a tour of Mason.

This is the courthouse.

Mike toured us around town but the highlight was the tour of the Ingham County Jail. Mike retired from there...not as an inmate...but as an administrator and was a Major. Among other things, he assisted with the design of the several building additions and has alot of history knowledge. I have never been privileged to ever set foot in a jail so it was fascinating. We were escorted into many parts of the jail and had some of the inmates trying to get our attention by knocking on their windows. No one flashed us. Seeing the kitchen was most interesting and how the inmates work in various jobs within the jail to reduce their monthly rent! Yes, these inmates have to pay $500 a month in room and board! I always thought when you went to jail, you went in as a free-loader! Shows how much I know. They even have to provide their own underwear. Overall, a very interesting tour. Glad I didn't chicken out. Even Mary Jo learned some tidbits!

Thursday, June 3rd we drove north about 200 miles to their summer home neck of the woods- Lake Leelanau.

We had reservations at the Wild Cherry RV Park, which is a lovely campground and about a few minutes from the Carpenters' property.

Leland, Michigan is just a few minutes from their property on the Lake Michigan coast. Fishtown is a historic port. (Note: the sun is shining!)

The Cove is a local restaurant that brings in famous people like Tim Allen, Tom Selleck and Madonna's relatives. (Haven't eaten there yet!)

This is suppose to be a fish airplane.

A cute little swan family.

We started Friday off at the 45th Parallel breakfast joint in Suttons Bay. Mike and I just had to have the first thing on the menu---Morel Mushroom Omelette for $11.00! Have you ever heard of paying $11 for an omelette's? Well, I haven't but couldn't resist. It was delish!

Tidbit...we are at the 45th parallel (oh, really), which is half way between the North Pole and the equator...just in case you wanted to know!

After breakfast we spent the day...in the rain...traveling around the Leelanau peninsula to some of the wine vineyards. We think we visited six of them, with one of them a very scary stop. Of course, we made purchases at most and tasted some mighty fine vinos!
This picture is just one of the pretty vineyards.

Saturday we started out at Christmas Tree Beach (Lake Michigan), one of Mary Jo's favorite spots. This area has greatly changed, as the water is much higher than normal, decreasing the amount of white sand.

She is saying..."What the heck? Where is all of the beach!"

Then we proceeded south along Lake Michigan and stopped at several scenic overlooks. The morning was sunny but by afternoon we were in the rain AGAIN!

We ended the day at their friends, Paul and Tracy, for a ham dinner and some Cherry Reisling that we will have to find. I think there were a few Miller Lites consumed also! I should add that we met their friends Bob and Esther earlier....They have a lovely property on North Leelanau Lake.

Sunday was another rainy day and very cool. Later in the afternoon (now as I am completing this post) the sun is coming out and JB is searching for his sunglasses. Those suckers are no where to be found....but HE left them in Mike's truck! Maybe too many Miller Lites for him!

The NASCAR race at Pocono (two and a half mile track for you non-NASCAR people) is just ending with my guy currently second with 16 laps to go....I just can't end this until I know if Tony won. He is the defending champion so it would be so great for him to win AND be his first win of this season....I am going to hold on until the end of the race.....hold on- only 10 to go...... Tony is still 2nd...Kyle Busch is trying to close in.....we don't want any darn cautions now....7 to go....5 to go.....Hamlin (#1) is really increasing his lead.....4 to go.....3 to go....2 to go.... Caution on almost the final lap!!!! Harvick spun Logano. That dirty dog!.. so now we have a green-white-checker AGAIN! Hamlin is #1, Tony is #2...so let's see what happens.....well it ends up with Tony #3..at least his point standing will improve. Hamlin wins again.. Looks like Logano is not happy with Harvick so that will provide entertainment for the week!!