Joy and Lily's Great Lakes trip

[Joy A]

Well here's an update to our trip. We have completed Minnesota and Wisconsin and are now into Michigan. At the moment I am sitting in Munising, UP MI. Lily and I will head over to Pictured Rocks National Seashore shortly.

In a nut shell here's where we went:

MINNESOTA -
Pipestone - quarry where they find stone for Peacepipes
Scamp Factory - say HI and buy things
Itasca SP - headwaters of the Mississippi
International Falls - just 'cause
Hibbing - Hull/Rust open pit mine largest of its kind
Ely - Bear & Wolf Preserves
Grand Marais - a great fiberglass gathering
Hinkley - Native American Pow Wow
Preston/Harmony - the Amish

WISCONSIN -
Baraboo - too many road closures and detours but did see Delton Lake, the one that drained during the storms.
Green Bay area - the Packers Hall of Fame
Door County - mass of humanity over 4th of July
Lac du Flambeau - Ojibwa village
Bayfield - a great campground "Dalrympel Muni" site 23 right on the water.

UP MICHIGAN -
Copper Harbor - nice area and ran into one the ladies from the GM gathering
Munising - just got here will tour Pictured Rocks National Seashore as soon as I post this.

I haven't down loaded very many pictures so none to send at the moment other than Lily and I at the Ojibwa village.

[Linda R002]

Wow, you have been busy, and it sounds like you have been having fun. We can't wait to see more pictures. Right now we are sitting at Bullard beach and walked by your space from last year and wondered where you were right now. You must have sensed our thoughts. Keep the pictures coming and be safe in your travels.

[Joy A]

I been thinking about you folks. I'll be there next year. Probably the first one to sign up in October.

Have fun you guys!!!!!!

Oh yes, Linda and Dale I'll see you in October at Silver Falls.

[Glen G]

So I go to Bullards Beach figuring we would head out for dinner that we missed last year
only to find your out east this year.

Oh well, Have a great time.

We're heading to Polson,MT and Glacier Nat Park. We'll be there Aug 7th through the 13th.

Then head west to Seattle, then south.

See ya' somewhere

[Lyndon Laney]

Golee Joy you forgot our MOTHERHENS" great meet in Mindon Have a good safe trip

[Alf S.]

I been thinking about you folks. I'll be there next year. Probably the first one to sign up in October.

Have fun you guys!!!!!!

Oh yes, Linda and Dale I'll see you in October at Silver Falls.

Hi: Joy...From the Canadian side EH!!! We will be just east of Pt. Huron/ Sarnia for July 25 26 27th at Warwick Conservation Area... so close and yet so far away.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Joy A]

Hi everyone. I'm finally online and thinking about the trip synopsis.

Oops, Yes Lyndon I did forget the Great Great Gathering at Minden, NE. I think I was thinking about my "Great Lakes Trip" and really discounted everything before the Great Lakes. I did go through NV, UT, WY, NE and IA before getting to Minnesota.

So here's the rest of the story so far:

UP MICHIGAN, cont'd
Sault Ste Marie - Soo Locks as a big freighter was going through
Ste Ignace- took Lily and the bike over to Mackinac Island had a great day there

MICHIGAN
Petosky - found a petosky stone albeit very small
Traverse City - day trip to Sleeping Bear Nat'l Dunes
Holland - Windmill Island saw the last Windmill the Netherlands let leave their country.
The Thumb - had a great time touring the area and found the second lowest gas on my trip there.
Grass Lake area - found the best Sauerkraut at a small fruit stand. Bought 4 quarts.

OHIO
Grand Lake St. Mary's - met up with June Aherns, a Scamper from my Turkey Creek, MO gathering 5 years. We had a great visit.

INDIANA
Amishville - Saw more Amish there than anywhere else. Lily and I took bike rides every day which were great, very few cars just horses and buggies.

MISSOURI
Hannibal - Met up with Doris Lawson who hosted the Nebraska gathering as well as is a friend from Alaska trip 2 years ago.

NEBRASKA
Mahoney SP (half way between Omaha & Lincoln). Great camp spot but had car trouble for the first time. Was delayed 1 week before Russwood Chrysler/Jeep even looked at my Jeep. A simple problem, the ignition coil. I've wrote a letter to the owner, BBB, City Council & anyone else I think of will be cc'd. They didn't care that I was a stranded traveler, I was very patient I must add. Every camper I spoke with in the SP was surprised that they didn't squeeze me in to get me on my way.
I finally left yesterday to head home and am in a campground at Cabela's in Sydney, NE as I write. I'm thinking about heading south and going through CO, UT and highway 50 (the loneliest highway) in NV. I'm not keen on all the trucks on I 80 plus I did this route when I went east. I should be home by next Thurs/Fri, before the holiday weekend madness starts.


Hey Glen, I'll be at Bullards next summer......drooling over the dinner you owe me.

Bye for now folks.

[Joy A]

Well, I decided to drop south out of Sidney, NE in Colorado. I headed for Rocky Mountain National Park which I had never been to before. Stayed 2 nights then continued over the hill through the Park. Boy, that's some ride. Stayed in Grand Junction for a night before continuing on Highway through Utah stopping in Ely, NV for the night. Left Ely this morning and arrived in Minden, NV mid afternoon. I'll stay here at the Carson Valley Inn's RV park before heading on home tomorrow.

This trip has been slightly over 3 months and I really enjoyed it. I must say I will truly be happy to be home.

Might not do any trips until the NOG in October.

[Donna D.]

Might not do any trips until the NOG in October.

And I can't wait to see the pictures then (hint, hint, hint)

[Joy A]

Donna,

I've got 2 photo albums I'll bring with me.

[Donna D.]

Donna,

I've got 2 photo albums I'll bring with me.

I have to live vicariously. See you in a bit more than a month!

[Nancy]

Hey, that Rocky Mountain section sounds great. Wish I could do that drive again. If we do it we will have to just go over and get down.

I too have to live vicariously when it come to high altitude. Too bad, as I love Colorado scenery.

Looking forward to using your Bayfield, WI site some day.

Thanks for posting your progress. It has been fun to keep track of you.

Nancy

[Joy A]

Hey Nancy,

I just realized that I left out a couple of things while in Minnesota.

Duluth....Nancy and Fred showed me around a little, took me to the Soudan Underground Mine and a sail boat ride. I even got to sail the boat. Had a great time and was glad I took the time to stay around Duluth which I hadn't originally intended on doing.

Many many thanks