A Visit to the Pig Sty

Those were the days when we used to get up early.  By the time we had ourselves together this morning, breakfast was over.  We still managed to make it in time for the Chapter 6 meeting.

Don and Sharon Del Rosario gave a presentation regarding the role of an Escapees VCR.

Elections of officers took place and Don and Sharon gave certificates of appreciation to those who were officers and also installed new officers.

After the meeting everyone headed out to the Blanchard House.  

The Blanchard House was built in 1880

Harriet's father did not like John, who was a farmer.  Her father, a socially prominent individual, told her if she married him she would end up living in a pig sty.  

Eventually after their marriage John became a successful attorney and acquired much wealth.  During the construction of the house John hand picked the stone from his quarry.  He had quite a sense of humor.  Do you see the pig face in the stone he hand selected?  When Harriet's father came to see the house, John said, "welcome to my pig sty."

The rooms and furnishing were very beautiful.  The home was elaborately appointed by use of wood from his lumber business and stone from his quarry.  

After such an interesting tour and story of the Blanchard's, we were hungry.

We had heard stories about the Smokehouse and since it was our last day here, we had to try it out.

Bill and I both ordered the Taco Salad and it was very good.

Sharon's record is intact.  She always asks if she can have her burger cooked medium rare.  All the restaurants have said yes, but when it comes it isn't pink.  Maybe Bill and I are her jinx.  Our last meal together before we part for different directions and nothing has changed.  It's still cooked too much.  The rest of us were pleased with our selections.

Happy Hour was well attended and the weather was still nice for sitting outside.  

Mike Foley, president of Chapter 6, cooked the chili dinner.  There were 29 rigs in attendance and  I believe everyone came for dinner. 

Bernie and Carol managed to find some items to bid on.  I think Don was coaching him.  

After dinner they had a CARE auction that raised $440.00.  

Tomorrow is hitch up.

Turtle Safely........

Here's your Ticket

Here's your ticket..... Your entry to the Presidential Library and Museum...... I was impressed with how nicely done the tickets for the Gerald Ford Museum were.  As we entered the museum, we weren't disappointed with the rest of it.  

Don and Sharon Del Rosario and Bill and I thought we were going to the Presidential Library.  All four of us read the brochure and saw that there was a library and a museum. As we circled the Presidential Museum, we discovered the library was in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan a mere 130 miles away.  

Do you ever take a detour and find things are better?  Well that was the case today.  We all thought the museum was very well done and really enjoyed the day. 

The museum was located in the center of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  The front of the building faces the river.  

Don and Sharon are waiting for Bill who is taking photos of the grounds.

The bronze of Ford was life size and very well done.

The museum was celebrating the 100th year of Gerald Ford's birth.

Here's the door handle of the doors and we haven't even entered the museum yet.  You know you are going to be impressed.

Our timing was perfect. The theater was just starting the video about Gerald Ford's life as we entered.  After the movie when the drapes opened, we were surprised to see the number of Escapees there. 

As you entered this first room, music from the 70's started to play.

I'm sorry I didn't take more pictures, but I think you get so caught up in the exhibits that you forget to take photos.

There was a large exhibit on Watergate which refreshed our history of that event.  

They had a replica of the Oval Office and they played a recording of a typical day in the office.  

Betty Ford picked out the design for the carpet.

This was a gift to Betty Ford.

One thing I learned was that Ford was adopted and his adopted father changed his name from Leslie King, Jr. to Gerald R. Ford, Jr.  

This was a replica of the Cabinet Room.

Bill tried out the teleprompter but there was only one so he was sure it didn't belong to our current President.  

Here's the pistol taken from Squeaky Fromme and the letter she wrote to Ford while she was in prison.

I have found that after so much I get brain overload. There's just so much to see and read.  

Do you notice all of us remembered to wear red on Friday in support of our troops? 

 This is one room, I didn't get to see.

We knew we needed to get back to the fairgrounds so Sharon could spend some time in training us to be VCR's for the Escapees.

But first, we had training in the use of chopsticks.  The waitress didn't even ask Bill and I if we wanted them, she just brought the silverware.  

Turtle Safely.......

Adoption Papers

Yesterday was a very pleasant drive.  What a difference from the rainy day crossing the Mackinaw Bridge.  The sun was shining, little wind and not much traffic.  We came down highway 127 which was a nice smooth 4 lane.  

 We could actually see Don and Sharon's coach this trip.

We stopped for lunch at this very cheap restaurant in Edmore called an empty parking lot.  Notice there was no one to wait on us and the menu was called whatever there is in the refrigerator.  

 A Navy landing boat was across the parking lot.  Mission completed, no men, no water.  

We followed highway 66 into Ionia and arrived at about 1 pm.  We thought we were going to be early birds.  Should have known we were going to an Escapee Rally and nobody arrives the day of the rally.  Everyone is early.  

Before we knew it is was time for Happy Hour.  The weather is gorgeous and perfect for sitting outside socializing.  

It was nice to see some faces we recognized from Chapter 21--Bunny and Bruce Radcliff. 

Of course, everyone headed out to a restaurant for dinner.  We had a coupon for the Lamplighter Restaurant which is located on Main Street.  They were celebrating their 10th anniversary and every entree was $10.  

What a beautiful little town with flowers everywhere.

Most of the old buildings were tastefully restored.  The brick street and old style lampposts added to its charm.

  

This morning Bill was under the weather so I went to the Farmer's Market with Don and Sharon.  Finally found some tomatoes that really smelled like a tomato.  I bought a few things but knowing that we are at a rally and very little cooking goes on in our kitchen during one.

There's a nice little walking bridge across the river.  It looked a lot deeper when you get to the middle of the bridge.  You can see our Monty in the middle of the photo. 

This is a beautiful fairground and everything is well taken care of.  

Bill walked around the Free Fairgrounds with me trying to find out where the dump station was located.

That sapped him and back to the couch he went.  

I didn't hear how many rigs were here, but I imagine between 20 and 25.

Here's Don and Sharon, the adoptive children, with their new parents.

Here I am with my new parents, Diane and Roger Ferguson.

I was presented an Adoption certificate and a pin that says "Adopted by Chapter 6". 

We decided to stay home for dinner and allow Bill time to get to feeling better.  Tomorrow's another busy day.

Turtle Safely.......

Floating Down the Au Sable

Grayling, Michigan

Camp Grayling National Guard

Yesterday it was cool and dreary when I got up and the campfires were roaring.  We actually got our wish for a few sprinkles thinking the rain would put the fires out.  Instead I looked out and they put more wood on the fire and had umbrellas standing by the fire.  I left our fireplace on all day with the heat on.  

I never left the fiver all day.  It was kind of nice to kick back and do nothing.  

It's a good thing we kicked back yesterday because today made up for it.  We went kayaking! Just an easy float down the river, we were told.  I can't understand why every bone in my body aches.

Even though Don and Sharon have their own kayaks, they decided to rent a double one.  The livery would have charged them $10 a piece portage fee.   Don assured us that kayaking is easier than canoeing.  

It was in the 50's when I got up but quickly warmed up.  

Don showed us the proper technique for getting into the kayak.

Look, we think we're doing real well, then I find out we're still tied to the dock.  

Don and Sharon had all their own equipment and used their paddles and dry bag.  Look at that form!

The river was very quiet and we didn't see anyone else until we got to a resting area.  I didn't get many photos because I didn't have a spare battery and it was difficult to get it out of the waterproof case.

Here we are at the halfway point.  Notice anything strange about the kayaks?  They are pointed in opposite directions.  I won't tell you which one we were in.  

Bill's paddle didn't have the little splash guard on it and he was drenched the first part of the trip.  I changed paddles with him but mine was much shorter.

I thought for sure we'd see a lot of deer but the woods were so thick you couldn't see into them.  We did see some turtles, lots of ducks who wouldn't move out of your way, one snake and 3 large birds that could have been eagles.

I was very proud of the way we handled the kayak.  Our other experience in Alaska wasn't the same.  

Down to our last 100 feet of the trip and somehow we went off to our right and I ended up clobbering Bill in the head with my paddle.  We managed to get straightened out and up on the beach. 

 

Everyone had a good time and we were so glad we waited until today to avoid the holiday crowds.  Our driver pulled up a few minutes later and took us back to the livery.  Don was telling him about his kayak getting a hole in it.  The driver told him how to fix it and when we got back he showed Don how he did it.  

The driver told us to go to Spike's for the best hamburger in town.  The grill and bar has been there since 1933, the day after prohibition ended.  

One unique thing on the wall was a clock that was counting down the days until St. Patrick's Day.  

Sharon got a lot of good photos today so check out her blog at Gypsy and the Mariner's RV adventures.  

It's amazing how crowded this RV park was over the weekend and I think there are only a few of us here now.  

Tomorrow we're off to Ionia.

Turtle Safely........