Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Day 44, 45 and 46

Day 44

As Dave Sees It!

As Framp Remembers It!

It’s my 54 b-day today!!! Yippee

We’ve had a very interesting day. It started off well and then we got out of bed! A couple of harsh words later and we were on our way. We high fived our disagreements away and proceeded down the road. The rain rained but still the first hour and a half went swimmingly then I took the wheel. The rain continued and we made a wrong connection somewhere.....POS (piece of sh#t) GPS!!! We were aiming for Hwy 15 to take us to Hwy 46. We meandered around Saginaw, Michigan for about a half an hour before we finally found highway 46. It was a little intense in the tin can. No, the highway was not plainly marked!!! I was still driving and it was still raining, sometimes very hard, as we were sailing along Hwy 46 when, suddenly the windshield wiper on the passenger side blew a rod. Pulling over was needed, and with the Enterprise plus Dolly, a large parking lot was required. I pulled in at the corner of Hwy 15 and Hwy 46. Funny haha or funny odd.... The sign in the parking lot read “Will the road you are on bring you to my place? God”. We needed the reminder about what’s important in our lives.
We stopped while Davey gerryrigged the windshield wiper. Then Dave turned on the generated and we had coffee and a hot lunch.

We got to the Lakeport camp grounds around 2:30, rented the site and then took the Enterprise to gas up. While we were gassing up, Dave noticed that the Sonata’s driver side wheel was on top of the hook for the wheel web. The web was loose!! Eeek and the hook might have been damaged.  We do have safety chains on the front axle. Still we could not assess the problem ‘til we got back to the site. The Sonata had to debark (is this a word?) from Dolly, but everything worked out!

Dave had a well deserved nap and I read my book while it rain off and on. When Dave awoke we decided to go to Port Huron for a nice Birthday dinner. We put the passports in the camper dash for easy access tomorrow, loaded up with American and Canadian cash. I took the receipt for the camp site out of my purse and put it with the other receipts in the camper.  The PSO GPS stated that Bistro 1882 was a 3 star restaurant and we foolishly fell for its’ wilily cunning. Dave was driving this time as we followed the stupid instructions....Who’d have guessed the I-69 E only goes to the bridge to Sarnia? No turn arounds, no room for errors...we were f#@%ed.  It was a little intense in the tin can. We had to go over the bridge to Canadian customs. The customs guy was great, he got a laugh out of our experience, wished me a happy birthday and turned us around ....$3.00 bridge toll, 30 minutes in line, and some jangled nerves. We had to pay $3.00 bridge toll again (insult to injury) and get in line for American customs....No passports, no proof of campsite.....I was pretty upset! Took another 30 minutes to get back across the bridge. At US customs, the guy asked us some questions, Dave explained what happened and he gave us our driver’s licenses back and sent us on our way.

Yes, we finally had a nice dinner of really great ribs at a place, Palms Krytal Bar and Grill, which we had passed up three times while we were trying to find Bistro 1882. Ain’t life grand?
Aug 15
We got to mom's place, had a wonderful dinner with mom, Judy and Andrea. Great time, lovely chatting with these three ladies. They treated me like a birthday girl. Great Indian food to top off a lovely day!
Aug 16
We arrived at Lenora's place, visited then home to Cornwall! Life is grand!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Days 42 and 43

As Dave Sees It!

As Framp Remembers It!

We enjoyed Munising, Michigan!! I finally got to take my Picture Rocks Boat Tour. Now, Dave and I thought that we would be seeing petroglyphs....Not so!


We saw beautiful multicoloured cliffs, strange rock formations and some pretty cool beaches.






We got to drive into a kind of a cave...I thought it was nifty, Dave thought it was kind of lame.


Off the bow!

Astern
Lake Superior was indeed superior. We are now in Alpena, Michigan  on the coast of Lake Michigan, with water laying (or lying, but dad will correct me if I am wrong) all around. It has rained all day so we drove. Off to Port Huron tomorrow!  Excellent time!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Days 34 through 41

As Dave Sees It!

As Framp Remembers It!
Well, I am sitting at Northlanders RV Park outside of Superior, WI. Tomorrow we will be in Munising, Michigan. Then who know...Eastward on the last leg of our journey.

I have been remiss in acquainting you with our travails and joys these last few days so here’s the update with pictures.
We arrived in Winnipeg after a really bumpy road from the border through Morris. The road was damaged by flooding and, boy, was it bad!

Dave and I spent the night at Chris and Alison’s. The Willmans came over for dinner and a great time was had by all as we celebrated Alison’s b-day. That was the only time we spent with Jemma. She’s a busy gal, getting ready to go to England to study at Portsmouth’s University.






Then off we went to the camp with Tristan, Lilah, Thomas and William. Will was the navigator, Tristan the sleeper, Thom, the DS player, Lilah, the talker and I was just a passenger.


We swam and campfired on the first two days




and on the third day, we waterparked. Chris, Alison and Sarah, Dennis and Evvie met us at Splash Island in Portage La Prairie. What a blast. Sarah brought Tristan’s friend, Min and his sister, Emily. Thomas and Lilah both begged their parent to let them go home with them - to no avail. Min and Emily did return with the Willmans.






We returned to Winnipeg, made all kids go to their respective homes, spent one  night at Chris and Ali’s, Had lunch with my fab friend Jane and Sarah,




....then hit the road for Grand Forks. Two night in the Forks and now we are in Superior. Ain’t life grand?

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Day 33

As Dave Sees It!


As Framp Remembers It!

Golf day today!!! We met a lovely couple on the golf course, Betty and Richard. I picked my ball up on quite a few holes but still I did get one par!



Then back to the Enterprise - nap for me, trip to Grand Forks for Davey. He needed to get something for Dolly! Not anything electrical, for a change. We need a new clip for the webs that hold the Sonata on Dolly. Dave also got a new hair do. Lovely day.

Day 32 - Tuesday, August 2 (I think)

As Dave Sees It!
As Framp Remembers It!

Wow, poor North Dakota is under water....okay that’s an overstatement...but it sure is wet!


We arrived at Larimore Dam Recreation Area and did not even get lost!! We got stopped and Dave wanted to wash everything in sight! He caught a good burn! Here are pictures of Dave's idea of relaxing...



Here’s what I see when I relax


This park is great. I went for a bike ride/explore while Dave washed everything in sight. There is an arboretum, it was a little down at the heels! I am probably the only person who visited it all year, with the exception of the grounds keepers who mow.





I don’t know who or what is to be kept in or out!


After the washing/exploring, we had a lovely dinner and headed into Grand Forks. Dave and I loved meeting new friends. Home is where the language of the heart is!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Day 31 Aug 1

As Dave Sees It!

As Framp Remembers It!

Another driving day and another birthday....Happy Birthday, Alison.....We love you!!

These are pictures of yesterday's drive.








We are currently in Jamestown, North Dakota. Nice little place....



We will see what tomorrow brings. We are really excited about seeing Sarah, Dennis, Tristan, Lilah and Evvie. And the Western Harrisons, if they are home. Life is good! God is good!