Oldies but Goodies

Northern Michigan has numerous car shows throughout the summer months. We drove over to Lewiston, a small town nearby, to catch one. There were 200 classics on display--almost more than the town population! A few of our favorites are pictured: A Bentley convertible, a Herman Munster Ford, and a stub-nosed Chevrolet commercial truck.

Wing Swinging

A Friday night Big Band party under the wings of a B17 kicked off Gaylord's weekend air show. Attendees were encouraged to come in WWII period attire, which many did (although someone should tell the lady in the poodle skirt that she was more 50's era). We danced the night away to the very excellent 17-piece big band orchestra.

A Very Grand Hotel

If any of you movie buffs ever saw "Somewhere in Time," you've seen The Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island. And grand it is. We strolled the manicured grounds, went up to the Cupola Bar for a rum punch, and spent time relaxing in a rocking chair on the longest porch in the world. When our RVing days are over, we'd love to splurge and come stay here as hotel guests.

Big Mac

Mackinaw Island is everything we'd heard and more. Access is by passenger ferry. No autos are allowed, so even UPS is by horse-drawn wagons. What a quaint and picturesque village. We loved our leisurely afternoon there.

Wine Fest

Leland, Michigan, is the Napa of Up North. The Leland Wine and Food Festival brought out both the foodie in us and the wine-oh. We grazed on Brie and ribs and fresh bakery bread while we sampled wine from some of the local wineries. Then we walked some of it off along the marina and in the picturesque little town.

New Moomers

As avowed foodies, we're always on the lookout for good eats. Heretofore, Mayfield Dairy (TN) was our to-die-for ice cream place. Well, Moomers is right up there. Also a local, family production, Moomers is outside Traverse City (on a farm) and even on an overcast, drizzly day, the lines were long. My waffle cone had just come off the griddle and was still warm. Oh, yum. My mouth is watering just thinking of that great treat! You can bet we'll make the hour+ drive many times while we're here in Michigan.

Mama Bear

How does God pay tribute to a faithful mother who lost her young? Why He creates a huge dune in her honor. So goes the legend of Sleeping Bear Dunes. A mother bear and her two cubs were forced into Lake Michigan on the Wisconsin side due to a raging forest fire. After swimming many hours, with the young ones behind, Mama bear finally made it to shore. She climbed up to the top of a high bluff to watch for her cubs. They tired just short of shore and drowned. Mama bear watched and slept and never left her post. Over time shifting sand has changed the dunes to where they don't resemble a bear anymore, but they are impressive, rising in places over 450 feet. Despite warning signs, some people dared the long trek down and even longer (seeming) trek back up.