On to Michigan
We left Heiskeel, TN June 9 headed for MI. We decided on 2 stops enroute.
Freddy found a new place to ride. That did not last long before he was back in Cathy's lap.
on into Kentucky
across the Ohio river
into Indiana
First up Batesville, IN. Batesville has 3 fairly large corporations, Hillenbrand Corp is a large chain of wellness centers, Hil Rom makes hospital furniture and equipment and Batesville Casket Co all under 1 umbrella.But that is not why we stopped here.
One reason, Ertel Cellars.
They have a great dining room.
The best is the Baked Brae and Smoked Salmon Platter.
We also like their Sunday brunch.
Another reason is the Fried Chicken here.
Wagner's Village Inn in Oldenburg (an old German town). We like it the best for the fried chicken.
The chicken livers are great.
The town that started the Great Chicken Trail and Canoe Fest is Brookville. The chicken trail is a contest between area restaurants as to who has the best fried chicken.
There are a lot of these chicken statues scattered around town.
One other reason to stop here, Cathy likes a hair dresser here and wanted to get her hair cut.
I decided it was time for a change for myself.
On to Buchanan MI. This was not planed to be a long stop over but I hurt my foot.
so this is how Freddy spent the time
and how I spent my time. After about 4 days it was better.
We left a few days later.
On the road to North Western Michigan
When we arrived in Beulah, I arranged for a fishing trip the next day.
I was the only one fishing and had 9 lines.
We were to be out from 6:00 PM till 10:00 PM.
By 9:45, sunset, I had 4 medium sized king salmon and 1 8 pound lake trout in the cooler.
I was taking pictures when something hit one of the lines.
I don't every remember a fish fighting as hard as this one. I was beat when I finally got him in.
He weighted in at 17 lbs.
I had just sat down when another big one hit. I had to let the deck hand fight him while I got my breath. He actually tore the hook out of his mouth so we lost him.
Anyway, I already had the limit of 5 kings.
On the way out fishing, I got this picture of Menominee Lighthouse.
Later we drove back to Frankfort to see the lighthouse from the shore.
On the way to Point Betsie Lighthouse we had to get our feet wet in Lake Michigan, BRRR
Point Betsie
from the beach
Cathy climbing to the top
Well maybe she was clowning around in the last picture.
The view from the light. Sleeping Bear Dunes in the background.
the other way
The original Fresnel lens that was in the light.
leaving the lighthouse.
While driving out to another light, we ran across this old school house.
It was privately owned and not open so I just got outside pictures.
It even had an outhouse.
Grand Traverse Lighthouse
Built in 1868
View of Lake Michigan from top
Cathy going down
Fresnel lens
about the dunes
Now, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park
Visitor Center
Along a drive through loop is this covered bridge, the only one in the world with a National Park Service sign.
Alligator Point, the ridge in the middle is supposed to be shaped like an alligator. It kinda is.
Some of the dunes in the background.
This was about 2:00 PM July 1 and the temperature was 58 degrees.
other direction
The sand, at one time was above the roots in the middle of the picture. This is what erosion has done.
Time to climb to the top of a dune
This dune goes down to Lake Michigan.
The sign reads:
"Don't risk injury or rescue fees by going down
or
the two hours it may take to climb back up"
Yet people did climb down.
Finally a wooden walkway
to the overlook platform.
From the platform, people going down
and crawling back up.
not sure how high, probably about 300 feet.
but steep and the sand is very soft.
Note the guy on the left and he is not even a fourth of the way back up.
the bottom.
There is a smaller climbing dune to play on.
Back to the RV to warm up in front of the fireplace.
We did find some good places to eat. This being the "Cherry Capitol" , had to try the Cherry Hut.
The cherry chicken croissant was delicious
It was big so we split one to make room for
Cherry Pie A La Mode. This is what the Cherry Hut is noted for and now we understand why.
And there is Dilbert's Cafe
Not a large place
But their Lake Perch is super.
We stayed here for the 4th and had a quite Independence Day.
One winery we visited had fermented honey called Mead. It was too sweet for me.
Tomorrow we head for the Upper Peninsula about 3 hours away.
More later.
Comments