Catching Up Quickly, Part 1, June 22-July14, 2011

It has been a month since I last posted, boy do I have some catching up to do. 

June 22-July 5, 2011 – We spent two refreshing relaxing weeks with John and Judy at Hidden Ridge RV Resort near Hopkins MI, about 20 miles south of Grand Rapids.  It was a beautiful place.

We even got to meet their good friends and business partners, Stan and Kathleen.  Loved their new home and lake out back with some pet ducks.

It’s “what’s for dinner tonight”, the day we (Judy, Bob and I) picked our own strawberries.  They were so sweet and delicious!

New battery for the Explorer, just too many non starts.

Also new tires for the towed.  We are set for our journey to the Yooper!

Fixed some authentic Cassoulet to share with John and Judy-tasted almost as good as we had eaten in France two years ago.

Enjoyed the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.

Fourth of July weekend water fun at the RV Resort .  No that is not Bob up on top, our water hose would not reach that far.

Since we both had enjoyed The Bourbon Trail in Kentucky (separately), we pooled our favorites and had a tasting.  The winner was not easy to determine, but Woodford Reserve won!

Bob installed some blue lights on our steps, they are bright!

July 6-8, 2011 – Spent three nights at Whispering Pines CG, Mancelona MI.

To our delight, the Cherry Festival was still in full swing, so we drove over and enjoyed all the cherries.

Wonderful tasting room and fresh cherries!

The beginnings of Cherry Liqueur, cherries, crushed cherry pits and vodka, wait two months, strain out cherries and then let age 6-8+ months.  Yum!

 

 

 

 

July 9-14, 2011 – St Ignace, Michigan, The Straits State Park.

Bob survived the drive over the Mackinaw Bridge and soon we were parked in our long pull thru site at the Straits SP.

Toe dipping in Lake Huron, it was colder than I expected.

Enjoyed lunch with some RV blog readers, Peggy and David.

Also visited with our Retama Village neighbors, Roger and Dianne.  By reading each other’s blogs, it was determined we were going to be close while in the Upper Peninsula,  so plans were made to meet at the Straits SP.

Another adult beverage tasting, this time with boxed Merlot.

The winner was Bota Box, but as Dianne writes on her ballot, we all were “under the influence”.

 

 

 

 

A visit to  Fort Michilimackinac.  It was very easy to spend all day at the fort with many living history events going on and great displays in the fort buildings.

 

 

 

 

Enjoyed our day over on Mackinac Island.

Visited Fort Mackinac and saw some living history programs. Nicely done.

Walked to Arch Rock.

Then we found a cemetery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then came the highlight of our visit.  A horse drawn street sweeper. LOL

We are official Yoopers!