Water Aerobics

Jan and Lew were sore after Biking 15Mi/Day, Walking 2Mi/Day
and more recently Tubing who-knows-how-far.
Just as well it was time to start South.
Back at Seven Lakes Jan really wanted some low impact exercise.

Jan doing her Water Aerobics Routine.
She uses a waterproofed "ipod" sort
of Contraption to set her
routine to Music.

All that exercise caused Jan to become very hungry.
Knowing that Ms Dolphin had the Possibles
safely tucked in her refrigerator,
She thought about Strawberry Shortcake with Fresh
Michigan Strawberries....

But wait....
That Fat Cat Lew did nothing
(but take a PIC)
and he still gets
Strawberry Shortcake??

Tubing on the Platte

In-the-Day Jan and Lew tubed on the Salt River (Az). Jan would
even tube from the Outhouse back to our Camp.
People Tube on the Platte River (Sleeping Bear Dunes
National Lakeshore).
Needless to say Jan wanted to do it too.
There is a store in Empire,Mi (10Mi from the Platte River CG)
that sells Tubes.
There is also a Diner in Empire known for it's Fish Sandwich.
That's all Lew needed to hear.
So this morning off we went.
No PIC of the Beerbatter Dipped Deepfried Whitefish Sandwich....
because Lew ate it soooo quick.

But here is a PIC of the Tube Store.
See the Tube?
In-the-Day we used old car-tire-innertubes.
This spell-checker doesn't
even know the word.

Ms Dolphin graciously provided Electric Power
to Inflate the Tubes.
Grandpa wants Cordelia to notice
her Goggles and Snorkel
which the Tube store also had
and which quick Grandma quickly bought.
Ithaca here we come!

In the Drink with Jan and the Tubes
(at the put-in spot on the Platte).

Jan waited while Lew drove Ms Dolphin down to the take-out spot
at the mouth of the Platte where it flows into Lake Michigan and
then, leaving her there, bicycled back up to the put-in-point.
Jan and Lew then enjoyed a leisurely and thoroughly
enjoyable Tube down the Platte to it's Mouth where...
Ms Dolphin was Patiently Waiting.

Katz at the mouth of the Platte
watching for Tubers

(from the security of Ms Dolphin).

About a Nice Man

We are back at Sleeping Bear Dunes. The first
order of business was....Lunch.

Ms Dolphin's Lunch Camp with the Platte River
and Lake Michigan
outside her window.

On our way back to the CG we stopped at a Put-In where
a very nice man was sitting with his Big Dog.
The dog liked us and perhaps that was his queue.
He offered us the use of his Kayak to paddle down
the River to the Lake where he would pick us up and
return to Ms Dolphin!
Which we did.

A really Nice Man.

Paddling down the Crystal Clear
Fish Filled (we watched them)
Platte River.
Nowhere is the water more than waist deep.

At the Take Out we spotted this
Young Family.
(notice the 10 month old Baby)
The Nice Man also gave
Young Dad a ride back
to their car.

About RoVing Adventures

Loyal readers may remember that the recent failure of Ms Dolphin's Sewage Macerator Pump occasioned a hurried trip in to Traverse City to procure a new Pump. By the time it's installation was affected the Humanoids were nervous wrecks so a sojourn at nearby Traverse City State Park was just the Ticket.

Another adventure unfolded four days later when, while enjoying a [local] Chocolate Covered Cherry, A Crown came loose from it's Tooth in Jan's mouth. The afternoon was spent finding a Dentist and having him re-cement the Crown. By the time that was done with the Humanoids were again nervous wrecks so a sojourn at Traverse City State Park was again just the Thing.

Some say that Trouble comes in Three's, Eh?

Today Jan and Lew came out of Tom's Market all excited about the rotisserie baked chicken they had just purchased. Contemplating Lunch they stepped into Ms Dolphin and, not glancing down, tracked fresh Cat Vomit all over the place. Phooey. Some quick brainwork and they were off to the Carwash to use the car carpet shampoo/vacuum machine there. After the mess was cleaned up the Humanoids were again nervous wrecks so....another sojourn at Traverse City State Park was in order.

Ms Dolphin's Carpet airing out after
being Shampooed with
Smelly [perfumed] Stuff.

Now for a nice stiff drink and an episode of "Deadwood" (the HBO series depicting Deadwood,SD in it's heyday).

The Horses of Mackinac Island

After Biking 30Mi in two days Jan and Lew thought
they wanted a rest. So Ms Dolphin trundled down
to the East Jordan Tourist Park, which is owned by
the Township. With the SKP discount $21 for Electric
and Cable TV.

Ms Dolphin Patiently Waited while
Lew got a Burger at McDonalds
and Jan got a Banana Split at
the Ice Cream Joint.

While we rested and played today we thought about
the Horses of Mackinac Island. We are sure
they worked today as they do every day.

They are everywhere there,
the Work Horses are.

A Downtown Traffic Jamb.

This Draft Horse is wearing brand new
Polyurethane faced Shoes.
Note the thickness.

These Shoes are worn down to the
Steel backing.
According to a Driver we
spoke with, these shoes are about
three weeks old.
Proof their wearer did
a lot of in Work
in that short time.

The complex Harness required for
three Horses to Work abreast.

Woofer thought someone had set out
a lot of Water for him.

But THIS is who it was for.
Hard Work requires a lot of Water.

Notice the devoted attention from the Water Boy.
On this Island Symbiosis between
Man and Horse is manifest.

Of Bicycling and Cornish Pasties

Today's exercise was another 14.5Mi bike ride
on Mackinac Island.

Arch Rock,
this time from above.

Thinking to avoid the crowds
today we traveled this
Woodland Path.

Along the way we saw this lovely
Ladyslipper Orchid.

By 3:00PM we were tired, sore and back at Camp Dolphin.
Well....
We were also going to shortly be very hungry from
all that exercise (you knew that was coming, Eh?).
To that end we had procured two Cornish Pasties
in Mackinac City on the way back.

The UP Copper Range was largely exploited
using the knowledge and skills of
miners from Cornwall.
One bit of technology they
brought with them was a
meal rugged and hearty enough
to be suitable
for Hard Rock mining.
The Pasty.

Rather than describe it we took PICs of the ones we
subsequently ate..

One traditional Beef and the other Cheese.

No further description needed, Eh?
Probably the world's oldest fast food.
Both the Arthurian legend and
the ballad of Robinhood contain
references to the Pasty.

Mackinac Island

Today we took the Ferry to Mackinac Island,
a place with no automobiles, just Bicycles and
horses. People talk about it as a "Must See"
for Bicyclists. So we Ponied Up
the required $64 for the
Ferry ride.
($7.50 for each Bike!)

Bikes hitching an expensive ride
from Mackinac City to
Mackinac Island.
(a 16Min ride)

The Grand Hotel, a Big Deal to some Folks.
Hotel Staff refused us access to
the mapped paved street past
the front of the place
unless we paid $15
EACH for the Privilege.
Something about the street (which is contiguous
with the entire Island Road System)
being actually "Private Property".
What a Tourist Trap.
The problem for Bidnessmen
is that "Private Property"
rights notwithstanding,
People can
of course
vote with their Pocketbooks.
Which we did and will.

That kind of stuff is the downside.
The upside is the lovely road which circles the Island,
closely following the shoreline of Lake Huron.
It is 8Mi around the Island but we
rode 14.5Mi total for the day.

Yup, nothing but Bikes and
horsedrawn carriages.
The Lake was Gorgeous.

The Great Lakes are, of course, Glacial
in origin.
The Great Continental Glacier was a
Mile high.
Hence the Lake was once much deeper.
About 4,000Yrs ago wave action
eroded this Arch.

Jan is pointing to Canada.
Did I say the view is Gorgeous?

For Lazy Folks the Horsedrawn "carriage"
seems the Thing here.

Cyclists beware the Manure and Urine.
The entire Island smells like Horse, of course.

The Big Horses are quite something here.
This Team was caught
Bringing Home the (Horse) Bacon.

For a place which should be a natural for Cyclists,
we found Mackinac Island to be
remarkably Bike unfriendly.
We were told on (3) occasions that we weren't allowed to be
where we were??? (no signs to the contrary).
Almost no Bike racks.
You are supposed to park in a 1.5Ft wide zone at
the edge of the street next to the curb.
Do Mountain Bikes have kickstands?
Hmm.

The Monster in the River

Jan watched people (mostly Kids-immune to Cold, you know?)
floating down the Platte River and decided that
it looked like Fun. So....
Friday morning she was ready.

Notice the Clenched Fist.
(No, No. Water's Fine).

There is the Monster in the River.

Here she is about to float out....
to Sea
(to Lake??)

Later that day we searched out a painting of
the Burfiend Farm said to be on the wall
of a Traverse City Bank.

And so it was.

A Lazy Day

Morning.
Camp Dolphin at
NPS Platte River CG
(Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore).

This is what was going on
inside Camp Dolphin
this morning.
Breakfast.
Look at those bowls of Fruit!

When the Temp hit 60DegF we biked to the Beach
and back again.
Then we had to have some Lunch.
Then....
It was time for another ride to the Beach.
(11Mi today).

Some people like to fly a Kite there.
Some people like to nap.

At the Beach some people like to
have a Swim.
(The air temperature was 66DegF).

The Farm

In 1961 Lew's sister Sue married George Burfiend,
a fellow who grew up on a Farm in Michigan.
Together they had two children,
John and Polly.

Aren't they Beautiful??

For a couple years in the late '70s they lived
on the old Family Farm outside of Traverse City,Mi.
We visited them there.

This is the Farm today.
(our project today was to get PICs)

Today

Many years ago.
The Boy with the Dog
(left side)
was George's Dad.

Standing in the same spot from which
the two previous PICs were taken,
by rotating 180Degrees
this is what you see.
Lake Michigan.

A short path brings you out
on the Beach.
Four Generations of Burfiends
cooled off here
after a day of Farmwork.

This is where the Barn stood
(since Burned).

Lew, Amy, Jan's Mom, Jan, Jan's Dad, Polly, John
and Adam
in 1979.

Rain Day

Tuesday was a Rain Day.
Intermittent....
But All Day.

So we sat inside Ms Dolphin
out of the Rain
with Heat, Light and of course
the Internet.

Lighthouse and Lake

Since arriving here yesterday at Northport
we have been trying
to get to the water of Lake Michigan.

But this Green Slime is everywhere.

This morning we finally got to the Shore!
Six years ago Jan would have been
Chest Deep.
(The Lake was 4Ft higher then).

See the water in the Foreground?
This is the present day Shoreline
of Lake Michigan.
See the tiny Blue Dot in the background?
That is Jan sitting on
the Shoreline of
just six years ago.

The Old Lighthouse here served
for a little over 100Yrs.
It has been replaced by the
Automated Contraption
in the background.

This is how the Keeper got to
the Light
(for maintenance purposes).

A fourth order Fresnel Lens like this
served to warn the Lakeboats
that Lew's Brother-in-Law
George Burfiend
watched passing by
as a kid from his front yard
a few miles down the Lake.

Lakeboats such as this one....



On another Subject.

Lew had been fussing about Ms Dolphin's
Poop Pump since noticing that it was
running Slow and Noisy....
Today he disassembled the Thing.

The two semi circular things are
Field Magnets
which need to be bonded to
the inside of the
Motor Housing.

No repairing this.
Traverse City,Mi has a West Marine Store.
They had a new unit summarily purchased.

Here is Ms Dolphin's new Macerator Pump

ready to perform Yeoman Duty.

More Blasts from the Past

In about 1979 Donna and Jim visited us in
Traverse City....
They picked us up and we all went out to
Sleeping Bear Dunes in
Jim's Folks' Motorhome.

(To this very Spot....)
A Different Time.
A lot of sometimes difficult
Water over the Dam
since.
Thinking of Dear Friends
now.

We started this day by Biking 7Mi (had to see about
Fish going to Work-no dice today).
Then we walked 4Mi here....
and there.
You Loyal Readers know where this
is going, Eh?
Something about Food, surely.


So this afternoon we arrived at Leelanau State Park, at the
Northern Tip of the peninsula separating Grand Traverse Bay
from Lake Michigan. We Tented here with our kids
in 1983 and again in 1989.

Another Blast from the Past now.
This "meal"
(canned Beef Tamales)
was a Treat here in 1983.
Hmm, Adam and Amy are both
pretty much Vegan now....
I wonder why?? NOT!

This is the View out our window now.
But we are thinking Back.
(as Parents are Wont to Do)

What Fun it was
(in 1983)
to bury your Sister in Sand.

Same Gorgeous Lake, then as now.

This is our View this evening.

Same spot in 1989.

Of Butterflies and Fish

This morning it was time for a Bike ride.
Jan got Hot.

We happened upon a Public Access to
the Platte River.
So Jan put her Toes in....

But she wasn't the only Creature in this water.

They were all headed Downstream....
Fish going to Work???
(1/4Mi to Lake Michigan)

But Jan and Fish weren't the only
Creatures here.

Then we came to
the End of the Line.
(Lake Michigan)

This is how the Platte River
(everything in Michigan is a River)
empties into Lake Michigan.

11.5Mi of Biking today required
a nice Dinner.

Proof that Bread isn't the only thing
on the Menu.
Asparagus is in season here!

As an Addendum: The Platte River CG is very nice. 30A power for $13/night (Golden Age/Access).
Large campsites, each well separated from the next.
5.5Mi round trip Bike to the Lake.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Last Evening our wonderful new toy quit working!
No more Internet for Everyone simultaneously.
The guilty culprit was diagnosed to be the
Wireless Router Power Cord.
What now??

AHA! Traverse City has a Best Buy.
So we Lunch Camped in their
parkinglot and YES!, they
had a suitable replacement Cord.
(Lew breathed a sigh of Relief
as this means he gets to use
the Internet too).

Then off to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore we went.
After Ms Dolphin settled in at the Campground....
Jan and Lew went for a Walk.

Along the way we saw this Posey
and couldn't resist a PIC.
Tom and Genean Dunn
call this sort of thing a "DYC".
(Damn Yellow Composite)

Our Goal, Lake Michigan.

Jan thought her goal was to
get wet.
Until she put her Toes in the Water.
Look at the expression.
That Water is Frigid!

Then we had to march all the way back to Camp Dolphin.
That consumed a lot of Calories.

So a loaf of Whole Wheat Bread seemed in order.

Yumm!

Traverse City, Mi

Today we pulled in to Traverse City State Park, which is on the East fork of Grand Traverse Bay.
The last time we were here was in 1983 and the fee
was $10 (Showers and Electric).
Now it is $27....

Traverse City now has a Rail Trail.
How positively Civilized!

Unlike most such, this Rail Trail

still has a Railroad!

Lew and Jan used the Bike Path
to get to where Lew
Worked.
In 1978-1980.

Jan wanted to prove that
Lew also bicycles....

Grand Traverse Bay today.

The Water is Cold!
(no-one swimming, Eh?)

And in 1983.

Notice the long pants and shirts.
(about 10Mi North is the 45th Parallel).

Blast from the Past

Today we pulled in to an old favorite CG,
Forks Camp on the Boardman River near Traverse City,Mi.
We first camped here in 1979 when we lived in Traverse City.

That's the Boardman River.
Katz is doing a bit of exploring.

Younger Jan, Adam and Amy
in the Boardman in 1983.

Also 1983, the same Campsite
as today.
In those days this little campground
was always nearly full.

Notice the empty CG.
Just us here.
I wonder why?

In 1979 Forks Camp was Free.
In 1983 there was a $2 fee.
Today, in 2008, the fee is $15
for an Outhouse and a Handpump well.
Perhaps after paying $4/Gal to get here
people don't have the money to stay here?

V-A-C-A-TION!

Yup, that Magical time of year has finally arrived, when Jan, Lew and Katz get to (in the words of the Kingston Trio song) "Go Bum Again...."

To that end, today Ms Dolphin transported them
to a little Michigan State Park near Ann Arbor.
What a Lovely little lake.
Glacially deranged drainage here.
(also called "Pot&Kettle" country)

The next lake in the next Kettle is inhabited

by these little Bluegill fish.

We had to show off our new Toys. This Post is being brought to you by Mr Sierra Aircard, Mr Cyfre Wireless Router and Mr Cyfre Cellphone Amplifier (also Aircard Amplifier-Aircard Internet Data service uses the same frequencies and Cell Towers).

The Router is the white thing to the left.
The black thing protruding from it's front is the Aircard.
The green box to the right is the Cellphone Amplifier.
Of course the whole thing runs from
Ms Dolphin's 125W Solar Panel.

An Aircard is a radio receiver/transmitter set which receives and transmits Celltower Internet signals. It can be plugged into directly into a Notebook computer.
A Wireless Router is a device which allows two (or more) 'puters to communicate with and utilize the same Aircard. For this purpose, instead of plugging into a single computer the Aircard plugs directly into the Router and comminicates with the computers through WiFi.

The Amplifier makes an otherwise too weak signal usable, thus greatly increasing the distance one can be from a CellTower.