Drove thru Minnesota today

Took our time getting out of Charles City, and took the Timnemobile through a self car wash before leaving Iowa. Of course a big thunder & hail storm rolled in an hour later. Hehe. But it came and went within 20 min, and was really cool to watch. Otherwise, mostly cornfields, rolling hills and some wetlands on today’s drive,
plus a beautiful sunset!

Charles City, Iowa

Charles City, founded in 1852, is a nice small town with tree lined streets, and a river (Cedar) running through it. Fireflies “come out” in the evening. We looked up Judy’s childhood home and gave her a surprise Skype call with the house showing in the video background. We also visited the Riverside Cemetery (said to be one of the most beautiful in the country) to pay respects to Margaret & Ray Hazen. Stayed in the Super 8 for a change. Best motel you can imagine for only 55 bucks per night. Great value.

Mississippi River & Effigy Mounds

 

Crossed the Mississippi from Wisconsin to Iowa today!
(First time we’d ever seen the Mississippi.)

  

Effigy Mounds National Monument by Marquette, Iowa.

  
The Little Bear mound.
This photo doesn’t show it well, but it is actually in the shape of a bear. Due to their size, mounds are best viewed from the sky or a high lookout point, and we didn’t have the chance to take advantage of that this time. Still, it was a very nice hike up close, and we learned a lot of interesting things about the American Indian people who lived here hundreds of years ago.

http://www.nps.gov/efmo/naturescience/index.htm

Cool Rhino

 
Stopped at Shelton’s “World’s Biggest Fireworks Store” in Illinois.

 

Drove through Galena, Illinois. Saw president Grant’s pre- and presidential homes. Cute little downtown area. Delicious ice cream at the vintage parlor (was a pharmacy?).

Janie’s 3rd Birthday!

    
Tim and I joined Janie’s bday celebration that evening – dinner in Holland, followed by a carriage ride! Back at the cottage we had Pat’s wonderful blueberry cobbler and some cake, while Janie opened presents. Then 3 rounds of Rat-a-tat-cat (and the bday girl actually won!) before bedtime. Tomorrow we leave Michigan and slowly make our way back to San Diego.

Little Dune Buggy

 
Charged up and down the Silver Lake dunes
in a Wild Bill’s buggy. What a blast!!!

  h Click on this pic for the dune buggy song!!!

These guys got stuck, but it looked like fun and they got
pulled out pretty quickly. 

 
The envy of all the buggies. Nice rear paddle tire and
it had at least twice the horse power ours did…

but I think we still had the most fun!!!

Sleeping Bear National Shoreline and Leland, Michigan

July 8-10

[Photo coming soon]
Took Buddy for a hike on Sleeping Bear Point Trail. Saw the ghost forest.

 

Dinner at The Cove in Leland – a cute fishing town on Lake Michigan. 

Tim having the signature Chubby Mary, Buddy chilling on the dock.

Click-Clack-Moo

 
Pat took all the ladies out to a play at the Children’s Theatre
at Hope College: Click-Clack-Moo. We went early to get a last-minute ticket for me and found that the show had been sold out. But Pat waited on stand-by at the ticket office to make sure I got one – what a sweetheart! It is a really cute story and the performance was wonderful.  

Off to the beach.

We left Holland around 7 PM and camped out just 20 mi North at Grand Haven State Park, on the beach. It is fun exploring many of the little towns on Lake Michigan.

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

We celebrated a couple of days early, because we could! =)

 

 
After a lovely Sunday dinner, Pat got the birthday cake out, and Juju helped Mom blow out the candles. Another birthday doesn’t show - Lisa is still as beautiful as ever!

***4th of July***

 
 
Ben  and Tim showing off on the Sea Doo and Hot Dog

 

 
Pat & Janie’s sparklers

Buddy showing his distrust of the flying sparks

 

 

Lisa and Janie after sunset

 

Our fireworks on the beach

Video of other fireworks over the lake:

We all had such a great time!!! A nice day on the beach, a beautiful sunset, evening s’mores and sparklers, fun with our fireworks, and then a spectacular fireworks show put on by the neighbors…

Many thanks to Bill, Pat, Ben & Elisabeth for being such gracious hosts!!!

Visiting the Mills in Holland, MI

Bike ride to the beach & Holland Harbor

Tim & Janie race on the swings
   

 
Juju’s new look