TREKIN’ WEST
My last dispatch reported Marvis and Bob’s departure in Montreal and the start of our trek from Montreal through Ontario. We spent Saturday night just outside Ottawa and Sunday night in Sudbury. We crossed the border into the US Monday about noon. Reentry was simple and less complicated than we expected which was a happy event. We spent some time in Suez St. Marie and watched a large freighter clear the Soo lochs before checking into our RV resort at Cedarville, Michigan..
Tuesday, Ken and I met Sunday School “siblings”, Dana and Virginia Patten at the Pelston Regional Airport. The terminal is a beautiful multi million dollar facility that I would guess might host a maximum of five or six flights per day. Indeed, the decor inside is beautiful and lavish for such a small airport which leads one to conclude that it must have been a politician’s pork barrel project There really oughta be a law!!
After a brief visit in the very comfortable lounge area, we drove a short distance to an elegant restaurant in a “wonder land” just down the road. As we entered the spacious well appointed entry, we were greeted by the owner and the hostess. We were shown to our white table cloth covered table which sat at a window overlooking the beautiful grounds. It was a perfect tranquil setting that reflected warmth and welcome. We shared a fine chicken dinner served family style topped off with lively conversation and background stories of the area and individual history. It was a great evening made more enjoyable by the presence of fellow Glendale residents..
Wednesday was a laid back day devoted to laundry, cleaning and general rest and relaxation. Those days have been few and far between on this trip, so each such day is a gift.
Thursday, we drove along Lake Michigan and into Munising, Michigan where Ken, Don and Linda took a boat tour of the beautiful picture rocks on Lake Superior. From there, we drove on into Marquette for the night.
Friday morning we left Don and Linda in Marquette and made our way through the beautiful scenic highways of Wisconsin in spite of the sometimes high winds that tossed our coach a bit. We had intermittent storm showers but they were no deterrent to the beauty of the land that changed from a land of lakes surrounded by trees into rolling hills of lush green pastures and farm land. We spent Friday night in Hudson, Wisconsin and watched as a dark threatening cloud hovered nearby. We were concerned that the storm would hit us but we were fortunate, it did not. Thankfully, the storm veered northerly and missed us. The next day we learned that it had carried high wind, golf ball sized hail and caused considerable damage. We were thankful to be spared. We have been very lucky with the weather on this trip.
Saturday, we stopped in Lakeville, Minnesota for lunch and a visit with Jim and Ann Keelin, from our Percy Jones Army Hospital (PJAH) days. Ken and Jim served together at the hospital during the Korean war. Jim and Ann were married in September and we were married in October. We go back a long way and have stayed in touch through the years. Jim is currently recuperating from a paralysis of his legs after back surgery. They are in an assisted living complex during his recuperation period which is very comfortable and provides support for Jim as he learns to walk once again, after a period of significant handicap. We are hoping that they will get out to Arizona this winter and that we will be able to share more “quality” time with them after Jim has recovered from this setback. Our group from this era of our lives is dwindling thus, our time together is coveted and special.
After our too short but delightful visit with Ann and Jim we departed Lakeville and made our way into Iowa and an overnight at Spirit Lake.
We are en route to the Black Hills via the Badlands.
