Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

We left Hastings, Michigan a little after 8 this morning. It was cloudy and drizzled on & off all day. We stopped for lunch in Kingsley at the Kingsley Cafe. Wow! What great prices! We ordered our food, hamburger, grilled cheese, fries and two drinks for $11.00. We sat down when some ladies from the Red Hat Society came in. One of the feisty ones told us to move because they wanted our table. Needless to say we were surprised. She told us to go sit in a booth. (It wasn't big enough for 5 people). They wanted our table for their group. The management apologized for their behavior and said that they did not reserve tables. After lunch, we went to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We've heard that it is absolutely beautiful but we couldn't see much. From the top of a huge sand dune, there was a sign warning people not to go down to the bottom because it is costly to get help to get back up to the top and very time consuming to climb back up to the top. It took us longer than we thought to get there because of slow speed limits and foggy conditions. We left there and drove through through the countryside through Traverse City to Acme where we are spending the night. Tomorrow we plan to head south, following the Lake Michigan shore. The weather is supposed to be much better. Today's high was in the low sixties. I apologize for the duplicate picture.

At the Gilmore Museum today

We met back up with Tom, Betty, & Jim at the Gilmore Museum this morning. I had an added bonus when my brother, Tony, sister in law, Sharon & 2 of their 5 boys (Vincent & Spencer) came too. (They only live 30 minutes from the Gilmore & had never been there). The weather was cloudy and threatened rain but there was only a quick shower in the afternoon. The Model A Museum is exceptionally well done. I found some bricks from people I knew in front. My brother & his boys sat in the gnome mobile for a photo. They enjoyed the props. Ray found a pedal car like the one he had when he was little. It was a darker blue though. By the time he outgrew it, it was ready for the scrap pile. The Gilmore staff was gracious and allowed us to drive inside as you can see from the photos. Tomorrow we are heading north to Traverse City. The picture of a horse was across the street from the pub where we ate dinner.

Ray & Teri Family Picnic Dowagiac, MI; Tom, Betty & Jim in Hastings, MI

Ray & Teri spent a lazy morning before were left for the picnic. It was at my brother-in-laws family farm that has been in his family more than 60 years. You will see a picture of it below. There is a 4 generation shot of Bailey, her Mom, Kris, me, & my Mom Peggy. There are also a pictures of a church where the hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross" was first sung, in 1913. There were 4 people in the choir. Tomorrow we will meet Tom, Betty, & Jim at the Gilmore. The Millers & Jim left Flint about 8:30. It was a beautiful cool day. We traveled to Hastings MI and reserved rooms for the group. We then toured around town and had lunch at Richies Cafe. They had a great burger and were nice people. We went to the largest second hand store in the state just down the block. Then we went down to the public park on the Thornapple River. Pretty but mosquitos were everywhere. Then decided to make a run to the Gilmore because it was such a nice day. They were having a steam and tractor event. Jim & Tom went to Charlton Park (a 1840's town - a Michigan historical site). All buildings furnished for living - such as a bank, school, barber, law offices, jail and a stagecoach stop. Last we went to dinner at the Seasonal Grill and of course the evening is not complete without ice cream. This time at Mikes Monster Ice Cream (Mooville - voted best ice cream in Michigan).

Tom, Betty & Jim are in Michigan. Ray & Teri are with family in Indiana

From Tom, Betty, & Jim: Took QEW to Garden City Pakway. Started raining about 10 and rained all day. Had lunch at "The 50's Diner" off TransCanada 402. It was also attached to a huge flea market. It was extremely windy all day. We crossed the border with 3 other Model A's. We found a hotel in Flint and ate at an old favorite of ours- Halo Burger. Laundry tonight! Today was our niece, Tori's wedding. It was also my birthday. It was the first time is many years that I was with my children for my birthday. It was even longer since I have been with my siblings and parents. It was a very nice day. Tomorrow is a cookout with family at my sister's home in Dowagiac. Then we will meet up Monday with Jim, Tom, & Betty at the Gilmore. The night picture is the view from our hotel room of the St. Joseph River. Basell's is Jim's favorite breakfast place in Niagara Falls. The picture of the three of us is Ray & I with our Granddaughter, Bailey.

Made it to Michigan & Last day for Tom, Betty & Jim at Niagara Falls

Ray & Teri left Toledo about 9AM this morning. Weather was cloudy but no rain. We arrived in Michigan in time to have lunch with our daughter, granddaughter, sister, & niece. It was in St. Joseph, MI at an Amtrack Station. AM Track still has a morning and evening train service there The track is just a few feet from the restaurant. The stone depot picture is in our home town of Niles. We are now in South Bend at a hotel overlooking the St. Joseph River. We attended the rehearsal dinner and met the groom. We also met John's friend, Sage. She is a very nice young woman. The guys worked on Jim's car: changed oil & adjusted brakes. Tom & Jim took Betty shopping. They also went to the Niagara Brewery for their free beer samples and had a snack. Next stop was a picture at the Hershey store. Tonight was dinner at Lucky's at the Casino. Neither Jim nor Tom won the overdrive. Tonight they packed up getting ready to leave tomorrow for Michigan. Yesterday Jim lost his keys to his car. He had to break into it, and get a locksmith. Needless to say, it wasn't cheap but now he has extra keys. He found the original keys later that night. The first three pictures are of the car games. Tom & Betty participated. This is the first time that Ray & I did not but we had to leave a day early.

Travel Day for Besch's; Grand Tour Day for Wingo's & Millers

Ray & I left about 9AM for South Bend, IN. We drove about 330 miles on I 90. I was surprised at how many vineyards there were in western New York, Pennsylvania, & Eastern Ohio. We have the over drive now & were able to go about 55 MPH. It started raining after lunch but it wasn't too bad. We are south of Toledo, OH for the night. I am looking forward to seeing family tomorrow and at our nieces wedding on Saturday. We turned over 88,000 miles today. All but about 25,000 are miles that we have put on the car. The Miller's and Wingo's went to the grand tour at the Niagara Falls meet. We will meet them again on Monday morning in Michigan. They ate lunch at Betty's Restaurant. The grand tour was a BBQ, Canadian style. Jim got a second place award. Kimmie flies home tomorrow. She was fun to have around! I hope that she will go on another tour with us.

Lady A's Tour & Touring Class Judging

The guys & Kimmie left at 7AM for the touring class judging. Tom & Ray ended up on a judging team, engine. Jim was on the interior team. The judging was over about 1:30PM. Then it was time for lunch & ice cream, of course. Jim won't know the results for his car until tomorrow night. Betty & I left about 10AM for the Lady A's Tour. About 40 ladies signed up for the tour but only 10 showed up and we waited 15 minutes past the scheduled time to leave. The tour followed the river to a look out where there was a whirlpool. Back when people were going over Niagara Falls in barrels, if a boat did not pick them up at the falls, they picked them up at the whirlpool. We went a little farther to the Flower Clock which has the face of the clock is made from flowers and the hands are metal. I don't know what the face of the clock is in winter. We went on to lunch at a restaurant at a golf course. There were five cars on the Lady's tour. We went less than 10 miles. When we got back, Betty & I drove in circles trying to get back to the hotel parking garage. we had some good laughs about it though. It was complicated because of one way streets and no left turn signs. Tonight we are going to the strawberry social here at the hotel. Tomorrow morning, Ray & I Will leave for South Bend for a family wedding. Tom, Betty, & Jim will stay in Niagara Falls until the end of the meet. (Kimmie will fly home Friday). We will meet up with them at the Gilmore Museum on Monday morning.

Day 25

This morning Betty & I attended the MARC Fashion Seminar. This was one of the best ones. It was about wedding and engagement traditions. They had several era appropriate wedding gowns. There was the start of a wedding ceremony where the bride, groom, father of the bride and attendants/guests walked down the aisle. It was lovely qnd I have posted some pictures. The guys were busy today helping Jim get his car ready for the touring class judging. I said guys but Kimmie did her part too. She painted the bolts at the end of the bumpers. After lunch, I walked a couple of miles to see Horseshoe Falls up close. It is even more impressive than the American Falls. I felt the spray from the falls as I was walking by. Tonight's dinner was a welcome party hosted by CanMARC. The entertainment was a Canadian family of musicians. They were pretty good.