Downtown Midland MI (9/25/12)

Vickie said she was sure I would want to take photos of the Midland County Courthouse. The courthouse??

She was right. Built in 1925, this building is unique and interesting. I hope you can read the plaque that tells a bit of its history and how material developed by Dow Chemical from that brine they extracted from underground was used to make "plastic mosaic". Ground glass rather than sand was used in the stucco and is what gives the color and sparkle to the murals.

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After going through the metal security check ("no weapons allowed in Midland County Courthouse"), we walked through to have a look inside.

We biked over to see the Tridge -- a trio of bridges joined together to cross where the Chippewa Ans Tittabawassee Rivers converge. I have never seen anything like this -- I am sure it is one of a kind. The parks on each side invite you to stay a while and enjoy the river views. It is very difficult to get a photo that really shows these bridges. I tried, but you have to be there I think.

A friend emailed me an aerial view he found on line

 

Our day soon ended and we needed a coffee/tea and crumpets stop. And so we did. This full day of adventure was done and we headed home for dinner prepared by Vickie -- with cherry pie baked by her Dad (he was quick to say, with a shy smile, "it's a frozen pie"). Delicious.

 

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Dow Country (9/25/12)

We did so much today!

The is Dow (Of Dow Chemicals) country. On our morning walk around Vickie's Dad's property we also hiked over some of Dow land. We learned that brine was the start of it all. They mined brine from the underlying sea bed that makes up this land area and that started the manufacture of their chemicals.

It is obvious that Dow was and is a big part of Midland as the world headquarters is here. There is Dow Diamond, the baseball field, and the statue of Mr. Dow; there are places with "chemical" names like CaFe Zinc and H hotel; there is Chemical Bank; and there is this line up of monuments in the park.

 

Vickie's Dad worked at Dow for 35 years, and during that time he built the family house -- I mean he built the house -- in his "spare time", and was a hobbiest farmer/rancher with 12 head of cattle, a few farm animals like chickens and a horse, and wheat fields and apple orchards taking up only a part of his 60 acres. He didn't start out with 60 acres but with hard work and dedication, and encouraging support from his wife, he acquired his dream.

 

As mentioned, our morning began with a walk around the property. We followed the wooded path through the pines and other growth as we traced Vickie's childhood steps to some of her long remembered happy past. The Chippewa River runs right behind Dad's house, and this trail took us to another part of the river where there is a unique canoe/kayak dock, built to assist people with a disability to launch their boat. Hard to describe, and a photo does not do it but you can see the structure next to where Vickie is sitting. We stopped there for a breather and Vickie pointed put the beginning of her Dad's property down the river --- see where the trees sort of end and a field begins -- kind of hard to see in this photo, but that is his property (we are on Dow property which abutts his).

The sassafras tree has three different leaves on it

 

This has gotten to be a rather long post -- I did say we did a lot today -- so I will do it in two parts, and will post Part 2 tomorrow morning.

 

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A week in Michigan September 2012

I am embarking on another adventure. My friend Vickie is spending two months visiting with her dad in Midland, MI and has invited some friends to join her if they wish. Once I heard there were bicycling opportunities, and a canoe trip, and fall colors, how could I pass up such a generous offer? Our friend Gerry is joining me for the trip and we are flying there and back together.

An additional benefit for me is that I do not need to take my bike with me as Vickie has a spare one to lend me. It is a Bike Friday that I think has some different set ups and components from mine so there may be a learning curve. Gerry will be renting a bike. I am sorry that Susan cannot join me this time (wage slave that she remains), but I cooked up enough food to get her through most of the days that I am gone. In exchange she has agreed to take my Bike Friday in for a full tune up and check over. Good trade I think.

Gerry and I took the commuter train from Mukilteo station (Gerry took the ferry from her home on Whidbey Island and I took the bus from home to the station) to Seattle for the Link train that would bring us to the airport. A great way to get there if your flight time coordinates. Ours does, so we are through the inspection and at our gate. We board in an hour and I just wanted to update here before we take off. Most likely my next post will be tomorrow as we get into Saginaw (where Vickie will pick us up) late tonight.

Hope you who read and follow me will check back and follow me again. ;'-)

 

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Last day at Lake James

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Woke up to rain this morning. So there were indoor activities like "Mexican Train", reading, blogging, playing Candy Land, napping.

By mid morning the sun was peeking through the clouds and the rain had stopped. I took myself on the bike ride around the lake again, solo. I used Sally's bike this time, and even though I had raised the seat as far as it would go, it was too small and so not very comfortable. I still enjoyed my ride, but the low saddle height was starting to cause pain in my knee. So I slowed down on even the smallest of hills to guard my knees.

We will have our evening dinner together and then start our packing for tomorrow's departure for the airport. It will be a little difficult to leave this little paradise, and to say goodbye to everyone. As they say -- parting is indeed such sweet sorrow...

More than likely this will be my final post for this adventure, but I will be back for my next adventure near the end of September. Come back then ;'-)

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Continuing at Lake James

Saturday, August 18, 2012

I, of course, was wanting a bike ride in North Carolina which would make the 18th state I have biked in.

Four others were up for it so we did a circumnavigation around the Lake. It was a cloudy and cool mid morning which made for good riding weather. Slightly past the half way point we did get rained on, but soon we were out of the shower and on dry road where the rain had apparently missed.

We passed an old and abandoned dairy farm, and though we got only a few of glimpses of the lake, we were surrounded by trees and forest.

 

Once home and fed, the weather lightened up and we enjoyed more play in the water.

 

 

 

The hot tub felt great after this (once again) full and active day. And THEN the delicious, mouth watering, expertly prepared barbecued pork, corn on the cob, cole slaw and baked beans dinner!!! Our hosts are gracious and generous, and we so appreciate it all.

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Lake James, North Carolina

Thursday and Friday, August 16 & 17, 2012

After riding the Virginia Creeper Trail we stopped in the (rather exquisite) town of Blowing Rock for dinner. We may have been a little under dressed in our cycling togs, but no one seemed to care, and most of the diners were also casually dressed. We had a delicious meal, and Susan, Sally and Jessica enjoyed a "Damn That's Good" Southern Comfort cocktail concoction.

Dinner time got us to Sally's house in the late of the evening and soon we were heading for bed.

In the morning it was time to enjoy the lake!

 

Not only is it beautiful, but the water is warm! Coming from Seattle where water temp is anywhere from 60 to 72ish degrees (depending if in the Sound or Lake Washington), Lake James feels almost like bath water at 85 degrees.

We kayaked about 5 miles to and from the State Park across the lake, and into a cove for some fly fishing -- for guess who. The hotdog stand provided our lunch before the paddle back home. *Then* we swam for a while in the delightful waters before showering and preparing for dinner. What a fine day.

Late that night (Thursday) more family arrived (Mary, Sarah, Jeremy, Jaydon, Lucie), and cousin Jay would soon arrive to round out the clan.

Each found their activity of choice on Friday morning -- swim and play in the lake, a long walk around the area, reading and snoozing on the porch, hot tubbing, a mini bike ride, and catching up with (and reminiscing about) family stories. Will try to get photos of lake play for the next day.

 

It is so nice here -- and so relaxing. Everyone is having the very best time!

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