Category Archives: Pictures of the Adventure

Photos of our travels and stops along the way

On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure, The Adventure

Westward Ho!

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The journey continues – next up was Wilmar, Minnesota. We were stopping to see some long-time (and long-time since we’d seen them) SOWER friends, Bill & Carole. They graciously opened their guest cottage (aka their motor home) for us and we enjoyed  two nights of good conversation and rest! Those catch-our-breath days were so needed! In fact, there were very few pictures taken between a fuzzy picture of the Minnesota state sign when we crossed the border

and then a quick selfie as we bid a fond farewell!

But they did take us on a lovely drive through their corner of the world, which combined farmland and beautiful lakes, but you’ll just have to take my word on that.
There was this one sign that caught my eye when we were entering a busy limited access highway –

I’m used to seeing those buggy signs (and buggies) on two lane roads in many different areas of the country, but I must confess I was a bit alarmed that I’m being cautioned to watch for buggies on a four-lane highway!!
Oh my – wouldn’t that be a sight!

(picture courtesy of ChatGPT!)

Our Minnesota sojourn was quiet but quite lovely!! I do wish I’d taken more pictures, but my heart still remembers fondly our time there!

Next up – the missing hole in our travel map!
Till next time!
Steph

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Family and Friends, On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure, The Adventure

Upper Peninsula Revisited

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We’d “done” the Upper Peninsula of Michigan before, but that was 20 years ago and, my, we’ve slept many times since then. It definitely seemed like it was time to refresh our memories.  There was also one thing I had really wanted to do while we were up that way -taking the Picture Rocks Cruise – but the weather was not at all cooperative during our time there. So this seemed like the perfect time to finish out that little bit of tourist history and get that boat ride under our belt. So, after we bid our dear family in Muskegon good-bye, we headed north with the Mackinac Bridge in our sites!
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We spent just two days traveling across the UP, but still managed to fit in some beautiful scenery and fun stops. Our first stop was the Kitch-iti-kipi (The Big Spring), a little hidden gem along the way. As the largest natural spring in Michigan, it was very interesting and well worth the stop.
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We rode the manually operated ferry to the other side,
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and marveled at the crystal clear water and the ability to see those thousands of gallons of water entering the spring!
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Our next stop was a little hike to Wagner Falls, which was lovely and well within our 20 years older, hiking regimen.
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By the end of the day we were up in Munising, and anticipating our sunset Pictured Rocks cruise!
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We were not alone!! But the weather was perfect, the boat ride was smooth, and the rock formations fabulous!
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Here’s a little slide show of some of the pictures I took-

We so glad we took the time to revisit the Upper Peninsula – it was well worth the extra days and extra miles! Here are a couple of links from our visit there in 2005 –
Pictures from the UP
Another Day in the UP
and
Camping on Lake Superior –

There have been many changes in the last 20 years – but maybe the most noticeable are the changes in us!

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Who are those kids on the left???

Next up – Wisconsin!

Thanks for stopping by!
Steph

PS – Real time Update – We’ve arrive HOME!!!

There are still more travel stories to share, but we’re so thankful for a safe return to our Little Lindale House!

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Family and Friends, Pictures of the Adventure, The Adventure

On to Michigan

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Michigan was great! Not only were we able to connect with friends we’ve met during our travels, but we were also able to visit with and help out my niece with a house project. So let’s start at the beginning.

We started our Michigan sojourn in Holland – reconnecting with friends we’d met down in the Florida Keys.
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Though short, it was still great to see these guys! And it was a sweet start to our time in Michigan.
Next up with the renovation project at my niece’s home in Muskegon. It presented a little bit of a conundrum because their home was small, and there were no beds available for us. I’m happy to report that SOWERs came to the rescue! We contacted SOWER friends who lived nearby(ish) and asked if we could stay with them while we worked in Muskegon. Yes, they said – come!! So while our days were full of dry wall and little boys, our evenings were full of feet-up, kickback conversation. It was a great combo!
But about that renovation! The object was to take this room (which already had its dividing wall removed)
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and get it closer to being the home office that they needed!
It was a big job, but with lots of help – it moved right along!
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(Start ’em young!)
Our SOWER host even came one day to help out with the ceiling – and what a help that was!
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With Bethany at work, and the guys busy with power tools, my job was to keep the younguns’ busy! That job included (but was not limited to) Skipbo, Phase 10, Rummicub, Crazy Uno, a jigsaw puzzle, the local (fabulous) library, and long walks around the neighborhood.
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By the end of the week, it wasn’t quite ready for furniture, but it was ready for trim and paint!
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To celebrate the progress – we took a lovely walk to the Muskegon Lake waterfront

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so the boys could get in a bit of fishing!

It was a great week, helping out this precious family,

but also spending time with some of our SOWER family. Aside from spending time with Tim & Ginger
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we also joined another 12 SOWER couples for a “Bring Your Own Picnic” picnic one day –

and had dinner out with others in our SOWER family before we left town!

Western Michigan was grand! It was filled with friends and family, some good work, and lots of good play! I think we might need to do it again sometime! =)
Next up is the Upper Peninsula – still Michigan, but in a class (and post) of its own!
Thanks for stopping by!
Steph

PS – Here is a link to more of the Muskegon Project if you’d like!

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Family and Friends, On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure, The Adventure

The Journey Continues

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(We’re still hanging out in SD, but in an effort to continue chronologically from this post …)

After our wonderful time at the Cabin, we turned our truck north – to beautiful upstate NY, not far from the St. Lawrence River. Joe & Kim are dear friends whom we met through SOWERs, and it’s always sweet to spend time with them at their little cabin in the woods.
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We were just there for a couple of days, but it was a treat to be able to catch up with them!

It wasn’t long, though, before we were once again on our way –

this time, headed to the NW corner of New York and a day trip into Toronto to see our Canadian family.
Since we knew that crossing into Canada with our trailer would be a hassle, we checked with a SOWER project in the area to see about accommodations and being able to leave our trailer there for the day.
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Thankfully, it all worked out, and soon we were on our way to Toronto.
First – Niagara-
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then on to Toronto!
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We love these guys (my Dad’s second wife and her family), but I must confess I’m not a big fan of navigating Toronto!
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But we’re so glad we were able to make the trip. Jo turns 94 at the end of this year, so each visit is more precious than the one before!
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Back in the states by the end of the day, and early the next morning we were on our way west – Destination: Michigan!
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And so the journey continues…
Steph

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Family and Friends, On the Road, Pictures of the Adventure, The Adventure

Resting

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Hello! Since I last updated this corner of the internet, we’ve been in upstate NY, Toronto, Michigan, the Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and now South Dakota!  That’s about 3500 miles, and included family, friends, building projects, bucket lists, and 13 different beds.  Phew!

So we are sitting still for just a bit, enjoying the hospitality of our good friends Don & Jenny in Howard, SD. It’s especially quiet here at the moment since they are currently in “the cities” (Minneapolis/St. Paul) for a couple of days and we’re essentially home alone. We’re in charge of tending to the cats – both inside –
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(she’s welcome all the way inside, but she’s a little leery of these new folks (us!). I was lucky she wasn’t hiding!)
and outside –
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(These two are a little easier to locate!)
keeping the jelly station full for the Orioles
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and the sunflower seeds in ready supply for the goldfinches and other visiting birds!
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With all of the busyness of the last month, these quiet watching-the-birds type of days are just what we need.  Gary is keeping busy with some wood projects
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and today he broke out the mower!
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(if you can zoom in, you might be able to see Gary at the very end of the runway. Yes, it’s an actual grass runway for their 49 Stinson plane you might’ve spotted in the first mower picture!)
Aside from my mini-livestock chores, I’ve managed to get the checkbook balanced, checked my credit card statements along with other life chores, and now (finally) doing some blog catch-up! This is our last official stop on our Sofa Surfing Summer before we head home to Texas (where it is still blazing hot), and our departure date is TBD. In the meantime, we’re taking each day as it comes – breathing deep and enjoying these quiet moments. And praising God for the wonderful connections we’ve made throughout the summer while looking forward to what He has ahead for us!
Thanks for stopping by –
Steph

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