Saturday, July 30, 2016
Barb's Memorial and Harsen's Island
Today we skirted through the showers of Detroit and into the overcast without rain of Marysville. We arrived at the Riverlawn Cemetery to pay our final respects to Aunt Barbara. The whole family was there as were a lot of friends from the local area. She was laid to rest in the Hardman plot. This cemetery is on the St Clair River, and adjacent to the golf course which my grandpa played at so much. Coincidence?
A reception was held at the Marysville United Methodist Church, which I can remember accompanying my proud grandmother to church to on Sunday's. Also, passed the Marysville Park which we spent so much time in as kids. Shea totally knew the area, and also coincidentally, had spent time in the same park with OUR grandpa.
The whole family was pleased to meet Shea and his family, especially since he is such a personable guy.
After the small reception, we all took the river route through St Clair and Marine city down to Harsen's Island. This island is only serviced by a ferry, and no bridge, so adventure was immediate!
Shea acted as our seasoned tour guide, and gave an impassioned tour since there is no place he loves as much as Harsen's island.
The highlight was our grandparent's old lot, and Shea explained his childhood there, as well as who all the neighbors were back in the day.
Dinner at San Sousi, nicknamed the "Sewer" where Shea caught up with a waitress friend, who was also friends with our mother, and when introduced, she said , "she had always known about me"
Another long day of Michigan family fun!
A reception was held at the Marysville United Methodist Church, which I can remember accompanying my proud grandmother to church to on Sunday's. Also, passed the Marysville Park which we spent so much time in as kids. Shea totally knew the area, and also coincidentally, had spent time in the same park with OUR grandpa.
The whole family was pleased to meet Shea and his family, especially since he is such a personable guy.
After the small reception, we all took the river route through St Clair and Marine city down to Harsen's Island. This island is only serviced by a ferry, and no bridge, so adventure was immediate!
Shea acted as our seasoned tour guide, and gave an impassioned tour since there is no place he loves as much as Harsen's island.
The highlight was our grandparent's old lot, and Shea explained his childhood there, as well as who all the neighbors were back in the day.
Dinner at San Sousi, nicknamed the "Sewer" where Shea caught up with a waitress friend, who was also friends with our mother, and when introduced, she said , "she had always known about me"
Another long day of Michigan family fun!
A Day of Detroit
First stop this morning was Dylan's follow up podiatrist visit, which went well, and no problems were noted, a relief to send him off to MMI without ingrown toenails.
Kelly made us a fantastic breakfast at their home, and we mostly relaxed mid day.
Later in the afternoon, we packed up and headed out for our Detroit adventure. First stop was Ferndale, and Station No. 1. That is Shea's station, and we had an exciting time as the fire truck with the huge ladder and bucket was driven out, and we all got to go up 10 stories to view the Detroit city scape from a heightened perch! Ryan and Rachel even got to operate the bucket from the control stand.
Next, the kids had all been interested in seeing Eminem's studio, and stomping ground as that is what they think of when thinking of Detroit. Shea gave us an insightful and interesting tour of the areas as we transited from Ferndale, over to the 8 mile area, and subsequently downtown.
Made a quick stop at Sound 54, Slim Shady's original studio, and got the requisite pics for social media.
Our highlight of the day was to have a grand Tiger fan, Shea, take us to a Tigers game. But first, we stopped in the classic stop of Elwood's. Then we walked over to Greek Town and enjoyed a true Greek dinner at the Golden Fleece. The dinner started off with the flaming cheese, and most of us had the best gyros ever!
See photos of the game, as our kids and family enjoyed their first ever MLB game and what better company than Shea, Kelly, and Cassidy. Shea's Uncle Tim was the usher in one section over, and of course the Tigers putting the hurt on the Astros only made it a great night.
Kelly made us a fantastic breakfast at their home, and we mostly relaxed mid day.
Later in the afternoon, we packed up and headed out for our Detroit adventure. First stop was Ferndale, and Station No. 1. That is Shea's station, and we had an exciting time as the fire truck with the huge ladder and bucket was driven out, and we all got to go up 10 stories to view the Detroit city scape from a heightened perch! Ryan and Rachel even got to operate the bucket from the control stand.
Next, the kids had all been interested in seeing Eminem's studio, and stomping ground as that is what they think of when thinking of Detroit. Shea gave us an insightful and interesting tour of the areas as we transited from Ferndale, over to the 8 mile area, and subsequently downtown.
Made a quick stop at Sound 54, Slim Shady's original studio, and got the requisite pics for social media.
Our highlight of the day was to have a grand Tiger fan, Shea, take us to a Tigers game. But first, we stopped in the classic stop of Elwood's. Then we walked over to Greek Town and enjoyed a true Greek dinner at the Golden Fleece. The dinner started off with the flaming cheese, and most of us had the best gyros ever!
See photos of the game, as our kids and family enjoyed their first ever MLB game and what better company than Shea, Kelly, and Cassidy. Shea's Uncle Tim was the usher in one section over, and of course the Tigers putting the hurt on the Astros only made it a great night.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Muskie day in MI
Up and out very early and drove to downtown Detroit, through the hood of East Detroit. At the end of the road was a house with a "marina" in the back. There's where we met out guide for our Lake St. Clair fishing trip, Capt. Steve. He took us out a very old canal, which was most certainly once a grand neighborhood before the crash in Detroit, where we joined the Detroit River just north of Belle Isle. We headed out to the North, and found ourselves in the Lake. After a short motor in the wind chop, happily overcast and breezy day, we cast our lines.
Capt Steve had quite an "outrigger" set up. A reel on each side of his boat was wound with weed whacker line. From that he let out a sled, called planer boards, two parallel floats that he ran 5 lines off of from each side for a total of 10. Quite impressive.
So, we had 10 lines out with either a large diving plug, or a spinner bait with large skirts.
Within a short while, Dylan reeled in his first fish, which was in the neighborhood of 35", and proclaimed a small Muskie by our guide. We each proceeded to catch a Muskie throughout the 6 hour glorious day.
I never thought I'd land a Muskie, and to be out on a glorious summer day with my brother and 2 sons defies an explanation to do it justice. Self explanatory photos follow:
Capt Steve had quite an "outrigger" set up. A reel on each side of his boat was wound with weed whacker line. From that he let out a sled, called planer boards, two parallel floats that he ran 5 lines off of from each side for a total of 10. Quite impressive.
So, we had 10 lines out with either a large diving plug, or a spinner bait with large skirts.
Within a short while, Dylan reeled in his first fish, which was in the neighborhood of 35", and proclaimed a small Muskie by our guide. We each proceeded to catch a Muskie throughout the 6 hour glorious day.
I never thought I'd land a Muskie, and to be out on a glorious summer day with my brother and 2 sons defies an explanation to do it justice. Self explanatory photos follow:
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Family Day in Michigan
First item of the day was fitness. I was up at 6:30 for my long run, which was planned at 9 miles. Shea's circle street is just over .5 miles, so I set out around and around. At 17 laps, the GPS read 9.6 miles, and I called it quits. Got inside to retrieve Rebecca and Dylan and we went to Shea's gym, the Powerhouse Gym, which rocked.
After returning home to Shea's we got our stuff packed up and headed off to Don and Mel's to introduce Shea to the PLETCHER side of the family.
Eric and my mom were there as were the Don and Mel Pletchers, Tom and Mary PLETCHER, Fred and Mikie Varin, Also, of course, Dave Carlson and Audrey and Brandon. It was a great time, and awesome to have Shea and Kelly welcomed by my family! The horses were a big hit with everyone, especially Cassidy and Rachel, So nice for Aunt Mel to put this together, in their little farm homestead in Williamston, just outside of Lansing!
After returning home to Shea's we got our stuff packed up and headed off to Don and Mel's to introduce Shea to the PLETCHER side of the family.
Eric and my mom were there as were the Don and Mel Pletchers, Tom and Mary PLETCHER, Fred and Mikie Varin, Also, of course, Dave Carlson and Audrey and Brandon. It was a great time, and awesome to have Shea and Kelly welcomed by my family! The horses were a big hit with everyone, especially Cassidy and Rachel, So nice for Aunt Mel to put this together, in their little farm homestead in Williamston, just outside of Lansing!
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
The family on the Huron River
A pristine day of canoeing and kayaking in the beautiful waters of Michigan's Huron River:
Michigan days
Last trip of our July vacation is to Detroit to visit Shea and family. We started out early yesterday, and after a rough start of some screaming and a return to home we did make it to MCO airport, and subsequently on our 2 flights to Michigan. Shea and Cassidy were there to meet us, and all the cousins got along famously. Cass seemed excited to see her older cousins, and it was very cool to spend time with my brother.
We spent the afternoon laying pretty low, after travel fatigue, and a very early morning on the first day of our travels, however, we did make it out to a local lake, and the Florida kids swam in some true Michigan fresh waters!
Next day, Reb and I were up for a morning run, and Dylan's ingrown toenail finally got to a point where he really needed some attention. Luckily, Shea called his doc, and through a referral, we got Dylan into a podiatrist, and the nail was cut in a "straight back" procedure, and he took a look at the cut out nail, to view the "spicule" that had been growing into his toe. We had been concerned about this, since Dylan is starting at MMI in 2 short weeks, and this is his last push for fitness.
After podiatrist visit, we loaded up the whole crew for a great paddle down the Huron River, and some fun outdoor sights and fun on the water.
Shea and Kelly are truly rolling out the red carpet for us, and we have enjoyed their families company, and the pleasant Michigan summer days. A highlight this evening was to head out to the Dairy Twist, a truly American Midwest phenomena.
We spent the afternoon laying pretty low, after travel fatigue, and a very early morning on the first day of our travels, however, we did make it out to a local lake, and the Florida kids swam in some true Michigan fresh waters!
Next day, Reb and I were up for a morning run, and Dylan's ingrown toenail finally got to a point where he really needed some attention. Luckily, Shea called his doc, and through a referral, we got Dylan into a podiatrist, and the nail was cut in a "straight back" procedure, and he took a look at the cut out nail, to view the "spicule" that had been growing into his toe. We had been concerned about this, since Dylan is starting at MMI in 2 short weeks, and this is his last push for fitness.
After podiatrist visit, we loaded up the whole crew for a great paddle down the Huron River, and some fun outdoor sights and fun on the water.
Shea and Kelly are truly rolling out the red carpet for us, and we have enjoyed their families company, and the pleasant Michigan summer days. A highlight this evening was to head out to the Dairy Twist, a truly American Midwest phenomena.
Sunday, July 17, 2016
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