Totally great day!

September 5 – Rain AGAIN all night.  I am getting no sleep!  It was overcast but dry when we got up and we managed to get out by 9.  I had to stop at the office and send a fax for the RV tech in Muskegon to the warranty company that is being a pain.  There wasn’t anyone there who knew how to send a fax so had to stop by on the way back home and got it sent.

Traverse City Bay

Before heading out of Traverse City I had Bill stop at the marina/park area of the Traverse City Bay so I could get some photos before the rains started up.  Good thing we did as there was rain on and off in different areas and for sure I’d have been stuck in it.  I did take my new rain jacket and tested it today and it works!  Also got to use my inside pockets and outside zipper pocket before heading off to Ireland with it later this month.

We only managed to see 2 lighthouses today.  Better than none, but they were far and no 4 lane roads or fast speeds.  The first was in Northport along the west coast of the Traverse City bay.  The Grand Traverse Lighthouse was in a state park so we had to pay $9 to enter the park and the only thing there IS the lighthouse.  The attendant that collected our money said it didn’t open until noon so we told her we’d just take photos as we weren’t going to wait an hour or more to go in.  Duh, it was open at 10 but they charge

Grand Traverse
Lighthouse

another $5 each to go in so we didn’t do that.  It was starting to drizzle again and the waves were stirring up.  I did get some nice photos and my passport stamp.  We talked with the lady in the gift shop and you can volunteer for 1 or 2 weeks there and you live in the lighthouse.  They have 2 couples at a time that share the space.  This lady and her sister were staying with their spouses.  They get a day off each week and work 10 – 4 in the gift shop and just doing light chores around to keep things looking clean and fresh.  They are planning to come back next year!  I would LOVE to stay in one but they don’t allow pets and Molly  is never left behind.

The drive was beautiful with orchards and vineyards all along the way.  Lots of serve yourself fruit and vegetable stands along the way.  Many beautiful houses along the shores and tons of sailboats moored. 

Mission Point Lighthouse

The second lighthouse was on the other side of the bay on the peninsular point.  Again the road was only 2 lane but the drive is either viewing the water or lush green areas of orchards and vineyards.  This light house was Mission Point.  It was just starting to drizzle when we parked as our luck would have it.

We stopped for lunch at the Jolly Pumpkin complex.  It’s a restaurant, tasting room, brewery and gift shop.  We were starved and only interested in food.  We were seated right away but the place was filling up fast.  It was really nice inside with a high ceiling in the main area and an upstairs or tables around most of the room.  It was a little pricey for the volume of food but excellent.  Bill had a BLT and I had a Rocket Salad with arugula, fried parsnips, Stilton cheese, apples, spiced walnuts and a champagne vinaigrette dressing.  It was delicious.  They bring an appetizer of fresh made potato chips with a special seasoning on them and a little bowl of dip.  I didn’t care for the dip but the chips were great!

On the way back we stopped at several unattended fruit and vegetable stands looking for

View from the tasting room

peaches or plums.  I thought the prices were high.  I did buy 2 nice slicing tomatoes at one stand and later a peck size bag of peaches that weren’t too bad.  Of course Bill ate one as soon as I got back in the car. We stopped at a vineyard on the way back and it had an amazing view of the vineyard and bay.  I wasn't in the mood for a tasting but I did get some nice photos.  We passed field after field of grapes on the vines.  Some were purple and some were white. They drape netting along the bottom of the vines where the  grapes are to keep the birds off until harvesting time. 

Some grapes sneeked out from
under the netting.

Time to head home and check on Molly and relax a while until it’s time to meet Sharon and Sam for dinner.  Pretty much we read and I did some posting and before we knew it, it was time to head out.  Of course by then the rains started but wasn’t too bad for driving.  We arrived just before Sam and Sharon and  it was so good to see them.  I told her this was crazy to have to meet over 1,000 miles from home when we’re 15 miles apart when we’re home.  We had not seen them in I think 2 years or so.  Dinner was great and we took a long time visiting before we even ordered and then after dinner they invited us to follow them to their place.  They live in a beautiful RV Resort and have a super nice lot right on a little lake/pond area with a fountain.  Their landscaping is gorgeous too.  It was raining so we ended up inside and visited at least another hour.  We invited them to join our club at the November Eustis rally and they are considering it.  I think they miss everyone and will enjoy seeing those they don’t get to see much now.

What a great day we had today, other than some rain, it was a really good day!