Oh Canada!

Fabulous trip to Canada.  Left Port Huron and headed into Ontario to Sarnia.  Went north along the lake and had a wonderful time.

                             About to cross the Blue Water Bridge into Canada from Port Huron.

Bienvenue au Canada

This is what I found....an oasis on a very long (5 mile) hike. A little café on the shore of Lake Huron.  A Molson Canadian...good beer and a few band-aids for a few blisters from my hiking boots.

My view outside the cafe

                      There is going to be a rubber ducky race 8/3! I would love to see that.

I met a lot of nice folks at the Oakridge campground in Kingsville, Ontario

They are with a church group, the Cornerstone Fellowship nearby.  They have

been coming to this campsite for many years during the summer.

 

Me and Pastor Art Hystek.  He is one heck of a guy and quite the singer!

Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows

My new guitar playing friend Shannon and Diane to the right, the song bird at church.

Shannon and I had a great time playing songs together.

Said goodbye to the group. I appreciate you Vicky and Shannon.  Take care and thank you!

 Off to Point Peelee.... the southernmost tip of Canada. 

Here I am with the shuttle driver and tour guide at Point Peelee National Park.

                               I am standing at the very tip of land that extends into Lake Erie

At the next campground, Pleasant Valley in Ontario with my neighbors Jim and Judy.  Their friends joined us for drinks.  It was fabulous.

Judy and I - what a great neighbor!  We instantly became friends.  Look at Jim photo-bombing us.

Jim plays a mean guitar.  Awesome.

 

I am currently in Sandusky, Ohio and heading toward the East Coast. 

 

Love,

 

Laurie

My Day in Port Huron, Michigan

 

My friend Jim and I have know each other since high school.  He and his wife Sandi live in Port Huron.  Sandi calls it "Port o' Pee" because some people call in Port "Urine"....sheesh.  Some people!  Sounds funny though.  Their 15 year old daughter Grace agreed to be my tour guide today...thank you Grace!  We got on the local bus around 11:00 to go sightseeing.  The buses are so nice and air conditioned.  All you have to do is stand outside in front of their house and wave it down!  75 cents gets you downtown and it was only 60 cents for Grace.  We stopped at the Raven restaurant for lunch and I saw this...

 

 

 

Great coffee here.

 Great Lakes Maritime Center

Jim and Sandi's daughter Grace at the Farmer's Market...Bison sold here!

 

This is a drawbridge that is stuck in an upright position.  I call it the "Stuck up Bridge" Ha Ha

                                          Grace and I as we are just about to embark on our
                                          boat tour of Lake Huron on the Huron Lady II

A few nice little summer homes on the lake

My favorite

A Navy vessel

A metal fish sculpture done by the Fine Arts Department at the local community college

This is the Blue Water Bridge leading right into Canada

 

U.S. on one side, Canada on the other.  I will cross this bridge tomorrow.

My new sailboat

 

 

 

The nice sandy beach

Grace and I stopped in and surprised Jim at work.  He is a Master Chef and has been for years.

Jim and his friend and workmate, Derek

Sandi and Jim making good use of the cherries I bought at the Farmer's Market

Adorable

                               

                                       I asked Jim to get on top of the RV and cut away some

                                       of the tree branches to clear a better path for me to exit.

                                       Careful up there Jim!  I asked him about an unfamiliar

                                       vent on the top of the RV and he called it the "Stink Vent."

                                       It happens to be an escape for any noxious fumes that may

                                       develop in the RV poop tank....not that I would produce anything

                                       like that!  I am a lady!  :-/  Sure, Laurie....sure.

                                       I happened to be on the ladder at the time and almost fell

                                       off because I was laughing so hard.  Stink vent....it just sounds so funny.

                              This spot for the RV on the side of the house was perfect and shady!

 

We had some awesome chicken for dinner from "Chicken in the Rough" and wow was it good.

 

Great time at the Turpin Family Home!

 

 

Next.......Canada for a week or so.  I will try to blog if I can borrow a computer - I may be off the grid until next week sometime. Please watch for the next blog around July 30th.

 

Love,

 

Laurie

Not Quite to Michigan! Holy Toledo!

Well, sometimes it is just better to stop.  I was tired and felt like settling in, having dinner and watching a movie tonight.  I stopped just short of Toledo and only have two  more hours driving time until I reach Jim and Sandi's house in Port Huron, Michigan.  I am looking forward to driving around there and exploring the shores of the Great Lakes.

I miss you Cynthia.....I loved spending time at your place.  Tell Scotty I am...."loooooking fooor the trea-sure." Say Hi to Aliyah and please let her know I am reserving a big hug for her when we meet again.

When in Ohio....you can do as they do in the "Buckeye" state.  Here is a recipe that looks like the Ohio equivalent of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, yum:

 

I had a nice drive through the countryside and then I landed here in Perrysburg, Ohio.  I have next door neighbors in this KOA and they are from California.  Another RV'er looked at our license plates and he said...."Looks like y'all got put in the same area...seein' as how yur from Californie." He is adorable.  He is here with his wife and they are enjoying their retirement.

 

I will post some great pictures soon of my adventures in Michigan.

 

Love,

 

Laurie

 

p.s. Hi Diane....I miss you too neighbor!  Let me know how it's going over there in Californie.

Cincy Rocks!

Not only am I having a blast with my cousin Cynthia and her husband Scotty, but I have had some great adventures here.

 

Oh Gnome!!!!  Gnomey was so jealous when he saw this.  There was a party here and he wasn't invited. I have to hand it to Cynthia....that's funny...."Oh Gnome."

 

Here is Cynthia's granddaughter Aliyah.  We are doing a puzzle with me in the RV.

  Success!

 

Aliyah and I are playing "Beauty Parlor"

 

Here is my new hair-do.  It reminds me of a poodle ready for Mumsy to pick up.  I look adorable. :-) Thank you Aliyah.
.

 

Union Terminal in Cincinnati - this is a train terminal that was very active during WWII. Now it has cool museums and activities.  It is also a functioning Amtrak station.

 

Cynthia and I at the Princess Diana exhibit.  It was wonderful. 

 

Here is Cynthia reminiscing about how it felt to use a phone booth.

 

 

 

This is the front of Union Terminal

 

 

 

 

Now we are at the "Buckle Up" Festival - this is Emmy Lou Harris.  She was amazing.

 

 

Gnomey at the edge of the Ohio River near the festival.

 

Paddle boat on the river.

 

Night time on the river.

 

Willie Nelson

 

Here is the guard rail my cousin ran into and crushed just a little a few years ago.......but there was gravel and ice!!!  :-/  Poor, poor Cynthia.  Someone decorated the guard rail with a tire. 

 

Off to Michigan today.

 

Love,

 

Laurie