Friday September 26, 2014

Up about 6 to get ready to meet the shuttle to the airport, we met the shuttle with a few others and arrived at the airport in good time. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 8:50 - it was on time. Mary Lynn had advised us (gave strict orders)  prior to leaving home to pack light - one soft carry on each. We were able to accommodate her request (demand) until we picked up the Peanut Butter and the coffee beans. We checked on the piece of luggage with the peanut butter and put the coffee in a carry on pack sack. We checked in, received our flight passes and then off to the security check. They pulled the pack sack aside and called us over. That was also uneventful - so far so good.

Off we went, Allan clarified with me what gate we were to be at for boarding, I checked my ticket which indicated A 26 North Terminal. Off we went. We were told to be at our gate 20 min prior to boarding, we had over an hour so we stopped for coffee and a beagle, had a bathroom brake and then it was 20 min prior to boarding. No sweat, gate 26 was just down the hall on our right - piece of cake. Off we went with light luggage in tow to gate 26. The day was going  good - when we arrived at gate 26 there was something going on and it was not a welcoming for passengers going from Detroit to St. Louis! Allan asked an airport employee what was happening, he said "I would be very surprised if you flight is leaving from this gate." He suggested- " Perhaps you should check your boarding pass Mam.

Holy crap!  Allan gave me that "You are soooo lucky murder is illegal" look , Yes you are right - what is a vacation without an adventure - Anne goofed - our tickets said "Gate 261 South Terminal".Oh S--t! Now we are on the run - upstairs to the tram, caught it and off we went. We exited the capsule and ran to Gate 261 - we made it in time - they had already called our names over the PA, and the staff at the boarding gate were very happy to see their last loading passengers going aboard.

Due to a fire at Chicago International we were about 10 minutes delayed from take-off - a short wait while they redirected our flight around Chicago airspace. Our flight arrived safely and we met up with Greg and Mary Lynn at passenger pickup, so glad we bought the cell phone. Soon we were on our way to do some shopping, sight seeing and lunch.

We arrived at Alton Marina and the Fracas - I hope this goes well. Allan and I have never spent any more that a short period of time on a boat let alone possibly 2 weeks! Our first treat was a short trip to the pool where we relaxed in a hot sun and temperatures in the high 80's. That set the mood,  we are looking forward to a wonderful 2 weeks!

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Our hotel boasts over 300 rooms and

the longest hallway in Michigan!

At 6:45 in the morning there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

The lightest we have ever travelled - seems weird not having bags and bags of luggage.

 

 

Greg is keeping a daily blog of their voyages, check them out at www.fracas42.com and track their trip.

 

 

50 years ago today Allan and I were formally introduced by Bill Moggy and Gordy Viney at a Sandfield Saturday Night Dance. Yikes how time flys!!!

Thursday September 25, 2014

This morning we awoke to another beautiful day - I can not believe the weather temperature, it was  in the high 70's  yesterday and they area predicting the same for today.
 
The first item on our to-do list today was to purchase a cell phone we can use while in the US, so we went to a Verizon outlet where we found a pleasant young man by the name of Manny who found an inexpensive phone and plan that will work for us during our time here. We then met up with Terry, Shirley's daughter and Great Granddaughter Ariana and had lunch at the Alibi. The food is sooooo gooood there! Following lunch we set the gps with the address of our hotel, the Magnuson Hotel at 8230 Merriman Rd. in Romulus.

 http://www.roomstays.com/hotel/1001910?gclid=COn5ufPPmMECFfLm7AodVVgABQ  and park and fly is just across the street, $35.00 a week.

We had a non eventful trip to Romulus, registered at our hotel and later went for dinner at Leonardo's just down the street. Dinner came with a 10% off discount if you showed your hotel card. The food was excellent! I am hoping that Mary Lynn serves diet food, I am going to weigh a ton when I get home if I keep eating like I have in the last two days.

The hotel is not the ritz but it was clean and a great place to stay if  you are a) saving for retirement or b) saving to extend your retirement.

Here we are at the Alibi, one happy looking group!

Those pizzas were as delicious as they look. 

 

 

Dinner here was delicious, highly recommended if you are ever in the area.

Wednesday September 24, 2014

This trip it taking us to St. Louis, Mo to meet with Mary Lynn , Allan's sister and her husband Greg. They are taking their sail boat south and have invited us to join them on a portion of the trip from St. Louis to Pickwick Lake, Kentucky/Tennessee border, which will take approximately two weeks.

We left home early as usual, 6:00 a.m., a bit foggy in places but not too bad. Because of the time of day it was still dark when we crossed the bridge at Little Current.  Our first stop as always is at Tim Horton's in Espanola for coffee and beagles.

Along the north shore the fog was still heavy with a few light patches, however we were fortunate to get a few spots with the sun shining through making the fall colours gorgeous. Oh, what great memories this section of the trip brings back. Logan was born on Sept 28th, 19 short years ago and the colours that year were stunning! What a colourful show for the joyous welcoming of a special little person into this world.

Our next stop was in the Canadian Soo to purchase Kicking Horse coffee for Greg and Mary Lynn, I had no idea that there are at least 10 different types of coffee under their name, like Smart Ass, Kick Ass, Half Ass, Grizzly Claw, Hoooodo and the crazy name list goes on. Mary Lynn says it is definitely "Wake Me Up Coffee". The second purchase was Kraft Peanut Butter. Two items which should cause some suspicion going through security at the airport.

We crossed the bridge at the Soo at 10:25 - making good time considering we stopped in Espanola and the Soo for what seemed like short periods of time but they probably took close to an hour in total. About an hour later we stopped at Mackinaw City for lunch and then continued our way to Troy Michigan where we stopped to visit and spend the night with Shirley Hull.




Following are  some pics taken during the day.

We stopped at a lookout just before the Mackinaw Bridge. 


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Quite a nice little park and rest stop

 

 

Some of the area history

 

 

 

We crossed the famous Mackinaw bridge

 

 

and drove into Mackinaw city

 

 

 

to have lunch at our favourite stop - Dixie's Saloon

 

Some of the colour we saw on the way to Troy, a little less each mile we travelled South.

We arrived at Shirley's at about 5 p.m. and then went out for dinner at Azteca, a little Mexican restaurant not too far from her place. Great food and the Sol cerveza is nice and cold.