'Jersey Shore' goes to sea, we go with them

Our final trip of the year was one that almost didn’t happen. When Carnival cancelled our Bahamas cruise a couple months ago we thought our final planned adventure of the year was over. Then Joan went to work on the Internet and found a Norweigan Cruise Line Bahamas trip for the same week.

The Carnival cruise was scheduled to leave out of Baltimore and the Norweigan was leaving New York. Close enough for us. Joan, me, Elin and our niece, re-booked our cruise on the NCL liner “Jewel.” Elin and Jessica booked one inside stateroom on their budgets and Joan and I chose a balcony room.
Bringing a couple from Michigan together with a daughter from Boston and a niece from Baltimore required some serious logistics. First we stopped in Buffalo for a few days with Joan’s mom at the nursing home.

On Saturday, November 13 we headed across New York to Lyndhurst, New Jersey for a night at the Quality Inn. But first we needed to pick up our niece from a bus at 7th Avenue and 31st Street in downtown Manhattan. For a boy from Lapeer, Michigan venturing into the big city on a Friday night at rush hour was no small feat.

We gave ourselves nearly an hour to make what was a 10-mile drive and as it turned out we needed every single minute to make the connection. While I figured that most of the traffic would be leaving the city on a Friday night it turned out way more were trying to get in the city via the same Lincoln Tunnel that we needed to use.

Thanks to our OnStar system we fought our way through construction zone, massive pedestrian and vehicle traffic and arrived just minutes after Jessica at the bus stop. Double parking (flashers on) we threw Jessica’s luggage into the Tahoe, postponed hugs and kisses until later and headed back through the Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey.

Part One of the logistical nightmare was successfully over. We dined at Harold’s Deli at the hotel a place we had eaten years earlier. They sport the World’s Largest “Pickle Bar,” although I don’t know how they would prove that.

Next morning we enjoyed a continental breakfast and started to make our way to the Port of New York about 9:45 a.m. Again, OnStar was flawless in getting us to the cruise port at 12th Avenue and 55th Street in plenty of time to begin the check in process for the cruise.

Elin’s bus from Boston arrived about the same time and we all met at the entrance of the check in lines at the Port.

Part Two of the logistical nightmare was now behind us.

Check in was quick and we sat in the terminal waiting for the final passengers from the previous week’s cruise to depart the ship. About 11:45 we got the word we could board the ship and we officially began our fifth cruise, the first on Norweigan.

Lunch was being served in the Tsar’s Palace Dining Room and we headed there to kill some time until we could get into our staterooms. After lunch we did a little exploring on the ship and then found our rooms about 2 p.m.

Before we get into the nuts and bolts of the trip, let’s just say that a ship leaving from the Port of New York understandably seemed to attract a number of people from the surrounding area, which included New Jersey.

Normally I avoid stereotypes, but the entire cruise and some of the drama aboard seemed to imitate segments of “Jersey Shore.” We started called this the “rude cruise” because of many of the incidents we witnessed for experienced for ourselves. The girls with us even filmed a few of the more egregious ones for a video they call "Poor Parenting."

Don’t even let me get started on a large contingent of French folks who lived up to the stereotype often connected to them. Hard to imagine that just 70 years ago we and the British did our best to keep them from having to learn German as a second language.

We had our drinks knocked over, our chairs pushed around (with us in them) heard about a fight on deck and I witnessed a Jersey guy repeatedly yelling the “f-word” in the Crystal Atrium in front of dozens of passengers because he was angry with his teenage son.

I have many friends who live in and around the New York Metropolitan area who are not like the stereotypes, but unfortunately they were not on this ship.

The Jewel pulled out of port exactly at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, and we began a beautiful cruise down the Hudson River under beautiful skies. The New York skyline was beautiful and made even more so as the sun was setting. Lady Liberty was stunning with the sun setting behind her.

Just to save time later in this story let’s just say that the weather for the entire week was outstanding. The seas were basically calm, the skies clear and blue and we could not have asked for nicer weather all week. (OK, it rained for about an hour in Nassau, but that happened after we finished our shore excursions and were back aboard the ship.) No more weather reports for this entry.

The air cooled quickly as the sun set and after taking pictures of the ship as it passed under the Verizano Bridge we went inside for dinner. Later we went to the “Welcome Aboard Variety Show: Featuring the Comedy & Magic of Jean Pierre Parent.”

Jean Pierre was a very funny comedian who had to contend with the first of many children on the ship who were not under the control of their parents. (Note: Nickelodean brought Spongebob Squarepants and Patrick Star aboard for non-stop photo ops that must have cost parents a small fortune).

Anyway, the child was running around the front of the stage unsupervised which was a major distraction to Jean Parent’s act. “Does this child have a mother?,” Parent asked at one exasperated point. The parents never took the hint.

Tired from the logistics, Joan and I went to bed early and the 20-somethings with us did what 20-somethings do well into the night. They partied.

Monday was a Day at Sea, which I love, and we hung out all day. In the morning I went to the gym and with a view of the ocean as pretty as I’ll ever have walked four miles on the treadmill. Joan and I went to a Latin dance class, which simply reinforced the fact that I have two left feet and a flawed memory. Later Joan tried her luck in the casino while I sat on the balcony and read Volume Four of the Master and Commander Series.

We dressed up for dinner, had nice pictures taken and enjoyed the “Band On the Run” production in the Stardust Theater. Joan and I headed for the stateroom and the girls headed up to the “Dancing with the Jewel Stars” Comedy Dance Competition.

Tuesday was our first port day. We arrived in Port Canaveral at noon and headed ashore for our trip to Kennedy Space Center. The shuttle Discovery flight scheduled the week before had been delayed and we were excited that we were going to see it on the launch pad.

Last spring we visited my high school friend Drew and his wife at a beach front condo in Port Canaveral and took pictures of their place as we entered the port. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to connect with Drew or his wife on this trip.

I’ve been looking forward to this tour for a long time. As a young man I was fascinated with the space program. My childhood heroes were Alan Shepherd (who also coincidentally was an officer aboard the USS Cogswell years before I served on her), John Glenn and Neil Armstrong. Riding on the bus to the Mercury/Gemini launch pad I was in awe.

Cape Canaveral had always had a magic place in my heart and there I was on the grounds. Even as an older man it was hard to hide my excitement. We then went to the Apollo/Saturn V Center, where we toured the original Apollo launch center and then stood under the 363-foot Saturn V moon rocket. Seeing the size of the rocket nearly took my breath away.

We touched a moon rock, stood next to space capsules burned from re-entry and enjoyed reliving the memories of our youth.

The final tour stop brought us back to the visitor complex where we rode on the Shuttle Simulation Ride, toured a shuttle, visited the Astronaut Memorial dedicated to those men and women who lost their lives in the pursuit of science and attended an IMAX movie on the Hubble rescue missions.

When the center announced that you could get a year’s pass to the center for $12 (entry fee is $62) we jumped at the chance to buy one so we can return in January when we are in Florida again. There was simply too much to see in just the five hours we had. Back at the ship we met up with the girls, who spent their day at Cocoa Beach for dinner.

We skipped the show that night and chilled at a lounge that had a lady who played the piano and sang popular songs. The girls joined us for awhile and then went off on their own.

The port call for Wednesday was Great Stirrup Cay, a Bahamian island owned by Norwegian Cruise Lines since 1966. We arrived just before 11 a.m. and because Joan and I purchased an Eco boat tour we had tickets for the first tender boat to take us to the small island. Once on the island we shopped a little at the local “Straw Market” and watched as wave after wave of passengers arrived on the island.

It was also interesting to watch members of the crew coming ashore with cases of food and drinks to serve the 2,000-plus passengers who made their way to the island.

About 11:15 a.m. Joan and I climbed aboard a small pontoon boat and headed out to another island where we were shown sharks, starfish, a land crab and learned about the history of the chain of islands that make up the Bahamas.

After our one hour tour Joan and I took a walk along the rocky shore of the island until the heat got us and we returned to the main gathering place on the beach. About 2:30 p.m. we decided to head back to the ship. As we were heading to the boat we found the girls also ready to go back.

The girls posed with Joan’s bonnet and had a good laugh at her expense. Joan has a good sense of humor about the bonnet.

After dinner Joan and I went to the main theater show – INCANTO with Massimo and Alesia. It was an incredible show that highlighted the athletic talents of these two performers. Working without nets or harness high above the stage, the moves of this couple left us breathless.

The girls went to the Island Nights Deck Party. We were fast asleep by the time that party started.

We woke up Thursday with the harbor in Nassau on our horizon. A Royal Caribbean ship was just ahead of us, but as always I love to watch the docking procedures of the ship. By 8 a.m. they were letting people leave the ship and Joan and I were among the first to leave so we could catch our 9 a.m. island tour.

The first stop on the tour was the Junkanoo Museum. When we booked the tour we had no idea what a Junkanoo was, but it turned out to be one of the best stops we have had. Junkanoo is a festival celebrated annually in the Bahamas to commemorate a slave holiday.

Slaves made elaborate costumes from scraps of paper and then marched in the streets during a brief annual holiday from their labors. Now island people compete to make new costumes for the festival. We shared a variety of Junkanoo soft drinks and got a chance to pound on drums and shake the cowbells used in the annual parade.

The next two stops involved British forts carved out of limestone to protect the harbor. Fortunately for Nassau, the forts were never needed. Our bus driver took us down some “middle class” side streets so we could see how the folks live in Nassau.

At the second fort we were led to a 90-foot staircase that led down a 50-foot wide limestone canyon that in the 1800s was built to provide an escape route for soldiers in the event their fort was overrun. The canyon was hand carved by slaves in a period of two years.

Following the tour, Joan and I walked up and down the main street of Nassau, picked up a couple souvenirs and then returned to the ship, but not before I talked my way aboard a small Bahamian Navy patrol boat. The First Officer of P-60 invited me aboard after I asked if this old U.S. Navy sailor could see the bridge.

He was very accommodating and took my picture at the wheel on the bridge. When I offered him a few dollars to buy a beer, he politely declined and just asked that I return someday to visit the islands again. I promised him that we would. We’ve already been here twice.

Dinner on the ship at the Azura Dining Room was followed with a Sketch Show put on by the cast of The Second City. Joan and I went back to the piano bar while the girls made their way to the “White Hot Party” at the Spinnaker Lounge.

Friday was my big day. Within minutes of arriving on the ship, I signed up for the “Behind the Scenes Tour” so I could visit the bridge of the Jewel. I have tried on all our previous cruises to visit the bridge, but security concerns always prevented it. This time I was determined to get on the bridge of the ship.

Only 20 people, pre-screened, were allowed on the tour which also included tours of the ship’s galley, food storage, laundry, theater backstage, trash handling room and, of course, the bridge.
The Executive Chef, a German national, kept us laughing and entertained as he described the work of the 200-plus cooks on the ship. Chris, a Wisconsin native, gave us an informative tour of the food preparation and storage area.

But what really lit my fuse was the bridge tour. The First Officer gave us an entertaining explanation of the navigation and operation of the ship’s bridge. It would be an understatement to say that I was completely engrossed in that. Milan, the First Officer, graciously posed for a photo with me at the end of the bridge tour. I could bore you with a lot of facts, but I won’t do that. Well, maybe just one, the ship burns 48 gallons of oil a minute. Stuff like that really fascinates me.

Spongebob Squarepants and Patrick Star were everywhere again on the ship in a last ditch effort to part parents from more of their hard earned cash for pictures.

We dressed up again and enjoyed a fine meal in Tsar’s Palace, one of two main dining rooms on the ship. Jean Pierre Parent was at his best with another comedy show in The Stardust Theater. Later we attended the “Liar’s Club” a production that included Second City cast members and ship cast members in the Spinnaker Lounge.

A full day at sea, a tour of the bridge and great evening entertainment made this an almost perfect day for me anyway.

Unbelievably Saturday arrived, another day at sea (our last) and it was time to start packing for our arrival back in New York. I finished my book and started Volume 5 and we ate in the Tsar’s Palace Main Dining Room for our last dinner.

After dinner we headed to The Stardust Theater to see “Le Cirque Bijou” a wonderful performance that again included Massimo and Alesia. At the conclusion of the show a large contingent of crew members took the stage to the appreciation of the ship’s guests.

Joan and I headed back to the piano bar in “Bar City” for a last night of music only to find ourselves roughed up by some rude French passengers who were intent on turning the lounge into their private gab session. The continually pushed our chairs and twice almost knocked our drinks over moving around furniture. Don’t get me started on the French.

Sadly, as it always must, Sunday arrived and it was time to getaway. We waited patiently for our turn to leave the ship and the call came just before 10 a.m. We filed through the cattle lanes for Customs and then made our way to the roof to claim the Tahoe.

The first order of business was to drop Elin off at Penn Station so she could catch a bus to Boston and then make our way out of the city. Getting Elin to Penn Station was easy and it looked as if we would escape the city in a hurry.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. Lincoln Tunnel was clogged with Jets fans heading to the game. This was not going to be easy. Combine that with New York aggressive drivers and it was all I could do to keep from getting into a fight. If Joan and Jessica hadn’t been with me I likely would have gotten into a fight or been thrown in jail.

We were funneling into a single lane on Dyer Street headed for the entrance to the tunnel when a guy driving a Chevrolet Avalanche decided he could drive through a hole between me and a garbage truck at high speed. Unfortunately our vehicles are the same height and his mirror crashed into mine, cracking it.

Of course, he didn’t stop but was a couple car lengths ahead, but my wife implored me not to do what I really wanted to do which was to walk up and smash his mirror while he was stuck in traffic.

I have his license number, etc. and I’m trying to decide what I’m going to do with it. Joan has already talked me out of some of the more diabolical ideas I had for getting even.

After we escaped the city (about an hour later) the trip went smoothly and we dropped Jessica off at her home in Reisterstown, Maryland about 3 p.m. Then it was off to my father and stepmother’s home in Herndon, Virginia for a two-night stay.

On Monday, we had lunch with my sister Pam in Leesburg at Red, Hot and Blue. Tuesday, it was back to Buffalo for Thanksgiving with Joan’s mother.

We spent Thanksgiving with Joan’s mother at Father Baker Manor and then returned home to Michigan where there are very few rude people.

Cancun 2010: Surviving Hurricane Paula

Our Cancun vacation had a little bit of everything, nearly all of it outstanding. This was a vacation nearly 9 months in the making after my sister Pam and brother-in-law Jeff invited us to join them at their Royal Mayan time share earlier this year.

We booked our flight in March and what seemed so far away then was suddenly upon us last week. Neither Joan nor I had ever been to Cancun and were very much looking forward to seeing this new destination together.

We were not disappointed.

On Friday, October 8, we celebrated the first birthday of our grandson Griffen in Lake Orion. On Saturday, I worked a volunteer shift at “Fantasy Forest” for the Family Literacy Council and then planned on watching the first half of the Michigan State University and Michigan football game before heading down to our Detroit hotel.

When we fly out of Detroit, especially when we have an early morning flight, we like to book a “sleep, park and fly” room so that we can get at least a little sleep before we leave. It’s also a good deal because you get the hotel room, parking and shuttle for the same price as a hotel room.

The football game was so good we decided not to head down to the hotel until it was over, which was about 7 p.m. We got tucked in about 9:30 p.m. and got up at 3:45 a.m. to catch an early Spirit Airlines flight to Ft. Lauderdale and then a connection to Cancun.

Both flights were on time (actually early) and we arrived in Cancun at 11:15 a.m. (local time). We had been warned by my sister and brother-in-law to not be delayed by the many merchants waiting at the airport. We found our Thomas More travel agent outside the airport and we were soon on our way to the Royal Mayan.

When we pulled up to the entrance Jeff and Pam were both there waiting for us and hustled us to our room so we could change out of our flight outfits and into resort wear (shorts and t-shirts). There was a welcome party going on and Jeff won a resort hat, which he kindly gave to me.

About 1:30 p.m. we went for lunch at La Palapa, an open air resort restaurant. Then we headed back to the room to unpack and unwind from the day’s travels. Then we wormed our way onto a paddleboat commissioned by the resort for a leisurely ride on the Cancun lagoon. It was a great way to spend our first afternoon there. Later, we sat on the patio and caught up before we went to a resort restaurant for dinner.

That night we ate a fine dinner at the Tradewinds, a restaurant at the neighboring Royal Caribbean. After dinner we went back to the beach to take part in the release of about 300 tortugitas (baby turtles) that were hatched and raised on the hotel property.

The turtles return each year to the beaches along Cancun and lay eggs. They are kept protected and raised to a healthy size before they are released back into the gulf. By carrying them to the surf they are kept from an ugly fate from the sea birds, but probably a lot of them are still fated to be food for larger fish.

No one seems to worry about the birds not getting the usual diet of small turtles they once got before man started helping them into the water. But it was fun to be part of the turtle release.

Up early on Monday (time changes always do that to me) I headed out for a very long barefoot walk on a very long beach.

Unfortunately I forgot how tender my feet were and the crushed coral on the beach wore a hole in two of my toes, which was very painful by the time I got back from my walk. I did find a conch shell in the surf and a beautiful chunk of brain coral that had washed up. Both are now sitting on a shelf in our dining room.

For the rest of that day, we chilled by the ocean and I began reading my friend Kim Crawford’s new book “The 4th Michigan Infantry in the Civil War” from Michigan State University press. It is a great book for those who love studying the Civil War or who just want to learn more about how it was to be a soldier in that war.

Sitting under a palapa (thack umbrella) we spent a wonderful day enjoying the warm breeze and sunny skies. I waded into the warm gulf waters several times that day and royally burned my unprotected white ankles. I spent the rest of the trip wearing socks so as not to further damage my feet.

Monday night we went back to La Palapa for the Mexican buffet and Mexican show. Native entertainers provided a glimpse into Mayan, Mexican, Aztec and Inca culture in dance and music during the show after dinner. A perfect ending to a great day in paradise.

Free Margaritas had my sister eventually up and dancing with the performers, which she would likely have done without the free Margaritas.

TULUM

On Tuesday, at the recommendation of my sister and brother-in-law, we scheduled a tour of Tulum with guide “Jaime,” who described himself as a half Mayan and half Polish Jewish man. His father, a federal Mexican judge had married a Polish Jewish woman and he was the darkest of his parents’ children.

During his career he was a college professor and still travels throughout the world educating and consulting with folks about Mayan culture.

As the first of 11 people picked up at two resorts for the tour Jaime was quiet at first intently listening to a Mexican news radio station in the tour van. We assumed he didn’t want to start the tour until others were aboard, but we soon learned that he and the driver were listening to news of approaching Hurricane Paula.

Jaime translated the weather report and told Joan and I that while we might get some heavy rain and winds, the hurricane would not be a direct hit on Cancun like the 2005 storm named Wilma. He did tell us we had picked the right day for the tour as Wednesday was expected to be wet, which it was.

Touring the ancient port of Tulum was fascinating and the information Jaime gave us was top notch. Jaime said many tour guides in the search of great tips inflate the importance and activities at Tulum, but he wanted us to have the real story. That story involved the use of Tulum as a commerce center and not one of a major religious site with human sacrifices.

He explained which buildings were homes and which were used as commerce centers on the site.
Too many guides make up stories of gory human sacrifices to impress the tourists and garner bigger tips, Jaime said.

After about an hour at the site, Jaime turned us loose for 90 minutes of touring on our own. It was awe inspiring to visit a site that was such a hub of commerce some 1,200 years ago, even if our visions of human sacrifices in complex religious ceremonies were dashed.

After satisfying our curiosity at the ruins site we headed back on the tram and were immediately set upon by souvenir merchants trying to separate us from the 1,200 pesos we had in our wallets. (About $100) They only got a few, about 40 pesos ($3.25) for some photos I took of some Mayan musicians playing at the top of a long pole.

Joan was hungry so she bought a salad at, of all places, a Subway hope in the Tulum marketplace.

HURRICANE PAULA

By the time we returned to the Royal Mayan about 3:30 p.m. the resort employees were working at a feverish pace securing every loose piece of furniture on the site in preparation for the advancing hurricane. Jeff and Pam went to the store to stock up on a little food in case the resort wasn’t able to serve us the next day.

A housekeeper stopped by and put towels under all the windows and doors in the time-share in the event that water was forced into the unit. A short time later the resort urged us to take a room higher up and further from the water, but we said we would ride it out as all indications were that the hurricane was not going to directly hit Cancun.

Management insisted we keep a key for another, safer, unit with us in the event we needed to get out of the unit because of high water or damage.

In the end, the precautions were not needed, the hurricane passed nearly 100 miles east of Cancun and all we saw was a lot of rain and moderate winds on Wednesday morning. The towels were not needed under the windows as it turned out.

But the red flags were up on the beach and without lounge chairs to sit on we caught a city bus and made our way to a beautiful mall a few miles north of the resort. We bought some souvenirs and then headed to a prime rib dinner at Captain’s Cove Restaurant across from the resort. The food was terrific and the company was even better.

A friend of Jeff and Pam’s at the resort, Tom (or Senor Rojo as he likes to be called) joined us for dinner. We went back to the time share and watched the American League playoffs.

Instead of further touring, we decided we would simply like to soak up the sun and relax at the resort for the final two days of our trip. So on Thursday we camped under a beach palapa and enjoyed the improving weather.

In the afternoon, the souvenir vendors began their work in earnest on the beach and my sister and Joan stocked up on hand crafted Mexican goods from the comfort of their lounge chairs. Some of the goods were very beautiful handcrafted and carved wooden items.

Thursday night we took the bus (Senor Rojo joined us again) and we went to an upscale mall on the hotel strip and enjoyed a fine dining experience at Cenacolo, an Italian restaurant located inside the mall. It was great.

On Friday Joan and I split up for part of the day as I wanted to lay by the pool while she was still enjoying the beach. It was another wonderful day. Joan eventually found her way into the warm gulf waters where she floated and waded for a long time. We watched the sun set (again) over the lagoon and headed to the Shrimp Fiesta dinner at the Cayo Largo, another fine resort restaurant.

Back at the room, we began the sad task of packing for our early departure on the next day (Saturday, October 16).

Up at 7 a.m. on Saturday we got cleaned up and into our airline clothes and visited on the patio with Pam and Jeff for our last minutes in the resort. The van picked us up promptly at 9 a.m. for the short trip to the airport.

Once there the language barrier caused me to lead us on a short, but annoying walk trying to find the Spirit Airline counter, which we finally found, but not until I followed a security guard who I thought told me to follow her around half the airport. Joan found the airline counter and waited for me there while I made my silly walk around the airport lugging my suitcase.

We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale with an hour and 15 minutes to make our connection to Detroit, which is every minute we would need to clear customs and go through airport security again.

Joan’s titanium knee immediately marks her as a would be terrorist and special handling which in this case caused nearly a 15-minute delay at the security check point and a near miss for our connecting flight to Detroit.

Once on the airplane, a woman sitting in our row told me that Michigan State had won its game, which quieted my nerves from the security slow up. We arrived home on time and were back in our house by 9 p.m.

Home safe home

Another journey in the books. The trailer is back in its parking place and our new bear has found his new home in the hallway.

Perhaps the most nerve wracking part of our trips is the moment when I have to back the monster back into our driveway off a busy street. Today we got lucky with the traffic and I am much more confident in backing the trailer.

Lined up and backed the trailer into our narrow driveway on the first attempt. Only took a couple minor adjustments to move it into its proper place next to the garage and we were unhooked and stablized within about 15 minutes.

For our family and friends who have been looking in, we thank you for your interest and hope that maybe, just maybe, you can join us someday. Because of our travel plans to Cancun in October and a cruise in November the next big trailer excursion isn't planned until January.

If I get the chance to post some photos or comments from Cancun, I will, but not sure how "connected" I will be there.

For now, Grandmas Recess will be dark for a little while.

Mileage out: 44635

Time out: 8:56 a.m.

Mileage in: 44864

Time in: 1:05 p.m.

Historic White Pine Village, a new bear and a nice dinner out

Our last day here in Ludington was one of the best. The weather was outstanding, 65 degrees, crystal clear and no wind.

After we got up this morning we headed out to Historic White Pine Village, for those who live in the Flint area it is very similar to Crossroads Village. The folks in the local historical society have done a great job of gathering period artifacts and furnishings for all the houses and businesses moved to this beautiful site.

We ended up spending more than three hours touring the many buildings and exhibits on the site, taking way more photos than I can ever post here.

With the sun in its full glory, Joan was wearing her trademark bonnet and looked like she really belonged in this historic village.

Buildings moved here include a doctor's office, a general store, a farmhouse, a clock store, a hardware store, a trapper's cabin, a blacksmith's shop, a barn and many other historic buildings.

I really enjoyed the maritime museum that included a number of artifacts from the rich history of Ludington as the base of Michigan based car ferries. The local information said that in the 1800s, Ludington had the largest fleet of car ferries in the world. A map of Lake Michigan showed ferries criss-crossing Lake Michigan from a variety of ports north and south on the west Michigan coastline.

Only one ferry remains here in Ludington, the SS Badger, that I wrote about last night.

The print shop brought back fond memories of my high school print shop class. We had some platen presses in high school and I had to learn the layout of a California job case, which is how the old cold type was organized in the old days.

At the end of the self-guided tour we noticed a statue of a boy and girl under an umbrella that turned out to be a piece of artwork that was once in a Ludington park, but in later years suffered from vandalism. It was restored and moved to the village to save it. The young lady in the statue bears a resemblance to someone I know.

After completing our tour of the village about 1:40 p.m. (we missed "Days" today) we headed back to the Wolf's Den to pick up 'our' bear. This is a store we will definitely return to someday, hopefully with more money than we had available on this trip. There are some really unique hand crafted wood items at this store. They have some bed frames we would love to have.

Back at our trailer I had a couple hours to read my book, which is something I always look forward to.

One of our new traditions is to find a nice restaurant to eat at during our last night. Through a restaurant guide and some online research we found PM Steamers and headed there about 5:30 p.m.

It was an outstanding restaurant with moderate prices and a wonderful view overlooking the city marina. About 6:45 p.m. the hostess rang a loud bell which signalled the arrival of the SS Badger which we could watch through the window from our table.

Our stay in Ludington has been wonderful, but we look forward to heading home to family and friends tomorrow. More then.

A Blue Heron, a few salmon and one very large Badger

Today was all about wildlife, easy walks, dinner out and a really big floating Badger.

Just for fun, let’s start at the end of the day and the arrival of the Lake Michigan Carferry “The Badger” out of Ludington, Michigan. We’ve heard the Badger leave and arrive each day, but had not seen her until tonight.

Timing is everything and today was, in contrast to most other days here, very calm wind wise. So after dinner at Pizza Hut (my choice) tonight we gathered up our camera, walking shoes and made our way to the lakeshore to watch the arrival of the Badger from its trip to Wisconsin. The Lake Michigan crossing takes four hours and we plan to do that next year.

We watched as the sun traveled its predictable westerly route and the Badger its regular easterly return from the end of a pier. Cruising at a fair clip, the Badger quickly rose in height on the horizon and quickly passed through the breakwater opening heading for its mooring spot near the marina.

The water was table top smooth tonight and I shot way more pictures than anyone will ever be interested in looking at. After the Badger passed us we quickly made our way back to the truck and then drove to the Badger’s mooring to shoot more pictures and watch as the cars and trucks were unloaded.

I was curious about how big the vehicles were that traveled in the ferry thinking that next year we might cross with the truck and trailer via the ferry. First vehicle off was a semi-truck and trailer so I guess my little rig will fit. The Badger makes its last round trip of the season on Sunday (they are offering a $35 special fare, but alas we will no longer be here).

It was fun to watch the big ship smoothly and skillfully back into its spot about 7 p.m.

Now back to the beginning of the day, the next to the last of our vacation here in Ludington.

After we got up we headed back to Ludington State Park to take a new trail (I promised Joan no Dune Death March today) along the Big Sauble River and across the dam at Hamlin Lake.

The day was gorgeous and the walk was very nice. We saw a large freighter, three deer, a Blue Heron, squirrels, a herd of salmon and beautiful flora along the 1.5 mile walk.

Plenty of fishermen were doing what they could to entice a large school of salmon swimming around a bridge to take the bait, but we only saw one fish caught all morning. Apparently the salmon are more interested in procreating than masticating.

We sandwiched all this in before and after “Days of Our Lives,” which if you haven’t watched it, is full of drama and pretty ridiculous storylines.

After getting cleaned up this afternoon, I sat out in the bright sunshine reading my novel and enjoying the last great days of summer. Lots of new campers pulled into the park today.

Instead of cooking in I was in the mood for pizza and we went to a local Pizza Hut for dinner.

Today’s photos include some from the walk and the Badger, but I skipped the Pizza Hut because pretty much everyone knows what a Pizza Hut looks like.

Lions and Bears, but no Tigers today

Finally, a beautiful day with no rain or wind. Headed out early today to go to a nearby flea market, but when we got there most of the vendors had packed up and left. So we made a quick course correction and headed to an old cemetery I noticed on Thursday.

I saw a Civil War statue and I was curious if there were more Civil War veterans buried there. There were several old graves that held indicated soldiers from the Civil War. Thankfully, the local veterans' organizations have placed markers and flags at every veteran grave in the cemetery.

We spent more than a half hour walking through this historic old cemetery checking out the graves of veterans of nearly all America's wars.

After the cemetery visit we stopped at Wolf's Den, a wood working shop with wonderful hand made furniture and craft pieces. We spent a lot longer there than we had planned because of the great items they had for sale there.

Although we didn't buy anything today, we found a large carved bear that we are going back to buy Monday or Tuesday. I'll take a picture of it when we get it.

Following that little adventure we headed to Krolczyk Cellars, a new winery in Free Soil, Michigan. We missed it last week during our wine hunt because it is only open on weekends. A young couple with a background in wine-making are growing their own grapes and collecting grapes from small growers to make a small selection of wines.

One of their sparkling varieties won a bronze medal at a Michigan wine contest in East Lansing last year. Joan sampled the only two wines from last year's harvest that are not sold out and gave them both a "thumb's up." So we bought some wine for Joan and a bottle for the Family Literacy Center wine auction and headed out.

We stopped at a local Farm Market, but didn't find anything we couldn't live without. Once home we clicked on the Lions-Vikings game and watched the predictable, if unhappy result of another Lions debacle.

If you want your quarterback to get well, just play the Lions. It will cure what is ailing any faltering quarterback. I'm really tired of investing time in this horrible team.

Fortunately, we didn't see or hear how the Detroit Tigers did today. Joan whipped up a couple interesting spaghetti dishes for us tonight and we ate in.

I've included a few photos from today's adventure including some of the wooden signs (you can see I ignored the no MSU parking sign) at Wolf's Den, at the cemetery and a really cool cloud that Joan spotted while we were at the cemetery.

More than a walk in the park, a death march

Only a husband will appreciate how wrong I was today. OK, so maybe a few wives might get it too. Walking around the same old campground has gotten a little boring so I suggested that we head to Ludington State Park and walk on one of the beautiful trails there.

Joan was skeptical as she was actually looking out the window at the rain falling, while I was looking at the weather radar online, which showed no rain. “It’ll stop raining by the time we get there,” I said. (Wrong).

At the park, with the rain still falling I pointed to a small break in the clouds and insisted that the worst of the rain was behind us. (Wrong again).

Fortunately, the tree canopy shielded us from much of the rain but it was still a little damp. As we headed out on one trail I noticed another trail headed closer to the lake, which I suggested might be an easier hike. (You guessed it, wrong once again).

As we got to the end of the Lost Lake Trail, I noticed yet another trail (Island Trail) that looked like a nice walk along Hamlin Lake. Always the agreeable one, Joan agreed to go a little further. It was still raining (you’d think you could trust radar) and the trail was muddy and at some places difficult.

Island Trail ends at the north end of the park, but always one to push the envelope I saw another trail, The Ridge Trail, that I convinced Joan would be easier and a more direct return route back to our car instead of doubling back on the Island Trail. (Joan was not too happy in the photo to the right finishing yet another hill)

So off we went on Ridge Trail, still headed away from our car, but with my promise that once we made the turn it would be a straight shot back to the car. Do I need to say it again: Really wrong this time.

The Ridge Trail was an up and down (it seemed mostly up) trail along a very long, sandy dune. After about the 15th ‘up’ section I showed Joan, who was now grumbling a little bit, the map with the dotted straight line that I had relied on when taking the trail.

As a former high school science teacher she was quick to point out that my map did not show elevations, which would have made a big difference in her choice of trails had she known. But forge ahead we did until we came to a very long stairway that plunged us back down to the old path that we should have taken in the first place.

At one point Joan looked around and said: “How can we keep going up when everything around us is below us?” It was a good question, but one that I didn’t have an answer for as the very next turn of the trail showed another steep sandy incline.

For a few minutes I thought I had worked us into another trail, one that would take us far from our car, but fortunately for me, and our marriage, I did have us on the right trail, one of the few things I did right all day.

By the end of the walk Joan was referring to the day’s adventure as “The Dune Death March.”
The rain did finally stop about ¾ of the way through the hike and Joan was generally a good sport about walking more than 4 miles when we had planned originally to walk about 1.5 or 2 miles. Despite the trail difficulties, the scenery was beautiful and we did see some swans and other wildlife along the trail.

We got home in time to watch the second half of the Michigan State football game, which was pretty much a rout (35-0 in favor of MSU) by the time we got home.

Tonight we accepted an invitation from the campground to attend a complimentary end-of-the-season chili dinner in the “Roundhouse.” The chili was good and we met some folks who stay here for the season. Very nice people and we will certainly come back here next year to visit again.

As we left the dinner I asked Joan if she would like to make a lap around the park before we went back to the trailer. Her answer is unprintable.

This and that from a quiet, but windy, day

A howling wind with reported gusts over 50 mph during the early hours left Joan and me without much sleep today. The winds made even this pretty heavy trailer bounce and move like a bad carnival ride for most of the night.

Just when we would get to sleep, a branch or something would hit the side of the trailer waking us and then it would take some time to get back to sleep. Rain poured down too. Even tonight as I write this the winds are still whipping outside with gusts still hitting about 30 mph.

Finally gave up trying to sleep about 8 a.m. (Joan stuck it out until about 9:30 a.m.) and the wind and rain continued to pound this area.

With the rain ending about 10:30 a.m. Joan and I went out for a windy walk around the campground. This afternoon (again after "Days of Our Lives") we headed to downtown Ludington to pick up another peck of those delicious apples we picked up last week at the Farmer's Market.

Best apples I have ever eaten. Very sweet and crisp.

On the way downtown I shot a picture of a military jet on a pedestal (my father will let me know what it is) which we have noticed every time we went downtown. Those two helmeted men sitting in the cockpit must be pretty bored by now just sitting there 24/7.

After the apple purchase we headed back down to the lakeshore park to see how the breakwater looked tonight and as we thought it was pretty much underwater from the high water breaking over it.

Then it was back home for dinner, which tonight was spaghetti, salad and garlic bread. I'm ready for a good night's sleep, if the weather will cooperate.

Favorite OnStar pronunciation of the day: For the road Pere Marquette Highway, the automated voice said: Pear Market. The French won't appreciate that.

Way out of order: The Indy trip

First let me say, never, ever buy a Chinese disposable camera. The results can be seen right here. The camera was horrible, but because I left my digital camera home for the special weekend in Indianapolis, I had little choice.

Despite my shortcomings in the camera-bringing department, the weekend had some other ups and downs as well.

Mostly it was a chance to honor the father of Patricia, Diane and Joan Uleskey, who died in July 2009. John "Red" Uleskey was a proud member of the U.S. Army's 75th Division Association and attended many of their reunions.

Each year at the reunion, the members take pause to remember those who are no longer with us here on earth. This was Red's year to be remembered at the memorial service and we wanted to be there to represent Red.

We all got to the Wyndham Hotel in Indianapolis on Friday. Joan and I by car and Denny and Diane by air. Patricia and Keane were unable to attend, but were with us in spirit.

'There was a nice dinner on Friday night that included an Elvis impersonator, which was fun. (It was obviously the 'fat' Elvis he was impersonating). The next morning it rained, but with several hours to the memorial service we decided as long as we were in Indy, we should stop by and pay homage to 'The Track."

The four of us piled into "The Beast" (the name our granddaughter calls the Tahoe) and drove over to the Indy Museum for a little sightseeing. It was there that they sold me the crummy Chinese camera for $12. That's why there are no pictures of Elvis, didn't have the camera yet.

I liked the track museum, especially after I found a mention of Ralph DePalma, a former Indy car racer I met much later in his career and very early in my life. My Dad took my picture with the race car driver who made history by leading the Indy 500, running out of gas and then pushing his car over the line to finish, but obviously not first.

The memorial service was very touching and it is sad to hear the long list of names of World War II men who have died just in the past year. They are departing us at a rapid rate. Each name is called and a member of the Association brings up a red carnation, lays it on the table and then pauses to salute.

My picture of the member saluting was so bad I can't even put it here. A real disappointment for sure.

On Saturday night there was a semi-formal dinner that included the installation of officers for the next year followed by a DJ and dancing. It was a nice day all around.

Sunday started off well with us joining other members of the Association for a farewell breakfast and a World War II medic from Buffalo, NY regaled us with tales of the Battle of the Bulge while we ate.

It was after breakfast that things went south for Joan and me. I walked out to "The Beast" to start loading luggage and when I closed the back door after putting the bags in I heard a terrible noise from the passenger side of the car.

As I rounded the side of the car I found that someone had smashed out both the passenger window and back passenger window. That ended our plans to drive Diane and Denny to the airport and started a three-hour process of calling the police, making a report and getting the windows fixed so we could get home.

When the window glass repair guys showed up in an unmarked mini-van with three sets of identical glass for the three victims of the vandalism (yes, there were two others all GM products with the identical windows) my crap detectors started to quiver.

The detectors went into high gear when I learned this is the same company that the hotel calls for glass vandalism which had spiked in the past week. No other damage to the car, the windows were relatively easy to fix, but not cheap at about $480 per window. Not accusing anyone yet, just sayin'.

Talked to a nice detective on Monday morning (Sept. 30) and relayed my suspicions. No one was hurt but it was a pretty big annoyance.

The trip home after the glass repair was uneventful, except of course for the terrible call that cost the Detroit Lions a victory in the game against the Bears. That was crime that needs to be investigated as well.