Ludington, MI

Back in Ludington for a couple of weeks and visiting Frank & Beth while they're here.  We had a good trip over with a nice stop in Shipshewana, IN for Ben's Pretzels & a bike ride on the Pumpkinvine.  Been warm with nice weather since we've been here.  Some humidity, too.  Seems a cold front came through, yesterday, so today's a nice day outside.

We're here for another week.  Hopefully, we'll get to see Gordy before we leave.  Get the trailer & truck washed, too.

Only item of interest was - once again - with our DishTV service.  Last year DishTV sorta held us up from changing our service address & receiving local channels for the Ludington area until we agreed to have a DishTV service rep come out and "service" our satellite antenna. Got angry over that as our satellite antenna was up and had locked on to all the satellites it need.  We finally relented and agreed.  Then canceled the "service" appointment an hour or two later when we had gotten our locals and knew they were coming in just fine.

This year, that process went off without a problem.  But once we were switched to local channels, we found the local stations (ABC, CBS, FOX & NBC) had dropped their channels with DishTV over a fee dispute.  No problem.  We raised our broadcast TV antenna and got locals that way.  Then, after checking the TV Guide app, realized there was really nothing on any of those local stations we were interested in watching, anyway.

You have to wonder just what these people are thinking when they get into these fee disputes.  Do local station owners really think they're hurting DishTV or us by blocking a TV signal I can get for free over the air?  Makes me want to print out that "You must be some kind of 'special' stupid." sign you see from time-to-time on Facebook and present a copy to each of the local station owners.

Anyway, that's our excitement.  Everyone try to have a good weekend.  Ours may be a little wet, but we plan to have a good time, anyway.  See ya! David

Traveling

This week is traveling week.  We're about halfway to our initial stop in Michigan.  We left Mitchell, SD Monday.  So far we've had stops at Fairmont, MN & Oakdale, WI.  Tonight we're near Utica, IL.  Current plans are to spend the weekend at Shipshewana, IN.  A visit to Ben's Pretzels and a bike ride along the Pumpkinvine Bicycle Trail are our plans while there.

Otherwise, we're fine.  So far the trailer has faired this potion of the trip pretty well.  Traditionally, we break or lose more stuff traveling this section of interstate than any other area we travel.  We still have one more day of travel, so there's still time I guess. Donna says the new frig is still awesome.

That's it from us. Everyone have a great weekend!  David

Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo Week

Came out to South Dakota to take care of some business and ran into the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo week.  It's made for an interesting week here in Mitchell.

We did get our business taken care of, but once again, we've lost a package.

 It got to Mitchell, but that's all we know.  Maybe it'll show up someday...maybe not. Otherwise, we've stayed out of the heat.

It's in the 90s here.  Not bad in the shade as we have some wind, but get in the sun & you know it's warm.  Our first though when we got here is that we should have stayed in Two Harbors!

But it's not too bad.  We dodged most of the major storms that have passed through.  We're just not as active here as we were in Two Harbors - just not as easy to walk around in town from the campground.

Pictures here were taken today.  Bad shot of the Corn Palace as the sun is behind it plus people are preparing to

watch the parade.  The remaining pictures are from this morning's parade.  Pretty large parade which we enjoyed watching.  We managed to watch from the staging area and stand in the shade, so we made out pretty good.

We plan to be here until Monday.  Head back toward Ludington, MI for a couple of weeks and visit Beth & Frank is the plan.  We'll be in and around Michigan for most of August if all goes well.  As always, plans can change quickly.   Later, David

Weekly Update

Stephanie has left, but we think she had an "OK" time.  We enjoyed her being here and showing her what little we know about the north shore of Lake Superior.  Donna got to check off one of her bucket list items as we got to watch the Whitefish Bay leave the Two Harbors area (top photo).  Another

bucket list item was to get a kayak trip in while we were here.  So she and Stephanie got to go on a kayak excursion near the mouth of Temperance River (third & fourth pictures from the top.)  We also fit in a walk near Split Rock Lighthouse (Day Hill trail) and got a pic of Split Rock Lighthouse (second from the top).

So we stayed busy.  Walked a lot.  Ate a lot, too.

We're nearing the end of our stay here.  It's Heritage Weekend this weekend in

Two Harbors - think of it as a family reunion - so it'll be another busy weekend here.  After we survive that, we're off to the heat of South Dakota for a week before heading back to Michigan.  That's the plan, anyway.

Everyone have a great weekend!  David

Happy 4th!

Yep, that ain't a Two Harbors picture, but it's got the flag in it.

We're fine.  Sky not as clear as it was the first week we're here.  Rain & weather fronts have come & gone, but we're now getting smoke from forest fires in Canada.  Kinda hurts the "yosemite skies" we'd gotten use to, but makes for interesting sunsets.

Finally finished riding the bike trail from Gooseberry Falls State Park to Beaver Bay.  We did the first half a couple of weeks ago where we rode from Gooseberry Falls to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.  On Sunday, we drove up to Split Rock Lighthouse and road on to Beaver Bay and back.  11.5 miles round trip.  Nice ride, scenic, standard north lakeshore views, etc.

We're also excited.  Stephanie got here, yesterday.  She's here for a week.  So we've finally really loaded the new frig for the first time.  We also took Stephanie to Gooseberry Falls State Park for a hike and picnic lunch, today.  Then stopped for pie on the way back to the trailer.  Then took naps after we got back.  I think there's a kayak trip planned Saturday, but I'm not participating.

So that's our week.  Have a great holiday!  David