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Minnesota to Wisconsin to Michigan

By Vicky Wells, on July 17th, 2010

Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
July 18 ~ Day #69	Budget to date	Spent today	Total to date	Daily average
Total	$6900	$129.01	$7072.40	$102.49
Miles by Road	Nautical Miles	Miles by Air	Miles by Train	Total Statute Miles
8257+337=8594	3856 [4437]	000	69	13100

Current Location: Marquette, Minnesota

Today’s Total Expenses: $129.10

Transportation: $42.59
Accommodation: $59.95
Food: $26.56 ($22.38 restaurant, $4.18 groceries)

Heading Towards Southern Ontario

Today we continued on our way to my Dad’s in Grimsby, Ontario, not far from Niagara Falls.

As usual we let Madge, our Magellan GPS, lead the way – well, sort of.

Initially she had planned to take us across the border into Canada at Sault Ste. Marie. We didn’t want to cross there for a couple of reasons. First, we have driven that route many, many times. Second, we wanted to remain in the US because both the gas and accommodations are cheaper in the States and we had already decided that we were staying in a hotel for at least one night. I’m sorry, but Canadian hotels are just too expensive.

So, we gave Madge different instructions that would insure that we cross the border at Port Huron, keeping us in the US longer.

Minnesota to Wisconsin to Michigan

The route, therefore, took us from Minnesota, through a small section of Wisconsin and into Michigan.

In places the drive along the southern shore of Lake Superior was spectacular.

Marquette, Michigan

We arrived in Marquette, Michigan early in the evning and decided it was time to stop for the night.

Marquette Motor Lodge

We stopped at the Marquette Motor Lodge hoping that a small, family-run motel would be our least expensive option.

I believe that it was but it was still more than we had hoped to pay. But, being that it is now summer and Marquette is a tourist area, the best rate we could get was $59.95 taxes in. It was a queen-size bed and clean. A bonus was the terrific restaurant right next door.

Wahlstrom’s Restaurant

If you are ever in Marquette, Michigan you simply MUST stop at Wahlstrom’s Restaurant. Their daily special and homemade pies are simply out of this world!

For dinner I ordered a 1/4 chicken dinner and Geoff ordered a 1/2 chicken dinner – these were two of the daily dinner specials.

The dinners came with mashed potatoes (even these were special – red potatoes mashed with the skins on, a hint of onion and very creamy), steamed veggies (real veggies, too – carrots, broccoli and cauliflower – and still brightly colored and crisp), stuffing and gravy. Everything was simply delicious.

Total cost for such an amazing meal? Less than $20 for the both of us including the tip!

Although their pies looked absolutely amazing we simply didn’t have room for dessert. We were stuffed!

Now we just need to let dinner settle before we call it a night.

The Show Must Go On

By Geoff Wells, on July 17th, 2010

Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
July 17 ~ Day #68	Budget to date	Spent today	Total to date	Daily average
Total	$6800	$48.40	$6943.39	$102.10
Miles by Road	Nautical Miles	Miles by Air	Miles by Train	Total Statute Miles
8257	3856 [4437]	000	69	12763

Current Location: Campground, Sandstone, Minnesota

More Lousy Weather
The morning started out OK but a little overcast. By the afternoon it had morphed into a steady rain. There was nothing to do but sit in the tent and wait it out.

Most of the activities are planned for today but the common area is outdoors and is only covered by a sun screen.

Great Meal
Fortunately around supper time there was a break in the rain long enough to serve up a wonderful catered buffet. There was lots of food for everyone and seconds for anyone that wanted it. We’ve had a lifetime of going for seconds and the figures to prove it so we are trying to be good.

Hypnotist
Next up was a hypnotist show that was hilarious and only possible in an adult environment. I’ve never really believed in hypnotism but I’d never seen it done before. I don’t think it would work on me but I’d be willing to volunteer if I get another chance.

Act Three
Like true professionals the resident troupe presented act three even though the light rain made the stage slippery. It was a lot of fun and they did a great job.

It’s Over
Unfortunately the rain just wouldn’t hold off any longer and just like that it was the end of festivities. I hope we will be able to get the tent dried off before we pack it up tomorrow.

People Games

By Geoff Wells, on July 16th, 2010

Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
July 16 ~ Day #67	Budget to date	Spent today	Total to date	Daily average
Total	$6700	$48.40	$6894.99	$102.91
Miles by Road	Nautical Miles	Miles by Air	Miles by Train	Total Statute Miles
8257	3856 [4437]	000	69	12763

Current Location: Campground, Sandstone, Minnesota

The Games People Play
We have mentioned several times that nudist are generally friendlier than most people we meet at regular campgrounds but even nudist carry a lot of social inhibitions meeting new people. With so many strangers getting together an afternoon of people games helped to get introductions going.

Duck Buddy
This is a simple game that consists of pink and blue ‘rubber duckies’ floating in a kids wading pool. Each set of ducks has a unique number written on the bottom. Everyone takes a random duck from the pool then tries to find their ‘duck buddy’ that has the same number.

You have five minutes to find out as much as possible about your duck buddy and then answer questions about what you discovered.

People Bingo
In People Bingo everyone gets a blank sheet divided with a ten by ten grid. You then madly try to fill each grid space with the names of the other players. The host then goes randomly to each player and you check them off if you have their name on your sheet. Just like regular Bingo but with people.

Evenings Entertainment
The evening kicked off with another dance and even though we are breaking into occasional bouts of violent coughing we are determined to have fun.

Act two of the residents play was presented during a break in the dance and was a surprisingly professional performance.

Typhoid Vicky

By Geoff Wells, on July 15th, 2010

Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
July 15 ~ Day #66	Budget to date	Spent today	Total to date	Daily average
Total	$6600	$48.40	$6846.59	$103.73
Miles by Road	Nautical Miles	Miles by Air	Miles by Train	Total Statute Miles
8257	3856 [4437]	000	69	12763

Current Location: Campground, Sandstone, Minnesota

Double Up On Germs
There’s no question that I now have Vicky’s cold. My right eye seems a bit itchy but so far I seem to have avoided the Pink Eye but it is probably just a matter of time.

It is amazing how these things spread. When we were staying in Schreiber Vicky went to a neighbor’s house to see a new baby and one of their other kids had pink eye. She must have picked up the germ there and touched her eye before she got home and washed her hands.

Courting Again
There is a dance every night under the stars. Even though the stage and dance floor are outdoors the sound system is the equal of anything you’ll find in a dance club. The music was a little loud but easy to dance to and we reminisced about all the dancing we did when we were younger. I’m not sure what happened but we definitely need to do it more.

We don’t want to pass our germs on to anyone so we’ll be staying pretty much to ourselves and dancing with just each other.

Act 1
Act one of the comedy the residents are presenting was a great success and we are looking forward to the next two evenings.

Torrential Rain and Wind

By Geoff Wells, on July 14th, 2010

Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
July 14 ~ Day #65	Budget to date	Spent today	Total to date	Daily average
Total	$6500	$48.40	$6798.19	$104.58
Miles by Road	Nautical Miles	Miles by Air	Miles by Train	Total Statute Miles
8257	3856 [4437]	000	69	12763

Current Location: Campground, Sandstone, Minnesota

Rain
Sure glad we set up the tent yesterday because today the sky opened up and poured buckets of water on us – about 3 1/2 inches. The rain was accompanied by strong winds that did quite a bit of damage.

We came through OK in our Sportz SUV tent but the tent next to us got flattened when their support poles buckled under the weight of some trapped water. Also an RV nearby had an awning out and the support got twisted.

We stayed warm and dry but the ground underneath us turned pretty squishy and we had to lay some planks of wood around the outside to avoid slipping in the mud.

Road Repairs
The campground is on several levels and the rain managed to cut quite a few deep ruts in the access roads as the water poured down the hills. There are still many people arriving in huge RV’s and the staff have done a marvelous job of fixing the roads.

Fortunately the rain was all over by the afternoon and the sun came out to dry things up a bit.

Duluth to Sandstone, Minnesota

By Geoff Wells, on July 13th, 2010

Our transportation, accommodation, food and entertainment cost so far
July 13 ~ Day #64	Budget to date	Spent today	Total to date	Daily average
Total	$6400	$143.05	$6749.79	$105.46
Miles by Road	Nautical Miles	Miles by Air	Miles by Train	Total Statute Miles
8164+93=8257	3856 [4437]	000	69	12763

Current Location: Campground, Sandstone, Minnesota

Today’s Total Expenses: $143.05

Transportation: $33 (gas)
Accommodation: $48
Food: $3.86 + 57.79 groceries

We are planning to camp for several days so we went back to the CUB store for perishable stuff like milk, meat and cheese. We managed to spend another $57.79 so it had better last for awhile.

CUB appears to be a local chain but we were very impressed. The sort of prices you expect at Costco but in regular quantities and no membership. If you are lucky enough to live in Minnesota and haven’t tried them you should definitely check them out.

We didn’t have far to go so we told Madge (our GPS) to take the scenic route. It’s a lovely day and we have lots of time.

Vicky managed to catch a cold and “pink eye” while at her daughter’s and is coughing quite a bit so we stopped at a Walgreens along the way and got her some cough drops and suppressant. I don’t have it yet but I’m sure it is just a matter of time.

Since we arrived in Sandstone via the scenic route we thought Madge was lost because where she wanted us to turn did not match the directions we had been given. Several miles later we realized that Madge had been right all the time.

The campground has over a hundred acres and a very active membership. They even have a community theater group that writes and produces their own plays and skits.

This weekend is their annual open house and they are expecting three or four hundred visitors form all over the USA and Canada. They are also producing a new play they have been rehearsing for weeks.

We pitched our tent in a shaded spot not far from the stage and just a short walk to the showers and restrooms.

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Minnesota to Wisconsin to Michigan

The Show Must Go On

People Games

Typhoid Vicky

Torrential Rain and Wind

Duluth to Sandstone, Minnesota