A Brief Trip...

Monday, July 11th, Claude and I pointed the Buick north for a brief visit with our son, Jake, in Chelsea, Michigan. As we drove we passed a trailer with a large sign over the back which read "Oversized Load". Claude commented, "I know how he feels." I replied, "At least we don't have to wear a big sign across our backside!" Thus the journey began. 

Along the way, we noted lots of signs with poor air quality notices on them. I was also reminded that, as a general rule, gas stations no longer carry jelly beans. This seems like an age thing to me. 

We received a phone call from Hayden. He called to tell us he didn't pass his driving test because his long hair got in the way!! Fortunately, that was Hayden pulling our legs. We should just go around with the word gullble written on our foreheads. Very happy to hear that was not the case. The boy is now able to drive without an adult in the car. In the evening, he drove himself and Bailey to a band practice. I sent Andie a text message wondering about how they would deal with leaving the practice to come home. Hayden is a 'its done let's go' kinda guy. Bailey is a social butterfly and is a 'now we can socialize for another hour' kinda gal. Andie replied she and Michael had a conversation about just that before the kids left. Later that evening, Andie posted a picture of Hayden driving into the driveway and she said, "He remembered to bring his sister home!" Such a fun stage for this little family.

Jake was not up for a visit Monday evening. We tried to get our dinner at Jimmy John's and it closed at 5pm. It was now 5:30pm. We tried the Chinese place in the same strip mall. It was closed. We drove to Speedway to get water and snacks for our hotel room. There, I was amused by an ad with a picture for 'Totchoes'. This is nachos made with tater tots. They looked like they would be good. We will be trying this at home some time. We got taco salads at Wendy's which had a closed dining room and they close the entire store down at 7pm. Covid has truly left its mark on our society. 

Tuesday, July 12th, we slept in a bit. Then Jake joined us and we went to Jimmy John's where we were able to get lunch. Yippee!! We ate outside where it was a bit windy but very nice otherwise. Then we suggested Jake take us somewhere so we could do a nice walk. He found a trailhead and we walked as far out as we wanted to go and then return comfortably. It was about 20 miles...no...not really. This is part of a great trail system for biking and walking. This portion is from Chelsea, Michigan to Stockbridge, Michigan. It was a wonderful walk. I took lots of pictures of the things along the trail that caught my attention. 

This picture reminds of the poem by Robert Frost entitled "The Road Not Taken" about the fork in the road. It says something like, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."

In the next two pictures, I was focusing on a skeeter hawk (often called dragonfly). Can you find it?

Claude was fascinated with this sign. Look at the bottom. It reminds you to say "hi" to people on the trail. 

We drove through the back roads on Michigan for a bit. Up to Stockbridge and then took the Dexter Trail Road across to 127. South on 127 to Barnes Road, south on Meridian Road to Catholic Church Road. Then east on it to Dexter Trail Road and south through Stockbridge back to Chelsea. In Chelsea we had ice cream at Twisters. Then back to the hotel for a break till time for dinner. We would have dinner at Valiant's.

Wednesday, July 13th, was Katelyn's birthday. I posted this on Facebook: "Happy Birthday to our first-born grandmonster, Katelyn Roper! She loves her little family fiercely. She is attentive to Claude Christensen and me as we try aging gracefully. We Love Ya Bunches, KTNik! Have a great day and a super year!!" 

This was our day to return home. Rain was threatening. We all slept in a bit. Then we went to Coney Island for a late breakfast. Always a good meal at Coney Island. We went to the grocery store and purchased some supplies for Jake and a treat for Claude and me on the road. Then we drove to a park and sat under the pavilion and visited until time to hit the road.

We left Chelsea about 1pm. We did drive through a bit of rain a couple of times but nothing at all like our last drive home from Chelsea. We stopped in Beaver Dam. Then hit I-75 south again. Not too far down the road we hit a traffic jam. Google Maps indicated this backup was finished at the next exit and we couldn't get off the interstate anyway. We decided to be grateful as that would mean we would be getting through Cincinnati after 5pm now. The backup was extended unto another exit. Then traffic cleared and it was smooth sailing into Kentucky. We did stop in Florence and have dinner at Chipotle's. We arrived home about 7:45pm. It was good to get home and unpack and get ready for the next day. 

Good trip. Nice to see our son. Loved the walk and the good meals with Jake.