As usual when I travel, my trip was on the back roads.
My first stop was at a quilt/yarn shop in Newaygo. I bought a pattern.
Then I proceeded north through the Manistee National Forest. I came upon an historic site sign. I just have to stop at those. Click on the picture to read.
Unfortunately, the Historic and Cultural Center is only open on Saturday. The area is a mix of houses from big grand lake homes, average sized homes to small summer cabins. There was a clubhouse for Detroit folks to get together. I'm betting there was one for Chicago too. The area is large and I didn't see it all.
The lake is gorgeous.
As I was standing on the path, a boy of about 11 or 12 flew by on a bike. He came to an abrupt stop, turned and asked if I'd seen any bears. I told him no and asked if he had. "Yesterday, he was running across the highway. He was a teenager." He was so excited and I'm sure was, maybe still is, telling the story to everyone he met. I would have been excited too - as long as the bear was running away from me, not towards me.
Then I was off for a stop in Baldwin. I found fabric for the pattern I'd bought in Newaygo.
Then I was on to Reed City where I found a quilt store I didn't know about. And I had lunch.
Oh deer! I did manage a vegan meal with a very tasty red sauce.
Then I spent three days at Morning Star.
My cabin:
http://www.morningstarretreatcenter.com/cabins_kay_blue.html
The road in:
The view from my window:
No electricity, no Internet, no phone, no clock. Total silence. My only companion for conversation was this sage old tree.
I read, I walked, I knitted, I sat and did nothing. The time was restful, peaceful and renewing.
After three days, it was back to civilization and the noise. One more stop at a fabric store just south of Reed City.
I meandered home by a different route and found this wonderful sight when I arrived home.
Peace.
