Kategorie: Stage 4

Strange enough a submarine on land at the lakeshore.

A Canadian one – the HMCS Ojibwa – served from 1965 to 1998 – and no one heard of … that’s the major message delivered including – confidentiality.

Nevertheless several movies were produced in the sub after decommissioning – first K-19 with Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson.

Further just passed by the Norfolk Country Fair – the biggest fair in Ontario! With our tourist RV we received a special guidance for parking – an a nice chat with the guys organising the parking lot.

What’s on there? Beside the driving attraction, standard food trucks … all about farming, herding and horses!

And prices for everything! On the plant side …

The hay impresses me most!

Of course also cattle, the poultry, …

But most important the barn with music (awesome music played by three high school kids – including Jimi Hendrix) where drinks are offered.

One hour later we found our campground – finalizing the day after diner at the campfire.

Create your dreams – every day

The Henry Ford – actually a misunderstanding expecting a car museum. It is the museum for ‘American Innovation’.

Of course with old cars.

With presidential cars.

With race cars.

With planes of the early decades.

With heavy machinery.

And lots of other things as trains, weapons, furniture, agricultural machinery and, and, and.

For lunch the best meal during this travel – in the Arabic influenced neighbourhood of Dearwood. Sheeba – Yemenite cuisine.

Then heading over the bridge – crossing border to Canada.

Create your dreams – every day

Frankenmuth – even though founded by Franconian Lutheranians, it is the US-American interpretation of Bavarian.

Everything is exegerated, a bit too colourful and a bit too much kitsch. (maybe just cross out ‘a bit’).

Further heading to Detroit, with the evening night live …

… with Jazz in the music Hall Center – down in Aretha’s Jazz Cafe.

And a drink in a Rooftop Bar – even though a bit chilly.

Create your dreams – every day

Waking up after a cold night in the bright sunshine.

I love the small county / provincial or state parks with their small campgrounds. Really missing something similar I Germany.

Cruisin‘ along the smaller road – now direction south.

I have to give my regards to the hero’s of the woods at the Lumberman Monument.

Including a remark seen at these times.

Everything is prepared for Halloween – also at the state park campground …

For the weekend they expect about 1,000 kids running around here.

For us, it is just to say cheers and good night and being a bit glad that we will leave tomorrow.

Create your dreams – every day

Mackinac Island is a pitoresc island without motorized vehicles (ok ebikes an allowed meanwhile).

Short boat Trip with a view to Mackinac Bridge.

Actually a recreational island – even though controlled by military – French then Brits then US Army. Never a shot in action was fired.

But all for the tourists …

Before leaving – a flight of wine for tasting (interesting Taste) … PBJ – Peanut Butter Jelly (a wine was called). Reminds me of the saying of a winemaker in California: You need to be open when tasting there.😏

Also numerous beers are available – and without the German Reinheitsgebot (purity requirement) there are so many variations possible …

Create your dreams – every day

… Indian Summer in the forrest.

Along the Lake …

… with lunch somewhere.

Over the Mackinac Bridge – the seperator of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

Nearly full moon at the beach in Wilderness State Park.

Create your dreams – every day

What’s in this town.

Start at the Harley Davidson Museum.

A bit historical detour: Friedrich Eduard Johannes Müller born in Riedlingen became brewing master in Sigmaringen. He emmigrated early 19th century to the US. His brewery founded 1855 is the second biggest of the US today.

The night in a beautiful county park …

Create your dreams – every day

Quite a lot of driving along the Lake Michigan to the North.

After coffee in Kenosha a short stop at the Wind Point light house.

Further sight seeing was the Wisconsin Quilt Museum with its exhibition of 83 year old Mrs. Rosemary Ollison.

Night at a typical RV Park in the City close to the Fair and Sports Arena.

Create your dreams – every day

Further enjoy the details of this modern architecture. Starting with the view down the Willis Tower.

With the thrill (?) of the glass boxes – the Ledge.

Chicago? Blues Brothers! Final run against the Illinois Law Enforcement (also under the metro tracks) to deliver the money at the honourable Richard Daley Center 😉

And for the days final: NHL start of the season at the United Arena for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Entertaining show and a mid-quality game which the Blackhawks unfortunately lost 4:0 against the St. Louis Blues.

Remarkable: due to massive health problems using the Chicago river as sewer delivering all mud into Lake Michigan the flow of the river was reversed and drain towards the Missouri.

Have a look on the documentary about this immense undertaking. On YouTube:

Create your dreams – every day

Start with … the water – respectively Lake Michigan.

Main activity is to get deep introduction into the architecture in Chicago Center along the Chicago river.

Where the glass is mirroring the environment.

But also recognise the setup of movies like Street on Fire and the Blues Brothers.

And to end the day with a drink at one of the rooftop bars along the river.

Create your dreams – every day

Slow start into the day with first real action at noon when taking over RV.

After welcoming Erika the rest was shopping and equipping the RV.

Bad decision to stay for the night at a truck station (noise!) – only because it was legal.

Create your dreams – every day

Distance covered – ‘only’ 1,333 Miles (2,146 km).

Findings?

Not every area is good for wine making (includes stage 2) and not every vineyard is able to extract the best out of the grapes. Nevertheless we found and tasted some very nice ones. BUT – the prices could be exorbitant compared to the European level.

Unscrewed taxi was a special experience – and we always felt save in the traffic of San Francisco. This is also owed to the display of situational awareness to the guests – as long as they are interested and understand the information.

My highlight of this stage (and this was more or less clear from the beginning) were the Sequoias – but also the negative impact of fires since my last visit.

Create your dreams – every day

In total 2,104 Miles according meter.

Challenges mastered never had before on the track, but all went well and the JL done very well.

And again there was the proof – you need some tie raps when riding your Wrangler. For us it was necessary to fix the plastic wheel arch covers.

The highlight of the stage – and I think it is clear from the post – was The Wave. Still with the distance of several weeks this incredible creation of the nature is hard to handle.

Create your dreams – every day