Summer 2018 Part 3: Lighting the Way

Our scenic route along Lake Huron took us to the Presque Isle Lighthouse.  How beautiful!  The fog had yielded to clear blue skies.

Presque Isle Lighthouse

 We climbed the 138 circular stairs of the lighthouse for a birds-eye view.  With my equilibrium slightly affected by the round and round climb, and a light breeze blowing, walking out on the balcony was scary - at least to me!  I hung close to the door, though the others braved the entire circumference.

The circular staircase inside the Presque Isle Lighthouse.  

This place is not only functional, but it is also pretty.  Down at the water's edge, we found flowers blooming and a sailboat passing.

Waters edge view of Lake Huron at the Presque Isle Lighthouse site

John & Becky on Lake Huron at Presque Isle Lighthouse

Jamie & Mary on Lake Huron at Presque Isle Lighthouse

A tip from the staff led us to our next stop: Ocqueoc Falls.  This little gem became the subject of some of my favorite photographs of the trip.

Love the swirl of this water

Silky smooth water captured with slow exposure & 6 stop ND filter.

We picnicked in the shade of the camper before heading north again.

Our route took us through the tourist-y section of Mackinaw City.  Since we don't have much appreciation for jam-packed tourist attractions, this was a disappointment.  We kept on going, right onto the Mackinaw Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

We crossed into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and found our campsite situated near the northeastern foot of the bridge in Straits State Park in St. Ignace, Michigan.  Here we parked our campers for three nights to allow us plenty of time to explore the area.

As afternoon turned into evening, we found a picturesque spot along the lakeshore to photograph the Mackinac Bridge.  It is an amazing structure!

Jamie and I ventured alone into St. Ignace on a photo safari.  The yield was worth the effort.  We found the marina and the Bridge View Park on the western side of the bridge.

Lighthouse  in St. Ignace, MI

Marina in St. Ignace, MI

Marina & Lighthouse in St. Ignace, MI

 Choosing just one bridge photo to share was impossible . . . so here are a few of my favorites:

Mackinac Bridge at night

This was truly a picturesque day: from the blue dawn in Tawas City through the midday lighthouse view to the sunset on Lake Huron to the blue light of evening at the marina to the reflection of the bridge lights on the water.

Summer 2018 Part 2: Assembly Lines and our Fifth Great Lake

Facing many miles to travel, we departed Winton Woods Campground early Saturday morning; the campground was quiet, not a camper was stirring.

A highway rest area provided a picnic area for our lunch, and we were fortunate to finish just before the rain came.

The first of many hanging baskets of colorful flowers we would see.

A windy picnic at a rest area

Pure Michigan: just the beginning of our 2018 adventure

We arrived at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, in time to take the Ford Rouge Factory tour.  How interesting to see the Ford F-150 being assemble  Having never been in a factory, I was intrigued by the assembly line process. We only know the finished product; to see the individual components being installed was remarkable.

Looking across the Ford Rouge Factory campus

Ford museum

A mustang, of course!

However, I also know that this type of work is not for me.  Eight hours of repeating the same task would bore me, but I am grateful for the many who choose this line of work so that we can enjoy the conveniences this life affords us.

The Ford campus houses a living history museum with several attractions, but we opted to forego those; our interest on this occasion was the factory.

We had reservations at the fairgrounds campground, but we decided to continue northward as it was still a bit early in the afternoon.

We found another Walmart parking lot in Tawas City, Michigan, at the "bottom" of our Lake Huron shoreline drive.  We arrived about eight o'clock and walked across the street to a deserted looking restaurant for dinner.  The waitress informed us that tourism season begins in a week or so, hence the "deserted" look.  Lake Huron is our fifth Great Lake in three years of touring together.

Clear water of Lake Huron as viewed from the deck at Pier 23 Restaurant in Tawas City, MI

An evening view of Lake Huron -- around 9:00 PM!

A deck on the rear of the Pier 23 Restaurant overlooks the lake.  We were amazed by how clear the water appeared. 

Jamie and I awoke extra early to catch the sunrise on Lake Huron, but were met with a misty, overcast sky.  This shot of the streetlights reflecting on the rain-soaked highway was worth the early rise.

Notice the reflection of the streetlights on this wet street 

No luck catching a sunrise on this misty, overcast morning on Lake Huron in Tawas City, MI.  Taken between 5:30 AM and 6:00 AM.

McDonalds is situated in the corner of the Walmart lot, so we had breakfast there.  We inadvertently took the table where the local men usually gather.  Conversation later revealed the ninety-year-old talkative gentlemen to be a retired Michigan State Trooper, another the father of a current female Trooper, and several other public safety professionals.  Never know who you'll meet along the way.

Summer 2018 Part 1: Away We Go

Just before 4:00 PM on Thursday afternoon, the SolAire pulled onto US 19 northbound, headed for a week of sightseeing adventures.  John & Becky followed.  Getting a late afternoon start allowed us to get some extra miles in, plus the most important part: avoid the nightmarish Atlanta traffic during afternoon commute.

Initially, we had planned to stop at Cabella's parking lot in Ringgold, Georgia, but we were making such good time that we pushed forward, finally settling down for a few hours of shut-eye in the Walmart parking lot in Athens, Tennessee.  Our first overnight at a Walmart.  Jamie only had to run off one meth-fund seeker.

Our Walmart campsite in Athens, TN

We were far enough north and in the foothills of the mountains that a gentle breeze through the window screens kept us cool enough throughout the night.

We awoke early and I caught the sunrise.

Love the reflection of the morning light on the  SolAire in this cell phone photo

Fortunately, Dunkin Donuts was nearby, with an empty parking lot next to it, so our morning caffeine fix was no problem.

Our early departure landed us in Cincinnati, Ohio, just in time to situate our campers in Winton Woods Campground and hail an Uber for the ride to the riverfront.  Our first Uber ride.  In a compact car.  We four are not compact people.  Becky & I giggled most of the way; it was a laugh or cry situation - we made the best of it.  What a sight to see us unloading: similar to pumping air into a folded plastic float and watching it slowly inflate and unfold.

Tight quarters; we were squished!

Cincinnati is son-in-law/nephew Stephen's hometown, so Becky had lots of recommendations from him for dinner choices.  We selected Montgomery Inn Boathouse, overlooking the Ohio River a few blocks downhill from the Great American Ball Park.  Since the restaurant is known for its barbeque ribs,  Jamie and John opted for that menu selection and donned plastic bibs to keep the juices off their shirts.  Becky and I selected barbeque nachos.  All was delicious!  And the view of the river in the evening was beautiful.

A second Uber, this one a smoky mini-van, hauled us up the hill to the ball park since we were cutting it close to game time.  We did miss the first few pitches, and the pre-game rain shower, but the usher was kind enough to dry our seats with a chamois.

In each of our three years of summer camping trips with John & Becky, we've included at least one baseball attraction.  The ballgame was fun, especially for our baseball lover, though we all enjoyed it.  The stadium was pleasantly full, but not packed.  Jamie and I stretched our legs with a walk around the stadium to view the Ohio River and the bridge near sunset.  After the Reds beat the Cubs, we were treated to a Friday night fireworks display: what a spectacular beginning for our summer adventure!

The Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH

The Bridge Tower over the Ohio River in Cincinnati as viewed from the stadium

Boats going under the bridge on the Ohio River in Cincinnati at sunset

Post-game Friday night fireworks at the Great American Ball Park

Our first full day of adventure ended with, yet, a third Uber ride, this time with James in a pleasantly clean mini-van. James entertained us with lots of name-dropping of his past riders from NFL players to rappers to politicians.  He loves Herschel Walker and the "big hat Georgia Troopers" running alongside the Georgia coach.

Waiting for Uber on the streets of Cincinnati

Historic Courthouses of Georgia: Part Two

Our quest to photograph the exterior of Georgia's historic courthouses continues.  We've doubled our collection and can now count 23 of 159 complete.

My interest in architectural styles is growing.  I'm fascinated by the similar styles built in the same time periods in various counties.  What does each design tell us about the time period, the economy, the political climate, and the people in each community at that time?

Baker County Historic Courthouse in Newton, Georgia

Despite being surrounded by a river rock fence, the 1906 Romanesque Revival courthouse in Baker County endured two major floods:  1925 and 1994. The latter flood placed the building seventeen feet underwater.  This structure now serves the community as a voting precinct.

Baker County current courthouse in Newton, Georgia

Baker County moved its courthouse to this 1933 school building in 2000.  The original bell from the 1906 structure has a place of honor on the new courthouse grounds.

Calhoun County Courthouse in Morgan, Georgia

Built in 1935, the Calhoun County Courthouse.  Stately trees offer some welcome shade.  This courthouse is an example of Colonial Revival architecture. 

Clay County Courthouse in Fort Gaines, Georgia

The Clay County Courthouse was built in 1873 with Greek Revival Influences. 

Decatur County Courthouse in Bainbridge, Georgia

The Decatur County Courthouse was built in 1902 in the Neoclassical Revival style.  A park is the featured centerpiece of the square in Bainbridge; the courthouse is situated off the northwest corner of the park.

Early County Courthouse in Blakely, Georgia

Early County's 1905 Courthouse is another example of the Neoclassical Revival architectural style. Flanked on each corner by large shade trees, the courthouse stands as the focal point of the Blakely square.

Grady County Courthouse in Cairo, Georgia

This Grady County Courthouse was built in 1985 to replace its 1905 structure which was lost to fire.  The new building is a Classic Revival.  The prior courthouse was built in the Renaissance Revival style.

Miller County Courthouse in Colquitt, Georgia

Miller County's Modern design courthouse was built in 1977, following the destruction of its previous courthouse by fire in 1974.  This structure is situated on the square in Colquitt.

Mitchell County Courthouse in Camilla, Georgia

 The Mitchell County Courthouse was built in 1936 in the Stripped Classical design using marble.  Two large magnolia trees flank the sides of the building. 

Quitman County Courthouse in Georgetown, Georgia

In 1939, Quitman County built this Stripped Classical design that features some Colonial Revival elements.

Randolph County Historic Courthouse in Cuthbert, Georgia

This 1886 Queen Anne design is the Randolph County Historic Courthouse.  This historic building now serves as Cuthbert's Welcome Center. 

Randolph County current courthouse in Cuthbert, Georgia

 In 2015 Randolph County moved its courthouse to this modern facility.

Seminole County Courthouse in Donalsonville, Georgia

Seminole County's 1922 Courthouse was designed in the Neoclassical Revival/Beaux Arts style.  Two palm trees stand guard on either side of a wide walkway leading to the front entrance in this southwestern-most Georgia county.  Medallions featuring Seminole Indian profiles are embedded on the building's facade.

Thomas County Historic Courthouse in Thomasville, Georgia

Built in 1858, the Thomas County Courthouse still stands as a magnificent focal point in downtown Thomasville.  The building has been remodeled several times, most recently in 2013.  A new Judicial Center was built across the street in 2009.

Thomas County Judicial Center in Thomasville, Georgia

The map of where we've been looks like a paint by number canvas.