Finally my family!

Wonderful day

I got to spend a wonderful day with Glenn’s parents and was so happy.  His mother Inge took me on a tour of the area and we went and picked up a can of gas for my JetBoil and a new memory card for the GoPro.  It was really great to see all of the places my family grew up, lived, and their favorite places to visit.  Inge and I also took a walk around the neighborhood, and we all just enjoyed each other’s company.

I planned to leave later in the morning the following day because I was only riding about 200 miles to get to the hotel where I would meet up with my BFB and BFG.  I was SO excited to see them, but also sad to be leaving Art and Inge.  Still, I would be seeing the people I loved most in the world, so it was a good trade.

I set the GPS to take me via back and local roads to the town of Empire, MI, geared up, hugged the folks and left their house.  I did tear up leaving, but didn’t actually cry.

Leaving my home for the last two nights.  I was sad, but excited to see my BFB and BFG.

Detours

There must have been a lot of roadwork going on in Michigan, because there were a LOT of detours.  As a person that usually doesn’t go anywhere for which they have not studied maps and knows the road conditions well, these make me anxious.  My GPS doesn’t like me deviating from the path either, but it worked out okay every time.  They don’t have a lot of signs, usually when you turn off your planned route, and again at each next turn, which is sometimes quite far.  However, I found that if I just ignored the GPS and turned when the signs told me to, I stayed right on track.

Things started to cloud up as I approached the hotel in Empire.  I just hoped I’d make it before the rain fell!  Fortunately, I did and I checked into our room.  I parked Lucille, unloaded her, changed my clothes, and went off in search of Lake Michigan.

Lucille at the hotel.  She won’t be lonely for long!

Glenn and Becky love this lake and talk about all their wonderful times here, so I couldn’t wait to see it.  I walked the few blocks to the beach, and it really was pretty.  The Great Lakes, if you’ve never seen them, look like an ocean from the shore.  They are unlike any other lakes you’ve seen anywhere.  I had lived for a short time in Ohio and had been to Lake Erie, so I was aware, but Erie was dirty and smelly the times I went (I’ve heard it’s cleaner now).  Lake Michigan was the color of a tropical ocean!  The water was really cold, but it was pretty.  Even though the weather was moving in, you can see it is still really nice.

The rain is on the way, but still pretty.

Sleeping Bear dunes in the distance.

A plaque commemorating the Empire Lumber Company.  This beach was at its former site.

Pretty much all that remained after the mill burned down.  The above plaque is at the base of this structure.

Empire information.

Information about the Empire Lumber Company from where the town got its name.

Weather

The wind really started to kick up, and I could feel the coming rain.  I decided to make my way back to the hotel before I got caught in yet another downpour.  I walked back a slightly different way, going through what appeared to be the main street of the town.  It was such a cute little town, with lots of interesting shops and such.  COVID is still a really big deal here, so many places were closed or outside only, but it was still nice to stroll through.  Or, hurry through, as I was doing to beat the rain.  Just as I made it back to the room, the rain began to fall.  This marks the first time I’ve gotten “lucky” with the rain!

Yet another day with rain.

Waiting

I sat in the room, watching and listening to the rain, actually feeling so wonderful that I wasn’t out in it for a change.  Finally I made dinner and waited for Glenn and Becky.  They should be here around 2300, and I could not wait to see them!  Tomorrow, I would get to meet a lot of Becky’s family for the first time.  I’d be staying here for two days, one to gather and one for Becky’s sister’s memorial service.  After that, I would be headed west again, continuing on my way home.