Windmill Wednesday (June 20)

Another late morning, but no camping breakfast today, just cereal (BOO HISSS). Headed for Traverse City around ten. We took all kinds of detours today. First one came when we saw some HUGE windmills in the distance and decided to see what they were all about. The closer we got, the BIGGER we could see they were and they seemed to multiply. I didn't count them but they were all around us. Kinda gave a sci-fi feel to the beautiful rolling hills of corn and wheat and pretty little farms. Of course Steve had to ride until he figured out where they were storing the power from them since there were no wires coming from the windmills or towers themselves. He was satisfied when he found a small power station tucked all neat and tidy in a cornfield. We rode for seveal miles through the "wind farms" until we lost sight of them. We were pretty high (elevation-wise--be nice!) and the wind was blowing pretty well. It made me wonder if they were power company owned or if individuals farms owned them to make power to run things. Almost makes me want to research them--NOT!!!! It IS summertime afterall (maybe later). We drove through Cadillac and there were signs all along the way for pasties. I remember riding with my family to get some when I was a kid (although we never came as far as Cadillac to get them) and wanted to try one for old times sake. I don't remember particularly liking them when I was younger so it was going to be a bit of an adventure trying one now. After mispronouncing them to the lady behind the counter (I said "pastie" like what a stripper wears to cover....well, you know, and she corrected me to "pastie" with a short a sound. Oh well. Now I know). I got a beef and Steve got a chicken. We took them acrossed the street to a little State Park picnic area on Cadillac Lake and ate them outside, lake front with an awesome breeze blowing. They were okay...but nothing to write home about (even though I am kinda writing home about them!). I wouldn't drive back to Cadillac to get another one but the luncheon venue was great! We drove through a lot of very pretty country. Everything is green, green, green here and there is corn EVERYWHERE. It's pretty funny to see the huge woodpiles outside the houses too. Makes us realize just how cold it must get up this way in the wintertime. Traverse City was quite busy and looks to be a fun place to shop. It sort of reminded me of Gatlinburg on a lake instead of a mountain. The lakeshore there (Lake Michigan) looks to be well used--especially since it was a Wednesday and there were a lot of people on the beach and boating in the water. Maybe tourists? It looks to be a kind of 'summer town'. We left the City and headed toward Sleeping Bear Dunes. Steve always seems to find "unique" ways to get places. I kept saying that it didn't look like we were going to the dunes and he kept reassuring me. Sure enough, we made a turn and were dropped right out at Sleeping Bear Dunes! Go figure! (You'd think after 27 years I'd learn to trust him but I'm always on guard!) The Dunes were cool to see but aren't nearly as "looming" as I remember them being when I was young. Steve wasn't the least bit interested in climbing them (I was SOO glad about THAT!) so we drove along the lakeshore to Glen Haven. Not quite sure what it was but there were several historic looking buildings and even a blacksmith on the lakefront. And must I mention a GREAT restroom! All we had seen for a long while were latrines...or permanant porta johns...or whatever they call them. Anyhow, they were NOT "flushers" and anyone who has been camping with me before knows "flushers" are a must! We left Glen Haven and headed straight back to Harrison and our campsite, thanks to Gypsy, my GPS. However, Gypsy decided to take us on a very interesting ride along something she thought was called a "road" but turned out to be a trail of sorts, passable only by 4 wheel drive vehicles (something we found out from a sign that was at the END of the trail!). Scared the heck out of me. I was beginning to hear the "Deliverance" theme song playing in my head until we FINALLY hit a paved rode at the other end! Made it back to the camper but decided to head into Clare, another town just past Harrison, where we're camping. Saw an Amish wagon hitched outside a Dollar General there and saw the family come out with their groceries, pack the wagon and head for home. Pretty cool. Clare looks like a place we may explore a bit more tomorrow. We are planning to hang out at the campsite and do some laundry. No adventuring far from "home" on our agenda for Thursday.