IMS - Day # 26 - BFAW - Day # 3 - Pure Michigan & Sweet Sixteen!

It was just 5:30 am when I woke up Friday......the coffee was set to go off at 6:30, and normally I would just lay in bed and wait for that familiar aroma of coffee making before geting up, but as I lay there I began to think of all the things I needed to accomplish before I left between 9 and 10 am on my road trip up to Ypsilanti, MI.  Once that happens I'm ruined for any more slumber, so I got up, turned the coffee on, and opened my laptop to start my blog entry for Thursday.

Just on a whim I decided to check the weather forecast first......I'm glad I did.....the forecast showed a 60% change of rain by 6 am.....what?  I needed to put away the reclining chairs, put up the awning, take down the sun shade, etc.  I don't like to leave the awning out when I'm gone for more than a few hours, and since I was going to be gone 3-4 days I immediately got outside and began to put everything away......just as I was finishing stowing away the patio awning the drops began to fall.  Well, for a change the weather guessers were pretty much right on the money....I looked at my watch and it was 5:58.

Just as I closed the door behind me it opened up and continued raining steadily for the next 3 hours.  While it rained I went about writing the blog, drinking coffee, checking my packed bags to be sure I had everything I needed.....of course I had forgotten several things, which were quickly retrieved, and added to my already jammed bags.

Around 9 am there was a brief break in the rain so I darted outside to put my bags in the car......it began to pour again just as I retreated back inside the coach.  

I had set my departure time based on when the paychecks would be delivered to the IMS employee check in area, which was supposed to be 9 am......I waited an extra 30 minutes before turning out the interior lights, locking the door and getting in the T'Bird to drive over to the check in area.......as it turned out the checks had arrived just before I did, and I was the first in line.  Once our checks were secured I headed out in the ongoing rain storm to I-69 north bound. 

The drive up to Ypsilanti of 260 miles was pleasant even though it continued raining virtually the entire way.  It appeared the storm was following me north......at some point I received an e-mail from Karen and Krash asking me to please not bring the weather with me.....lol.....I know I am reputed to have super powers, but they do not extend to controlling the weather!  There are two things that remain a mystery to me after 63 years.....the weather, and women....:-)

I stopped once around the 67 mile mark to use the bathroom at a Rest Stop, then around the 180 mile mark to have lunch at Big Boy (formally known as Bob's Big Boy) for a hamburger, and was in and out in about 20 minutes.  Haven't seen a Big Boy since we left California 16 months ago.......oh, and by the way.....Friday is our 16 month anniversary of living on the road!

Finally, around 2:30 pm, I arrived at Krash and Karen's lovely home......in the rain, of course.  After I got settled in the guest room we sat and talked for a couple of hours before heading into town for dinner at Sidetrack Bar and Grill, the site of their first date over 14 years ago.  It's located very near EMU (Eastern Michigan University), and right across the street from the old train depot (hence the name of the eatery), and the old Hudson car dealership that is now a historical site, and museum.  There was a 1933 Hudson Terraplane automobile on display in the front showroom.

Sidetrack has 24 beers on tap.....I chose the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, and was very happy with my choice.  We all three chose the Fish Tacos from the menu, and proceeded to talk non-stop for the next 1+......while we ate it rained again.....when we emerged from the restaurant it was after 8......the air had that sweet fragrance of fresh rain, and there was still plenty of daylight left so we took a brief drive around town.

We stopped by the very old Ypsilanti water tower built sometime in the late 1800's....it is 118' tall, and a very "interesting" structure visually.....I'll leave it at that.  Right across the street from the water tower was this house that is apparently rented by university students of EMU.....is that a brown bear I spy next to the chimney? 

Not long after we arrived home Krash and Karen treated me to a recording of Jeff Daniels (the actor, who lives nearby in Chelsea, MI) telling a story about he, his wife and kids renting a motorhome for a trip to Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame.  It is very, very funny.  Krash and I sipped some rum he had brought home from a trip to St. Lucia......it had more of a cognac flavor to it.....I think it is called "Chairman's Reserve".......I don't know if it is imported into the U.S., or not, but it is the best rum I have ever had.

We called it a night around 10.......what a great afternoon and evening spent with good friends.  I'm wondering what my hosts have in store for me today (Saturday)?  Stay tuned and find out!

Thanks for stopping by!