Crossed the MacBridge headed south for Grand Rapids. Susie got some bridge pictures from the co-pilot seat. The guard rails don't seem very high, particularly from the elevation of Tuzi's driver seat, and the lanes are narrow. Matt told us later that drivers are standing by: if you don't want to drive yourself, just tell the folks at the toll booth and they will summon someone to drive. We didn't have a problem, even changed lanes a couple of times. The inner lanes are metal grids that give you a buzz.
(After the bridge) the first 150 miles were almost all tree-tunnel. You know what they say about sled dogs: If you're not the lead dog, the view never changes. Well, in a tree-tunnel it doesn't matter who you are, the view never changes. Most of the time you can't even see the northbound lanes. Michigan! Show us your barns!
Finally, Magellan took us on a westward jog, two-lane highway with farms, homes, and businesses fronting it. Even found a stop for MacFudge (Mackinac Island Fudge) ice cream, though it took some fairly tight maneuvers going around a residential block after first pulling in to what I thought was parking space in front of an abandoned building, but it, the building, wasn't abandoned, so we had to squeeze out of there. On these town excursions you never know if you're going to encounter overhanging power lines and tree limbs, or a dead end. But, for MacFudge ice cream, the risk is worth it.
Wednesday, May 30.
After cold and wind a few days ago, summer is happening - warm, humid weather in Grand Rapids. Grand-daughter Kaci's HS graduation takes place in the football stadium in the evening and it's right pleasant. Kaci is class president but you would not know it from the program: it only lists a group as the class Executive Committee, alphabetically. All very egalitarian. The valedictorian and salutatorian are not identified, but they jointly give the commencement address. The program does identify, however, the cum laude, summa, and magna students, so excellence receives some recognition. (Pardon the curmudgeonism.) Kaci graduated cum laude and is headed for Baldwin-Wallace and their music program in the fall.
Here's a selection of graduation pictures.
With the proud parents (note Matt's Baldwin-Wallace cap):
With last year's graduate, brother Tony, now a student at the College of Santa Fe :
Susie with all three grandkids - that's Andrew on the right.
Well, that's it for now. We'll be here through the weekend - graduation party, doing laundry, etc. - then off for Oklahoma for Easterling/Bennett family reunion next weekend.
Trip so far: 4100 miles. 1500 to go. Turns out that I had accidentally switched the odometer from miles to kilometers. In trying to recover from that I zeroed out the trip mileage for about 15 miles during which I figgered out what happened. So, as they say, actual mileage may vary from what I report, but close enough.
Cheers,
Rob and Susie
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