FLOWER POWER

9/6/18 – 9/14/18

Guests and luggage, DTW

In Carole’s van to Chelsea’s Common Grill

Then, East Lansing

Evening drinks on the deck

Lamb chops on the Keefe’s private grill

And a welcome from

Carole’s flowers in the yard   

“We’ve been waiting for you all year

Enjoy our view and your too-short stay.” 

Friday’s task: drive “up north”  

Ladies seemed happy enough

With our luggage in the van

And the guys in the Jag

Lunch break at Grayling’s Broken Bear Brewery

An Aaron recommendation

With local beer

And good food accommodations

The bridge in sight

Mackinaw City

Shepler’s Ferry to the right

Luggage, disposed,

Would meet us again in our rooms

At Mackinaw Island’s Grand Hotel

First impressions

From our horse-drawn taxi

Horses everywhere

For the season, several thousand

Made horse scents to me

Streets clip-clopped and horse-plopped

The hotel, truly Grand

Great weather

Sunny warm

From the straits, a cool wind

Limited Esther Williams’ pool

To photo ops

Indoors

Drinks at the Cupola Bar

And dining de rigueur

Coats, ties

Dressed up ladies

Finery for sure

Bob, our sommelier

Called up French wines

From the hotel’s cellar

Breakfast at the buffet

More than ample

Or dawdle and do

The Geranium Bar, late, continental

Football Saturday

Georgia on TV and OU streamed

Lots to cheer

MSU late night from Arizona

Spartans crying in their beer

Grocery list itemized at a ladies’ tea

Anticipating our cabin stay

Downtown

Down the hill

Walk the shops

Taxi back

Nineteenth century style

Sunday, out and about

In our two-horse carriage

We, easily persuaded, felt special

Larger tour groups required three-horses

One huge house after another

Each, pristine and colorful

One for sale

Millions multiplied

Manicured gardens everywhere

At their outdoor best

Communicating

“Summer’s peak is summer’s end

Join us in the moment

Zen

Attend to us and enjoy

We were meant for oohs and aahs.”

Halfway through the tour

The horses paused for rest and water

             

            S.O.P. for our kin

            Think about that for a min.

Sunday

Back to Grayling

And lunch at Spike’s Keg O’Nails

Not contemporary cool

But old-fashioned friendliness

And attention to detail

Over-shop for supplies

            There was “the list”

            But on vacation

We extemporized

Finally

To the cabin!

God bless our GPS

Cozy crowded

Antler kitsch

In a cabin that sleeps ten

But bathes or showers 

One at a time

Opportunities

For Bob’s vacation cigars

Plenty of fresh air

Aaron and Liz arrived

Trailering kayaks and boats

Our goal, a Pure Michigan trout river float

But first, dinner for eight at Gates’ Lodge

Good food, rustic atmosphere

And, for those who need it

Fishing gear

Back at the cabin

Surprise!

A day-old bouquet

With a message to share

A new marriage

Enthusiastically embraced

No tears spared

Liz and Aaron were wed on the sly

Yesterday

In the woods

Just a minister

A few witnesses

Three of their kids

And a bouquet

They did it their way

For the third time around

Who better to make that choice?

That’s 9/9/18 for your calendar

Monday morning fireplace greeting

Compliments of Aaron

            He who makes life in the wilderness do-able

Then the river float

From Stephan landing

To our cabin at Townline landing  

Beginning with a challenge

Spotting two trailered boats

These logistics, a piece of cake

For seasoned river fishing enthusiasts

One couple, each boat

Carole and Billy took one for the team

And opted for the kayaks

Delightful trip

Beautiful views

Until the Au Sable

Gobbled our kayaks

Luring us in with trees and weeds

Then reeling in a wedding ring

Two hats

And Billy’s glasses

Fruitful fishing day, indeed

Search and rescue

Liz in the water first

Aaron searching the bottom

3/8 of us stayed dry

Wasn’t it Steinbeck who said

Those who think they can challenge

Trout in a fast-moving stream

And fail

Deserve it . . .

Or something like that?

On Tuesday we opted for an early departure

Needing a day to recover

(and wash the river clothes)

For an appropriate Wednesday finale

We toured MSU’s horticultural gardens

One last chance to hear

What the flowers had to say

“September now, but what a summer

What will the six of you do next year?”

An American Airlines adjusted schedule

Sent Roxy and Bob on a mid-night scramble

And Uber ride to DTW

But not until Bob displayed an athletic

Broken handrail tumble

Billy and Jo made their way home

In Friday’s fog

On schedule

We hope for a return visit someday

To let these guests test

The new Bob Roland Memorial handrail

We will alert

The flowers nearby

                            

DRK

10/27/18