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Saturday, October 27, 2018


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

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