Our U. P. vacation

After trying several options, I thought a blog might be a better way to share our news. Not as fancy as Arthur's but here goes. I thought I would let you know how our vacation went last week-end here are some pictures and comments. Click on the pictures to make them larger.

On Friday we went to Sleeping Bear Dunes with Charlie's brother, Richard. When we were on the observation deck Chris, our exchange student said Charlie, why don't you walk to the bottom of this dune so I can take a picture, to show people how far away it is. So he did, are any of you surprised? This picture is of him at the bottom of the dunes. Luckily it was only about 75 degrees and breezy.

While we are waiting for him to come back up, tour buses of people are stopping to watch, asking who is that? why did he do that? do you think he'll make it back up? For the record it took him 47 minutes to get back up. This picture shows him about half way. I saw some of those people in the parking lot later and they said something about him making it back up. I offered to sell his autograph, but got no takers. I also asked Chris not to ask Charlie to do something stupid, because he probably would try it.

On Saturday we crossed the bridge and went to the 'Soo'. Then to Whitefish point. We told Chris he had to walk out the pilings in the lake. A couple standing on the observation deck said "Do you know how cold that is, that is just evil" Chris said he would have gone to the pilings but it was too deep. He also said he has been in colder water, lakes in the Alps, this wasn't bad.

On Sunday we headed for pictured rocks and stopped to look at the "Log Slide" on the trail, a nice clear trail, through the woods, to the observation deck I stepped on a twig about the size of a cigar butt. the only twig on the whole trail. It rolled, so did my foot. I went down, got up, brushed myself off and kept going about 200 yards.

This is the log slide. also known as Devil's slide, from the observation deck. Please note: I fell on the way to the observation deck, not going down the slide as according to hospital staff some people do each year. On the way back to the parking lot we saw a sign that said there was a three mile trail to a light house. Charlie asked Chris if he wanted to to walk it, Chris said sure. (This is about 10 AM)

OK, for those of you who know us, you can probably guess the rest of this but I'm going to tell you anyway.

I told them I would drive up to the light house and meet them there (I couldn't walk three miles on a good day.) I drove and and drove and drove, on a two track through woods and sand etc., stopped turned around, went down a track to a Hurricane River Campground. Didn't see a camp ground or a lighthouse. Went back to the information center, (every time I got out the car, my ankle felt worse). There is NO drive to the light house, so I went back to the parking lot at the log slide. and figured they would have to come back that way.

By this time my ankle hurts just sitting there so I tried to elevate and put ice from the cooler on it. I hobbled to the rest room, my ankle is worse, after another 15-20 minutes I thought well I go set at a picnic table. I couldn't put weight on the foot at all.
The finally got back at about 12:30 after walking to the camp ground from the lighthouse then out to the road. probably another 10 -12 miles.
We decided I should probably have the ankle looked at, stopped at the information center and found out the nearest emergency room is in Newberry- which we drove through yesterday afternoon and was 2 hours away. There was a hospital in Munising but their emergency room isn't always open.

By the time we got to the hospital, Charlie stopped at the door, I got out and said something like, uh guys this isn't working, I can't walk, they finally brought a wheel chair to get to the examine room. They X-rayed it and said we don't think it is broken, but it looks like there is an old break that you may have aggravated, (I don't know when that happened, I have NEVER been treated for a broken bone,)put ice on it for 24 hours, elevate it, when you are sitting and keep weight off of it for 1 week, and gave me a pair of crutches. I am not real coordinated to start with, (obviously if I tripped on a twig) you'd get a real laugh to see me on crutches.

Before we left the ER a nurse is trying to teach me how to use the crutches, and says "you look like you're having trouble, would you like me to get you a walker?"
I said jeeze, you are really trying to make me feel old aren't you?"
Another nurse, says, from around the corner, " yeah why don't you just get her some blue hair while your at it."

After that we headed for Palm Book State Park, to see the Big Springs. I decided not to try to make it to the boat because I was still not doing well with crutches. (I had only used them for about 5 minutes) before we got back in the car. It is hard to tell from this picture but Charlie said these trout are about 3 feet long.

The next day Charlie and Chris went to pictured rocks to take some pictures, we decided to skip the boat ride this time. Chris did get to see, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and a few weeks ago, Lake Erie. So at least now he has seen some of Michigan.

Joyce.