Somewhere In Time

   

If you have never seen the movie "Somewhere in Time", know that it is our favorite movie of all time and if you've never seen it, please take the time to watch it and then remember this blog entry.

     Muggy and I have just returned from a magical fantasy adventure at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.  It had been our plan to spend the day on Mackinac Island to celebrate our 37th anniversary on June 28, 2012. At the last minute, we chose to spend the night at the Grand; little did we know the adventure and fun and blessings we were about to enjoy.

Waiting for the ferry

    
      We boarded the ferry bound for Mackinac Island about noon on Thursday, June 28^th and arrived at the island about 20 minutes later.   Mackinac has the attribute of making you think you've stepped back in time.


 As we came around the southeast end of the island, the Grand Hotel, in all its splendor came into view and it was like we were entering a dream.

The Grand comes into view

 As the ferry docked, our minds were imagining the fun and adventures we were going to have.  We rode in a carriage from the dock area to the front entryway of the Grand, disembarked and climbed up the red carpeted steps to the parlor level of the hotel.  The Grand is everything and more that you can imagine of a luxurious and splendid hotel.  It is richly and lavishly decorated and the staff are waiting at your beckon call for anything you may desire. 
 
We went to registration and were promptly given the keys to our room, number 366.  We knew we would have an interior room without a lake view, but we were fine with that.  We ambled through the hallways until we found an elevator and rode to the third floor.  The hallways of the Grand are immense and we started down the hall looking for our room.  I quickly noted that the interior rooms had odd numbers and the lake view rooms had even numbers….remember, our key said 366! 

Versailles Suite

            As we approached 366, we both stopped in our tracks. Above the beautiful green door of room 366 was a sign that said “Versailles Suite”. 

We looked at each other and said there’s got to be some mistake, but we tried the key and the door swung open to reveal a room beyond anything we could have imagined.  Now, I wish to begin to tie in aspects of the movie with our stay.  Christopher Reeve’s character is given the “wrong” room key when he travels back in time to meet Jane Seymour’s character, so we were off to having some fun.  Oh, by the way, the suite next door to us was the “Somewhere in Time” Suite!  And the view from our room was identical to the view that Reeve’s had in the movie.

Incredible room!

We were fairly certain that the desk would be calling us soon to say there had been a mistake and we would have to move; but we used the bathroom and messed up the bed quickly!! 





Then we went for a walk to explore this magnificent structure and its many rooms and stairways and hide-aways. 

On the largest outside porch in the world

We enjoyed coffee on the porch (the largest outside porch in the world!), then a drink at the Cupola Bar overlooking Lakes Huron and Michigan and the Mackinac Bridge. 
         

Maedel Twin

We had the great adventure of meeting Marilyn and Carolyn Maedel, twins who have vacationed at the Grand during summers for past 26 years.  These twins are quite the characters and are actually relatively famous for their adventures with Mike Rowe from “Dirty Jobs”.  Their picture with Mike Rowe hangs prominently in the parlor level hallway. 

Our room is top level, immediately over Muggy's right ear!

            We went out for dinner and then walked along the beach like the two main characters in the movie.  We were going to go dancing but decided to relish in enjoying the luxuriousness of our room and returned there.   

We asked the hotel to bring us a DVD of “Somewhere in Time” and we watched the movie again as we listened to the clip-clop of horses on the pavement outside our window. 

            While watching the movie, we realized there were some strong similarities between the movie and our being here at this time.  In the movie, Reeve travels back in time and checks in to the hotel on June 28, 1912…exactly 100 years to the day that we are here!  When we noted this we weren’t sure what the night or the morning might bring.  We were definitely caught up in the romance and fantasy and fun of what we were experiencing!

            The day dawned beautifully with the familiar sound of horses clip-clopping up the drive to the hotel.  The sun shone brilliantly in an azure blue sky and the water glistened in the early morning sun as we looked out our window and wondered if time had passed us by, or just where we were. 

            Soon, we were boarding the ferry for the return trip to the mainland, relishing the past 24 hours and knowing that these memories will last a lifetime. 

            We have been blessed to enjoy these past 37 years together and the blessings continue as we create new memories from somewhere in time!

Over Achievers

     Hello Everyone!!!  We're back.  I'll bet you've been thinking we were lost or something!  Over the past few weeks, our travels have taken a different turn (pun intended!!) as we have been spending much time with family and friends....and that takes up a lot of time!  Couple all the visiting with yours truly feeling a little over extended with two on-line college courses and there's hardly time left in the day to chill and catch up on the blog!
     Last Saturday evening, we traveled with my brother Steve and his wife Lynn to Afton, MN to visit Doug and Joy F.  Doug and I have known each other since 8th grade.  Steve and I have known each other since birth (ha-ha, that's supposed to be funny!).  We spent a wonderful evening reminiscing and catching up on events in each others lives. 
     Then, on Sunday morning we departed the East St. Paul RV Park (not highly recommended as they seem to watch your every move and comings and goings like hawks!  Nice place, but I don't think I'd stay there again.
     We headed east on I-94, bound for Milwaukee.  The day was uneventful except that EVERYBODY from Rockford and Chicago IL had been in northern Wisconsin for the weekend and they were all headed south on I-90/I-94/I39...the same direction we were headed.  It was very, very heavy traffic and not at all enjoyable.
     Yours truly got kind of crabby as the day wore on and we even discussed turning south from Milwaukee and heading home.  Our sense of adventure got the better of us and we quickly dismissed those ideas!
     We rolled in Milwaukee and found our way to the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds RV Park, just off I-94.  We called our dear friend Terri and, after setting up, headed for her house about five miles away.
We have known Terri since our days in Plattsmouth, NE back in the early 80's and we have maintained contact with her over the years. 
   It was Terri's need for assistance on her rental property in Antigo, WI (look at a map and remember we live in Georgia!) that had Muggy commit us to driving Antigo last summer without realizing just how far it was!!  We had a wonderful time; as we always do with Terri.
     We arrived at her home and had hors'deurves (yes it's misspelled) in her backyard and talked into the night.  Terri has a special gift to be able to ask questions that stimulate deep thoughts and considerations.  Her first question to us was "what was our biggest surprise on our trip" and the second question was "when did we laugh the most?"
     On Monday, we headed for Terri's place of employment, Luther Manor, a full service living and health care facility where she is the activity director.  She prefers to be called a life enrichment director, but that really means activities! She had scheduled a program activity to have Muggy and I present pictures and comments from our "Living the Dream" adventures.  We presented to an audience of approximately 50 people and all seemed to enjoy.  We met some wonderful people whom Terri works with and we look forward to a return trip to be able to spend more time together.
     Terri and Muggy were able to spend ample time talking and sharing about life and God and faith and adventures.  I was quite pre-occupied with my schoolwork, but found time to enjoy converation and laughter also.
     This morning (Wed) we headed north again, bound for Green Bay (GO PACKERS!) points north.  We had wonderful driving conditions (except for the roads going north out of Milwaukee.)  These were some of the bumpiest roads we've been on for the entire trip.   Later on in the day we enjoyed some of the smoothest roads we've been on so it all worked out. 
     We continued north to Rapid River, Michigan, a small town on the north end of Lake Michigan where US Highway 2 turns due east.  As we've had a strong south tailwind all day, we were happy to stop for the night as we turned east. 
     Tomorrow, June 28th, Muggy and I will celebrate 37 years of marriage.  We will arrive at St. Ignace, Michigan by late morning.  There we will park the RV at the ferry pick-up point to Mackinac Island.  We will spend tomorrow evening at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island!!  Hey, how many times does one get to celebrate an anniversary on Mackinac Island.  Staying at the Grand for the evening is absolutely the right thing to do.  Let me be the first to wish my wonderful wife a very Happy Anniversary!!  Thanks for 37 years of wonderful adventures....and we're still adventuring!
  We will turn south on Friday on I-75, taking a few detours along the way, but basically beginning our trek home.  We are both looking forward to more adventures, but we are ready to be home for at least a week or two!  And after all, we have company from Colorado (Mike and Debbie) coming on July 16th!!! If the wildfires haven't chased them out of their home!!!  Keep the folk out west in your prayers!!

     Thanks for reading!! We're up on Skype these days now too, look for username hkenson.

By the Shores of Gitche-Gumee

      Today was one of those days when Minnesotans nod their heads in agreement about days like this being why they live in Minnesota! It was a gorgeous day!  Temperatures about 77 degrees, gentle breezes, white, puffy clouds floating lazily by and simply a wonderful day to get outside and enjoy life..

     We took time today to visit what is perhaps the most famous landmark in the Twin Cities area; Minnehaha Falls. The falls is located in south Minneapolis, about one mile from the Mississippi River.  Minnehaha Falls is fed by Minnehaha Creek.  The creek begins its journey to the falls at Lake Minnetonka, about 30 miles west of Minneapolis.  Along the way, the creek flows through a continuous park in south Minneapolis.  Those of us who had the good fortune of growing up anywhere near the "crick" have fond memories of summer adventures, swimming and tire swings.  The "crick" was a magical place as young children, as young adults and remains thus today.

    As one nears the falls, the famous statue of Hiawatha and Minnehaha stands on a small island in the middle of the creek.

Statue of Hiawatha and Minnehaha

 in background

About a 100 yards later, the creek flows over the 53 foot drop to the valley below in a beautiful cascade.  I've seen times when the falls was only a trickle, but not today as the recent rains provide a powerful, rushing torrent of water.

Another view

 Minnehaha Falls














Below the falls, the creek continues its travel approximately one mile to the the point below the Ford Bridge and Dam on the Mississippi River.

Ford Bridge and Dam on the Mississippi

We explored a little further south and east on the Mississippi today in searching out the Grey Cloud Sand Dunes Science and Nature Area in Cottage Grove, MN.  The sand dunes are rolling hills of old time prairie, rare today in the onslaught of urban sprawl. 

Grey Cloud Sand Dune SNA

Today was a magical day and one we are all blessed to have enjoyed!

Baseball, Lake Minnetonka, Family and Friends

     We have been in the Twin Cities area since last Saturday and we continue to enjoy a wonderful time with friends and family!
     The Twins game on Sunday was fun, but wet as it rained a good deal.  Spending time with David and Kelley was wonderful!  We stayed until the top of the 11th inning.  It turns out the game is the longest game the Twins have played since building this new stadium.

   







 We enjoyed a blessed time with nephew Brent and his wife Lisa at their church Sunday evening, followed by conversation and food at their home.

 








  I picked up my brother Steve from his work in downtown Minneapolis on Tuesday and we went to the reknowned "Matt's" bar on 35th and Cedar in south Minneapolis.  Matt's is the home for the Jucy Lucy burger and it is as good as it ever was!

     Last night, I enjoyed dinner with brother-in-law Don at "Al and Alma's" on "the Island" here in the Lake Minnetonka area.  Lake Minnetonka is very famous here in Minnesota and Don has lived here his entire life.  It's fascinating to listen to him telling stories about legends and history of the Lake and the area.  Always remember, the truth is merely the basis for a good lie!

We are on to Milwaukee on Sunday morning.

Old Home Week

    We spent a few days in Brainerd, MN, home of Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox.  Paul Bunyan Land used to stand on the west side of Brainerd where Minnesota Highway 371 turns north.  Unfortunately, "progress" has ensued and the area is now covered with shopping stores and the like.
     You probably know that Minnesota is the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", but did you know that the state has 14,293 lakes over three acres in size?
     Muggy and I spent eight years living in the Brainerd area, in fact, Erik was born in Brainerd.  We have some very dear friends in this area and actually parked our RV in Joe and Pam's yard during our stay.

Muggy and Pam

Good friend Keith and Cynthia

I got to enjoy an evening of fishing on North Long Lake (we used to live in a place on this lake) with Joe. I didn't catch anything except wonderful memories hearing the loons call, enjoying a beautiful evening and watching a magnificent sunset!  Doesn't get much better than that!

Joe showing me how to catch a fish

What beauty!!

     We drove on into the Twin Cities metro area yesterday and we are now in family and friend visiting mode.  We will attend a Minnesota Twins baseball game today and attend church with my nephew and his wife this evening.

Very Memorable Experience

We spent the past five days at a place known as Courage North.  We have been very busy working in the kitchen and interacting with staff and campers this week, hence, no blog entries.

Muggy's sisters, Mimi and Cathy, her husband Dale and Muggy

           

This camp is part of a larger organization known as Courage Center.  This organization and this camp cater to individuals with physical disabilities. 

                This particular camp is located just south of Bemidji MN. 

 The property was formerly owned by the Duebeners, retail entrepreneurs who amassed a fortune by virtue of the invention and patenting of the shopping bag with handles.  Mr. Deubener is reported to have observed his customers carrying packages under their arms and he figured they would be able to carry more (after buying more) with a bag with handles on it.  Later in his life, Mr. Deubener donated this land (90 acres and over a mile of lakeshore) explicitly for the purpose of allowing those with disabilities to come here to enjoy the beauty, serenity and solitude.  This place is referred to as being “Deep in the Pines”.

                Muggy’s sister and her husband have been co-directors of this camp for the past 26 years. We are here as Alumni volunteers to help with this one week session for adults with disabilities.  It is proving to be a very powerful experience.  We have had some very special opportunities to interact with very special individuals both as the “campers” and the staff working with us.

                The other night, Muggy and I did a presentation for the campers about astronomy.  We were talking about how early explorers used the stars for navigation.  I posed the question that if explorers didn’t have maps or gps devices, how did they find their way.  One young lady, who is wheel chair bound due to cerebral palsy and communicates by pointing to words, letters and numbers on a board in front of her (think of Steven Hawking) indicated she knew the answer.  The group all waited patiently for her to spell her answer which was “he went to 7/11!” Absolutely an amazing experience in my life to see this young lady, who has such challenges in her life, yet she has this sense of humor that will not quit.

                A few minutes later while I was showing pictures of the solar eclipse, I showed the picture of the ring of fire.  Another of the campers, wheelchair bound and a CP patient, immediately sings out the line from the Johnny Cash song, “I fell into a burning ring of fire”.  Everyone laughed.

                Muggy is working in the kitchen preparing meals for all the campers and staff.  I am working in the dish room cleaning up after meals.  We are both blessed to work with some wonderful volunteer staff members doing the dishes, but even more special for me is when the campers want to help us clean up.  They aren’t allowed in the dish room, but they help in other ways, clearing tables, stacking dishes, or just general clean-up.  They simply want to be accepted for who they are and to be included in the activities.  I have been particularly blessed and touched by one young lady who is so sweet and determined to help….it’s powerful!
      And it was not all work as shown by this picture:

Me at the helm!!

Deep in the Pines

There is a very special place in this world known as “Deep in the Pines”.  It is a place of intense beauty and deep solitude.  It sits beside the beautiful waters of a lake in northern Minnesota and is home to a camp for individuals with special needs.  The property was once the home of the Deubners.  They were merchants who figured out a way to enable their customers to carry more goods home with them by inventing a bag with handles on it….the shopping bag!

                And we are here!

                This place is called Courage North.  Muggy’s sister and her husband have put their lives into this place for the past 25 years or so and we are here to help with a camping session beginning tomorrow as volunteer staff members.

                We used to live about 20 miles from here (we are near the small community of Lake George, MN) and we have wonderful memories of our times here.

                We will be here for about one week, so I may not be updating the blog daily as I doubt you want to read about what I had for breakfast!  But, I’m sure there will be events and activities to share with everyone while we’re here!

                Blessings to all this day!!

Interesting Geology

     I have long loved the geology of the upper Midwest due to the glacial impact in the area.  As I drove across North Dakota and admire all the wetlands dotting the landscape, I think of glacial Lake Agassiz and try to imagine the entire area underwater.  If you study a broad view of the terrain features of North and South Dakota and Minnesota, one can see where the drainage from the lake carved out the Minnesota River Valley.
     Another very unique geographic feature I've noted is known as the Coteau des Prairies, a high plateau formed by the glaciers thousands of years ago and now dotted by lakes.  Then, to the east of the plateau is lies the headwaters for both the Red River flowing north to Hudson Bay, and the Minnesota River flowing south to join the Mississippi River and flow to the Gulf of Mexico.  It is a very diverse and interesting area.
     We had a wonderful visit with my niece and her husband on their farm just outside of Rosholt.  There hospitality is warm and welcoming and we have always enjoyed wonderful visits with them and their children.
     Their daughter-in-law, Tricia has a website that I recommend taking a look at.  Here's the url:

sentimetal.webs.com/


     We left South Dakota and crossed into Minnesota yesterday afternoon. As we headed east toward Brainerd, we chose Minnesota Highway 27 going toward Alexandria. 

     NEVER, I repeat NEVER take that road nor Minnesota highway 29 going north either!!! Or at least for the next three years.  In driving through 18 states and 4500 miles in the past month, Minnesota has the distinction of having the WORST road we have driven on!!  It is miles of bad highway joints and continuous bumping and jolting.  It is so bad, I called the Minnesota Dept of Transportation and complained.  Here is a state that thrives on tourism and then lets their roads get into such deplorable conditions.
     We arrived safely in the Brainerd Lakes area and spent a wonderful evening reminiscing and catching up with dear friends.  This area was home for us for about 10 years and our boys did a lot of growing up here.  In fact, Erik was born in Brained.
     So, we're back "home", or at least where a lot of our roots are and we will simply chill with family and great friends and see what God has for us here.

Marathon Drive

      Wow!  Yesterday was an amazing feat...in my opinion.  We left Park City MT about 9:30 headed east.  I knew the weather was to be favorable so I told Muggy that our goal was to make Jamestown, ND by evening....540 miles!  She said, "you're nuts!!"  And remember, we are driving a 32 foot RV and pulling a car.  I don't go over 60 miles an hour (yes, I'm one of THOSE guys in front of you!), so 540 miles is a tremendous accomplishment!
     Well, we followed the course of the Yellowstone River (and the trail of Lewis and Clark) past the turn-offs to the Little Bighorn Battlefield and the area that General Terry rode to find the battlefield after the event.  Beautiful country.
      We stopped in Terry, MT where I used to go antelope hunting and continued east.  We had favorable winds and soon we were at the North Dakota border.  W pressed on and finally, about 11:00pm last night we rolled into Jamestown and the Frontier Fort RV Park.  If you ever head this way, check out the Buffalo Museum and frontier town.  Jamestown has done an amazing job here.  And, they have three albino buffalo.  The albinos did not cooperate for us so we didn't get to see them, but it was fun to hear about them.
     Jamestown was another boyhood home for me.  They have now erected a statue in my name (JUST KIDDING!!).  The house we lived in is long gone, but we had a fun time driving around and reminiscing.
     Now it's on to South Dakota and another niece's place near Rosholt SD and the headwaters for the Minnesota River at Lake Traverse.

Marathon Drive

http://mapq.st/JNf6TC

Roots, Nostalgia and New Memories

     I'm looking out at the buttes and ridges and the cottonwood trees along the Yellowstone River this morning.  This is beautiful country.  We are in Park City Montana visiting my niece, her husband and two boys and we have had a wonderful time.
     Since the last entry, we have driven from Salt Lake City to Rexburg, ID to West Yellowstone to Big Sky Montana to Bozeman to Park City, just outside Billings, MT.  There has been so much new and yet, so much memory on this portion of the trip.
     Rexburg is beautiful.  It's in the middle of the volcanic area where Craters of the Moon National Monument is located.  This promptly became a destination for another trip to return and visit this unique landscape and geology. 
     As we neared Rexburg, I saw a gravel truck entering the highway, so promptly moved over as I did not want to be driving behind that truck for fear of rock chips on the windshield.  Well, we don't move real fast and the other cars were backing up behind me so finally I decided I had to move over.  I was not even halfway back into the lane behind the truck when a rock hit the windshield on Muggy's side and put a nice chip and crack in the windshield.  Rats!!
     But, as always, God's provision is plentiful.  We were three miles from our stopping place for the evening and then two more miles from Ard's Glass in Rexburg and the owner was able to fix it right up and we were on our way.
      We turned north from West Yellowstone (probably needing to be part of another trip too!) and headed up the Gallatin Canyon.  When I was 19 years old, I had an opportunity to move to the Gallatin Canyon.  I was offered a job at a place called Karst Guest Ranch (for more info just google "Pete Karst").  I had just quit college for the second time and said, "Hey, this is the adventure I've been looking for", so, I loaded up everything I owned in a 1961 Plymouth Valiant and moved to Karst, going to work as the chief cook and bottle washer. 
     It was an amazing time.  Big Sky Resort was being built in the early 70's and a lot of the workers stayed in the cabins at the guest ranch.  There are wonderful memories of that time.  Then, in June 1973 when Muggy graduated from high school, she came out to work at the ranch too.  It was an amazing time in both of our lives.  We spent the summer working, riding horses and exploring the mountains and the canyon.
     So, it was very exciting to us to find the location where Karst stood and to see that some of the cabins are still there.  The restaurant is gone and there is quite a bit more development there now, but the beauty remains.  There's a white water rafting business there now and we spoke with the owner.  He was ecstatic to hear that we had been there long ago and had pictures.  He's building a small museum and we will share our pictures from that part of Karst's history with him for the museum.

A Karst Guest Ranch original cabin

      We motored on into Bozeman.  Much memory for me in this area.  I lived in Bozeman when I was very young (4 and 5 years old) and have a wonderful memories of my family's time there.  I also lived in Bozeman after the guest ranch job when I worked at another restaurant.
      We left Bozeman and headed east through some very beautiful country along the valley of the Yellowstone River. Magnificent mountain vistas almost everywhere you turn along this drive.  Our destination was Park City where my niece and her husband and two boys live.  They have an idyllic life out here, living in some of the most interesting and beautiful country you've ever seen. 

With the Bullers by the Yellowstone River

        They took us into Billings for some errands on Saturday and more nostalgia for me. Billings, MT is the earliest memories of my life as my family lived here also when I was 3-4. There is a certain dark memory about Billings also as my best friend from growing up was killed in a motorcycle accident in Billings many years ago.
     






Then, for the rest of the day, we headed up toward Red Lodge and eventually to 10,947 feet at the top of the Beartooth Pass!  What incredible beauty!!  Last week the road was still closed as there was fresh snow up there! 

Praises for the beauty of His creation!

This All-American Road, which closes each winter because of excessive snow and adverse winter conditions re-opens in May of each year. The section of US Highway 212 from its intersection with the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway, (WY 296) to Cooke City and into the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone National Park is usually open to traffic during the first 10 days in May. The entire highway from Red Lodge over the Beartooth Plateau and on to Cooke City has its official opening each year on the Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend.

Today we begin the trek across North Dakota.  We will see the area of the Bakken Oil Boom in western North Dakota.