West Michigan Touring with Friends

Lynn and Steve King from Tipton England, George and Michele at Oval Beach in Saugatuck, Michigan.  We spent this day enjoying west Michigan.  Dune Buggy ride, eating on the waterfront, a bit of shopping, Fenn Valley Winery, Cranes pantry for an apple pie to bake and home again to enjoy a bowl of soup and a freshly baked pie.  The next day we visited the Air Zoo, downtown Kalamazoo, Bells Tap room and ate at Theo and Stacey's for a simple supper.  The guys played golf the next morning then Kings were off on the next leg of their visit...Clarkston then on to Ontario for Toronto, and Niagara Falls before returning to Chicago where they started their journey.   We will see them in Florida later this year but had a great time showing off our corner of Michigan.

We have had a great summer seeing old and new friends here in Michigan.  Earlier in August we had a visit from Karen (Wellington) and Rick Bennett who travel the country in their RV.  Karen had gone to school on Grosse Ile with us until junior high when she relocated to California.  We did keep up for years but had lost touch these last 20 years.  I found her once again on line and was happy to reconnect here in Kalamazoo.  South Haven was a great place to lunch with them. We look forward to seeing them again.

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Beautiful Michigan.........

This week we celebrated the end of summer with a short trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glenn Arbor and the Leelanau Peninsula with dear friends the Menz's.  The dunes were voted Best National Park one year, and they certainly are spectacular.  If you haven't ever seen Lake Michigan you are in for a surprise as it looks more like an ocean than lake.  It is huge!!!..and beautiful.  We found artists at the top of the dunes trying to capture the day and I so much wanted to join them.

 

We stopped a short while in Glenn Haven, now a park property, and just in time to learn about the life saving station there that saved many from drowning when their ship wrecked on the coast.  At each stop along the trail we hiked to the water but skipped the dune climb despite George wanting to give it a try.

 

Arriving in Glenn Arbor we were just in time to check in to the Sylvan Inn B & B for two nights stay.  This inn served lumbermen many years ago and is a favorite with visitors.  We loved the cozy atmosphere and getting to know fellow guests and sharing new and old travel experiences.  After a quick shower to rinse off the sand we had accumulated, we were off to La Bercasse and a fine French dinner.  The sun was setting as we rounded Glenn Lake and came back to the inn where we turned in for the night, resting our weary legs.

 

Thursday we arose and joined guests for breakfast on the wide porch of the inn.  It was cooling down and getting windy but a bit of sun made it pleasant there.  First stop was the Pyramid Point trail, about 1.5 mi. on an upward climb.  Whew!!  Reaching the top it was windy and sunny with an incredible view of the lake from the high dune.  Coming back down we took the rest of the hike through the woods to complete about 3 mi.

 

On to Suttons Bay and lunch at Martha's.  What a cute town of shops and galleries and a beautiful bay.  And of course we needed to stop at wineries on the way back across the peninsula...did you have any idea how many there are?????  We found Michigan wine is very good as we tasted our way back buying a few bottles here and there.  Leland was interesting and quaint with the old fishing pier and boats moored for the day.

 

Back in Glenn Arbor we stopped at the inn briefly then walked to a big sprawling restaurant called Boondocks for supper.  Tonight was simple burgers and salads for us.  Of course one of us, Dennis,  packed the five decks of cards for Hand and Foot...what a great way to end the day...playing cards in the quaint living room of the inn, sipping some wine with good friends.

 

A bit of shopping in the town of Glenn Arbor, visiting the galleries for inspiration, lunch at a deli with "mean Sue" for a cook, a quick tour of Manistee including ice cream filled the last day of our brief jaunt.  Our grand dogs were home waiting for our return and jumped with joy to see us walk in the door.

  Always the stairs!!!

 Sleeping Bear Dune & Lake Michigan

 French Restaurant

 Pyramid Point

 Suttons Bay Marina

  45 Winery

 Leland, "Fishtown"

 Sylvan Inn, Glenn Arbor

 Manistee

  Remmington & Maggie waiting......

A GG Day in Paradise!!

  Dale wearing Michele's scarf

  Entrance to Paradise & Dale's scarf

 

  Working

 

Yesterday we spent the afternoon in Dale's Paradise!!   Her beautiful new studio space was all set for a gathering of 5 creative GGs.  Chriss was missed but there in spirit as we marked up the silk scarves and used bottles of alcohol to bleed the designs.  Of course none of the scarves turned out as we envisioned but were lovely when wrapped and draped around our necks.

 

Some drinks and munchies in the gazebo were enjoyed as we tried to figure out men, life and why hairs grow in strange places now.  It was a beautiful day and a beautiful way to spend it.....laughing, talking and enjoying the wonderful friendship we have.

 

Thanks Dale!!!!!! 

 

  In the Gazebo

  Jane & scarf

  Marilyn & scarf

  Michele's scarf drying on hostas

 Dale, Marilynn & Joanne

  Working

A few of the paintings done in France

 Wisteria, Alete des Bains,Fr  wc

 Chateau des Andre, Limoux, Fr wc  Can you find the photo of me doing this small painting?

 

 Le Concept, Limoux square, Fr  pen

 

 Peyriac des Mer, Fr  pastel

a few questions answered

Yes, we used the spiral stairs, all 28 of them several times per day.
Yes, I used that toilet!!
We had over 200 paintings pinned to the studio walls by the last day..Kathy had the most.

We painted a lot even though it looks like all we did was eat!!

Le Monastere was very nice with good beds and great showers with really hot water.  It is decorated with many antiques, flowers and is pretty as well.  The studio was a little crowded when all us were there but nice to have available.  Chris is renovating a new space for a larger studio next door.

a few more photos...yes we painted!!!

Fred & Meg painting in Limoux
Karen,Ann & Fred painting in Alet des bain.

The end of a wonderful experience

All but Meg and Fred are back home again with the exception of the Italian group who are staying a bit longer. The trip home was a very long and, we say, grueling day.
It was a wonderful adventure getting to see so many beautiful villages and areas. Many we were able to paint and some only photograph for future reference. We are planning for the special show in November, sure to be beautiful.

Thank you to Neil for putting the trip together, to our spouses who managed without us, and to the artists who all got along well. Chris, Isobel, and Fabiyan were great hosts, drivers, cooks,and travel guides....thank you all as well. We have had several discussions about where to go "next time". As we are ready to pack our gear....well, maybe in a few months at least!!

Photos...Chris our host and Isobel with her son Clement who went with us when there was room and biked with Chris while we painted, often 10 miles or so.