After traveling in the west for so many years, we found the Catskills a much different experience. As so often happens in our travels they are calling us to come back. Now that the family visit is done our thoughts move to Michigan and what awaits us at home base. Our next stop is one that have tried to make work several times without success. Several of our go to vegetarian cook books comes from Moosewood located in Ithaca, New York. Since we have used their cookbooks for so many years we want to try out their restaurant. Finally, we made it happen with a nice dinner along with a walk in the downtown. Now we can say been there and done that. The food and experience was ok but not sure there is any reason to go back. There is a new Moosewood cookbook which is now on the list to buy.

The Ithaca area has a great number of waterfalls. We had one day and explored as many as we could. Being early in the season we did not see a lot of people and we had the RV park to ourselves for the most part.

The last time we stopped at Niagara Falls the boys were really young. When we stopped to calculate when it was determined it must be almost 35 years ago. The postmortem this time it was a good experience and we enjoyed our day checking it out. Lots of construction on the US side so it was hard to get around. Actually the views are better from the Canada side anyway. You walk the bridge across the river to get to the Canadian side. Interestingly the Canadian charge a 50 cent toll to walk from their side.

The day started out cloudy. But by noon there was lots of sun and blue sky. There lots of photos and sharing just a few.

Our plan was to come back through Canada. However, in talking with others both the US and Canada Customs were giving everyone with an RV a hard time. Also we realized that we had live plants traveling with us which is a no no so we bailed and drove the additional 150 miles using the Ohio Turnpike.

The Bronner’s Christmas store experience is something else. We only do this when it works into our travels. However, we find the city of Frankenmuth is a good experience beyond the Christmas theme.

Jan is posing with her cousin Irene Bronner. Jan’s parents are both second generation German descendants. The German community in Central Michigan was a close knit community for many years. Frankenmuth has capitalized on the German Heritage and made it their theme for many years. Over the years it has been Americanized but they still try.

Would you believe over seven acres of Christmas opportunities? It is an amazing place to visit, you could even say spectacular. They have a strong religious presentation. There is so much it is hard to believe that the demand would be there. They have grown from a humble beginning with a small store on the main street to where they are today in the last 40 years.

We often stay at the Jellystone park in Frankenmuth then the last leg of the trip is an easy one. The city is also known for its Chicken Dinners. Jan and I both grew up about 40 miles from there. The first time I ate there was the early 50s with my parents. We would come there on very special occasions. Yes, that was before the Bronners we know today.

The Frankenmuth Brewery has been around for 150 years. Their beer is very good and they also have very good food. This is the last meal on the road now back to “real” life.

After a stop to see my brother Ray and his wife Jill in Bay City we make it back on a Saturday afternoon. Sunday morning we were welcomed by a wet snow. However, it soon melted and spring was back.

Traverse City is still as we left it. Enjoy walking the downtown streets and seeing all the familiar sights like the old bank building and the Boardman River. We love being here. That being said we love being on the road too. The summer here will be way too short….

Now on to the rest of the summer here and then the trip out west…

God Bless,

Larry and Jan