Northern Michigan

We're parked in Carp Lake, Michigan, a small hamlet where Helen's mother grew up and where Helen and her siblings and many kids have spent their summers for decades. We're opening up the family compound (big house and three cabins) and getting the place ready for all the family coming for Helen's mom's graveside service. Carp Lake is about 5 miles south of Machinaw City which is the community on the south end of the Mackinac Bridge...a mamouth structure connecting southern Michigan with the northern peninsula.

Many truly special memories are treasured by the entire clan. Great fish tales, many 'first time up' on skiis, evening wiener roast around a warming fire, visits to Sturgeon Bay (Lake Michigan) and the huge sanddunes, strolling the boardwalk in Machinaw City, feeding the gulls, ferry rides to Machinaw Island (where the movie 'Somewhere in Time' was made), magnificent sunsets, pontoon rides across Paradise Lake to see the Bald Eagles, painting rocks, dinner at Goldie's Cafe, building sand castles, and waking to cinnamon toast and rasberry preserves, among countless memories. Even this kid from the Mississipp Bayous loves it here. It's a lot like 'On Golden Pond', the movie.

Here's a few scenes from the past:



Here's a view of the compound from across the street:

Here is Texas Molly II parked at the motel, across the street from the compound:

Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Kentucky

Helen and I are situated in a truly beautiful campground ... all 1250 acres of Kentucky Horse Park Campground. The park will be taken over by 10s of 1000s in August when the WORLD EQUESTRIAN EVENT is held in the 1000 acre Kentucky Horse Park next door. It is the first time this event has been held in America. The security will be enormous. It is absolutely sold out. Our retired volunteer driver who took us to the Horse Park from the campground told us his usual "vacation" in August had been cancelled. He came to Kaintuck in 2000 from Pennsylvania.

It has been a very sunny, hot, humid and shirt soaking day. A perfect day to sit on the veranda of My Old Kentucky Home and sip a mint julep. However, we just walked and walked and drank lots of water.

Today we spent a fabulous time at the horse park, beginning with a visit to Man of War's gravesite. When a great horse dies, often they will only bury the important parts of the horse -- its head, heart and hoofs, but Man of War, considered by many the greatest race horse ever, was embalmed whole and buried under this statue of him:
We enjoyed an informative tour in a wagon drawn by two Belgian draft horses:
Many other sites in the park are very interesting and informative, including the farrier (blacksmith) shop, the museum, the exhibition on loan from Saudia Arabia, the carriage shop, the breeders barn, etc. One of my favorites was a visit to the Hall of Champions where four of the greatest race horses still living are housed. We got up close and personal with Cigar and Funny Cide. Here they are in that order: We concluded our four hour visit by watching the Parade of Breeders in which various breeds were ridden into the arena by riders dressed like the era or country where the horse was famous:
Chincoteague Paint, Percheron, Arabian and Fresian! Magnificent animals!
Tomorrow it's on to northern Michigan to prepare the family compound for all who are arriving in July for Helen's mom's graveside service (ashes).