Heading North

                                                               March 1, 2017

 

We had to be out of the condo by 10 AM. Even though we had spent the entire previous day packing the car, there are just last minute things that can't be packed until you go out the door, plus I had to clean the place. You know, you want to make a good impression, so the owners want you to come back! So we headed out of Gulf Shores, AL a little after 10AM. We made it to Batesville, Mississippi for our first days drive heading to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Our drive was about a 7 hour drive, which is a lot for us, because Joe did all the driving.

We stopped and stayed at the Comfort Suites at a rate of $97 a night. We usually stay at a much lower rate motel, but I talked Joe in staying in nicer places.

Last year we stayed at a couple of 2 star motels that were so bad, I didn't even want to take a shower. This place was like 3 years old, and was clean. Plus it had a really nice buffet free breakfast bar the next morning.

We continued our trek north the next day through a corner of Arkansas,

and on into Missouri.

We drove past where a tornado went through the previous evening in Perryville, Missouri where 160 homes were damaged and 1 fatality. So glad we were not driving through this area the day before! You can see more about this tornado at this link http://www.ksdk.com/weather/severe/deadly-tornado-touches-down-in-perryville-mo/416379064

 North of Perryville, we stopped for our second night in Hannibal, Missouri at the Sleep Inn.

This is also a very nice hotel,

with a full hot breakfast bar for free.

Our drive was a short one the next day and arrived in Iowa within an hour. We stopped for an hour or so to see my older sister Karen and her husband in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, then continue up the road to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Joe dropped me off at my mom's and he went across the city to stay with his mom.

We both stayed with our mom's for a little over a week. I took my mom to several doctors appointments, and helped her clean a few things around her apartment. On Sunday evening, I joined my mom and the other residence for the weekly Bingo games. Everyone played with 2 card, and the Bingo announcer called the numbers fast, one after another. On top of that, each game was different. I had a hard time keeping up with everyone. Bingo can keep the mind sharp when played at the speed it was played at mom's place.

Shortly after I arrived, we got a call from Tiffany (my daughter), telling us she was flying in because her grandfather had passed away, and she was coming to go to his funeral. That evening, there were tornado warnings, so all the residence went down to the main floor until the warning was lifted. Most of the residence were in their PJ's

Before Tiffany left to drive to Ottumwa, Iowa, for her grandfathers funeral, mom took us out for breakfast at Perkins. (Tiffany is short like me, but anytime you stand next to mom, you look tall).

While at mom's, I took her to see Patty, her sister in law in North Liberty, IA. We met my sister Karen from Mt. Pleasant there and had lunch at the Blue Bird. (Mom finally doesn't look short, because she is standing next to another shortie!)

 March 12, 2017

After 10 days in Iowa with our mom's, it was time to get back on the road for Michigan. Here we were going through the metropolis of Chicago and down around Lake Michigan.

Once around the bottom of Lake Michigan, and around the lower east of it, we finally entered into our now home state. We stopped in Grand Rapids for the night because we had our 7 hours of driving in, plus I had a Dr's appointment in Grand Rapids the next day.

It had snowed during the night in Grand Rapids, and still snowing off and on as we headed out of Grand Rapids to Northern Michigan.

After a couple of hours in our drive, we got a little heavier snow fall, but thankfully the snow was not sticking, except in the center of the road.

The snow didn't last but maybe 45 minutes and as we got closer to home, it was smooth sailing!

When you see Boyne Mountain, you know you are getting close.

After going through Boyne City, we took our final drive along frozen Lake Charlevoix. As we drove into Boyne City, and along the lake, we saw 2 foxes in two different areas. This is a first for us to see in this area.

At home, I got these pictures of Joe next to the ice along our shore.

There must have been a brief warming, which causing the ice to shift and move up on the shore.

View out our front window. Welcome Home to winter!