Trip to Petosky, Michigan

We took a few family photos before my sister had to head south to Detroit. Very rare when everyone is together. The first pic is my sister, mom, and brother and me. The second is my sister, sister-in-law and brother...and the third is all of us with my brothers family, 1 niece and 3 nephews.

Boyne To Boyne Marathon

Here are some pics of the marathon. It took place from Boyne Mountain Ski Resort to Boyne Highlands Ski Resort, or vice versa, I can't recall! Anyway, it was very intense as most of the marathon was through VERY hilly country. The first pic is my brother at a water station with my Mom off to the right. (She fast walked a few steps with him!) The next couple pics are the back of the resort where the runners approach the finish line. My brother is just making his entrance onto the grass. The last pic is my brother crossing the finish line!! I am not sure what his time was, I believe 4 hrs 30 min but he finished! The had an electronic clock and someone announcing the runners names as the crossed.

It was interesting as we drove to different mile markers to wait for him and give support. He had his times written on paper from his 5 months of training about where he would be at what time. The also put tiny microchips on your shoe laces to keep track of everyone.

MN and UP of MI

On September 25th, Mom and I drove to Petosky MI to visit my brother and his family and my sister from Detroit. We went to support my brother while he ran the Boyne to Boyne Marathon. On the way, we spent a day and a half in Grand Rapids, MN visiting my former college professors, Dr Bruce Lee and Dr. Cathy Finley. We had a great time. The foliage across MN and Upper MI was awesome. I had forgotten how colorful the leaves are back in the Midwest. Bruce and Cathy live on a lake. One afternoon Bruce took me out cruising in his motor boat and to show me his fishing spots and to view the foliage (middle pic). The first picture is Mom at Michigan's first rest stop which is in the Upper Peninsula. By the way, all the rest stops in the UP have chemical toilets...no plumbing. Felt like I was back in the mountains again.

Oh, it took FOREVER to drive across the UP to get to the Mackinaw Bridge to cross down into Northern Lower MI. It is two lanes with virtually no traffice and the speed limit is 55 mph. that is sooooooo 1980s!

The last pic is of Mom and me with Bruce and Cathy when they took us out to dinner. We had such a great time!