Cats and dogs

We left Saugatuck under cloudy skies and headed to Holland for the tulip fest.  Because the winter here has been so harsh, the blooms are a couple of weeks late, but Holland was beautiful anyway.

We stopped at Windmill Island Gardens, where they have an authentic 350 year old Dutch windmill.

We continued along Lakeshore Drive and had lunch in a Grand Harbor just before it started to pour.  Even in a pouring rain ( and hail) with limited visibility we could tell this was a very beautiful part of the world.  

We stopped at an off leash dog park on Lake Michigan between downpours,  and both dogs loved it.

We saw this in Manistee, the SS City of Milwaukee, a Great Lakes railroad car ferry built in 1931 and now undergoing restoration.  No tours of the ship cuz it was raining cats and dogs.

We also stopped at Point Betsie lighthouse but didn't stay long because of the rain.

We then passed Crystal Lake, separated from Lake Michigan by sand dunes. It was once 17 feet deeper until the army corps dug a channel to drain it into Lake Michigan, thereby lowering it.

There was still snow by the side of the road.

After checking into the Honor Motel in Honor, Michigan, I drove to Beulah to do laundry. I meet the nicest people in laundromats, and today was no exception.  I met the owners of the laundromat, John and Cathi, and spent a wonderful couple of hours talking to them. 

They drive a 1948 Studebaker camper bus that John has rebuilt.   It is totally tricked out, and even has two air conditioners; I now have bus envy.  And they gave me lots of info on what to see and do in the area.  

So tomorrow we explore the northwoods of Michigan, and hopefully the weather will improve.