Hummingbirds and Coffee

This morning we enjoyed our morning coffee from the couch while watching hummingbirds at the feeder.  They are very interesting birds to watch.

 

Traverse City Get-a-Way Weekend; Stop Number 3

Jenn and I have always wanted to visit Traverse City and decided to make a day trip of it.  It is about 242 miles (3.5 hours) from Ann Arbor Michigan so it was a bit of a drive.  Our drive from Frankenmuth took us through Midland, MI, where we were able to observe the damage from the failed (Edenville) Dam from May (2020).  It was amazing to see what use to be a flourishing (Sanford) lake transform to a new green open field with several boats sitting dry-landed, and several docks sitting above grass.

Traverse City is one of many cities that sits off of Lake Michigan.  Traverse City is the largest producer of tart cherries in the United States, producing approximately (140-million pounds), is also the home of the National Cherry Festival during the 1st week in July.  Tourism is also a big attraction in Traverse City during the summer and winter months.

Grand Traverse Bay sits off of Lake Michigan.  Grand Traverse Bay divides into the West and East Arm as it gets closer to the shoreline in Traverse City.

Cherry Republic, a famous cherry-centric store, is based out of Glen Arbor, about 30 minutes west of Traverse City.  Their 2nd flag ship store is based in Traverse City.  For those of you who have visited the Ann Arbor store, the Traverse City store is about 2-3 times bigger in size than the store in Ann Arbor.

An arial view of downtown Traverse City 

An arial shot of downtown Traverse City; Clinch Park and the Yacht Club.

Clinch Park, a City Park on the shoreline of West Arm Grand Traverse Bay, is home to the Duncan L Clinch Yacht Club.

A view from the far dock in the yacht club looking out into West Arm Grand Traverse Bay.

The 'Time to Let Go' Statue in Clinch Park

The Boardman River runs through Front Street in downtown Traverse City.  Front Street is a very central type main street is downtown Traverse City with several store, shops and restaurants.

We decided to eat at Bubbas Burgers and Bar, located on E Front Street between Wellington Street and Boardman Ave.

A view of the East Arm Grand Traverse Bay as we left town

We decided that we wanted to eventually drive the famous M-22, a highway the starts Manistee and ends in Traverse City.  The 116 mile road hugs the coastline and drives through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and around the Leelanau Peninsula.

Traverse City Get-a-Way Weekend; Stop Number 1 and 2

We decided last minute to take a get-a-way day and drive up to Traverse City, MI.  On the way to Traverse City, we stopped at Bronners Christmas Store in Frankenmuth, MI.

The Pit Spitters home is at Turtle Creek Stadium.  They are a summer collegiate baseball league (Northwood League).  Due to COVID, team in the Northwood League became creative.  The Pit Spitters utilized an alternate jersey team name (The Great Lake Resorters), and created a 3rd team, the The Northern Dune Bears and put together a summer 3-way schedule.  Due to a COVID outbreak earlier in season, they turned the 3 teams into 2 and expanded rosters and now play a 2-team schedule.  

The Pit Spitters are the former Traverse City Beach Bums (2005-2018) of the Northwood League.

A view from behind home plate

A view from our seats

Monty the Pit Spitter

Pit Spitters win 4-2 vs. The Resorters

 

Georgia Peaches

After stumbling across the Georgia Peach Truck tour, Jenn and I ordered and picked up a case (25 lbs) of Georgia Peaches.  The company, Georgia Peach Truck Tour (https://georgiapeachtruck.com/) grows peaches locally in Georgia and through pre-orders, delivers them around the US.  They current tour takes them to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland,  Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois

 

Holy Toledo...Zoo

Brian and I visited the Toledo Zoo; once by ourselves to check it out and another with our family friends the Conways (Darryl, Sheena and Kiara)

There were several exhibits open; Birds (e.g African Penguins, Caribbean Flamngo, Bald Eagle, etc), Mammals (e.g. African Elefant, Amur Tiger, Grey Seal, Bornean Orangutan, Meerkat etc) and Reptiles (e.g. Green Anaconda, Galapagos Tortoise, Saltwater Crocodile, Reticulated Python, etc.). We did not make it into the Aquarium due to long lines (COVID precautions--limited entry).

We are looking forward to visiting the zoo again, as well as attending some of their events (Paws and Claws 5k, Unlimited Lights Before Christmas Event, etc.)