Traverse City, MI

Jeannie & Dell's

Traverse City, MI

Friday, April 24, 2009 - About 7:30 pm -We had just got back from a family walk at the Winnebago County Forest Preserve when Jim said, "pack up we're going to Traverse City, MI."

Our friends, Jeannie and Dell, live there and he also picked up a gallon of primer hardener at NAPA.

We had a seafood lunch at Apache Trout Grill and then they gave us the grand tour of Traverse City. Every bite was oh, so good.

Dell drove us along the 18 mile long peninsula which protrudes in a northerly direction splitting Grand Traverse bay into east and west arms. It sits on the 45^th parallel [half way between the North Pole & the Equator] and sheltered from major winds by the east and west points of the bay, the area had long been home to bands of Ottawa. We got out and took pictures of the Old Mission Lighthouse, Hesler Log House, and the beach.

The Hesler house is a rare surviving log house dating from the early settlement of the Old Mission Peninsula. From 1854 to 1856, Joseph and Mary Hesler built the house of hand-hewn pine and hemlock logs fourteen miles south of here on the eastern shore of the peninsula. The Heslers sold the house in 1866. During the next 125 years it served as a private residence, housing for migrant workers, a school, and quarters for a bull. When the house was threatened with demolition in 1992, citizens rallied. The building was moved to this site and restored. The lighthouse is located on the same property.

The wind was brisk and the temperature cold. It was hard to believe that we left Durand on Friday at 80^o F and arrived the next day at Traverse City's 40^o F Even though the sky was overcast and rainy...we thought the views were spectacular.

We drove back downtown and went to a few shops.

We purchased pie at the Grand Traverse Pie Company. YUMMY!

We experimented with oils and vinegars at Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars.

There were 21 different Oils and 14 Balsamic Vinegars! You can taste oils and vinegars and decide for yourself what you like and which Balsamics go well with your favorite Oils. When you are done creating your own combinations, they pour and bottle your own "signature" selection. What you tasted is what you take home! We tested many different combinations but in the end I bought the 18-year Traditional Balsamic.

The Cherry Republic was situated across the street from Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars. Cherry products galore. Samples everywhere! Cherry Wine Jelly was my favorite...well, almost everything I tried was great!!! LOL ;)

TRAVELING TIP...

Missed Paying a Toll?

Illinois Virtual Tollway Map This map shows where the tollway is, mile markers, cost of tollway and oasis locations. The Illinois Tollway grants a 7-day grace period to pay your missed toll.

Jim and I aren't sure if we missed a toll or not last Friday!!! The interstate split and we saw the tollway to our right...but wasn't sure if we missed one to the left. We could have gone through an I-Pass! It was dark out and with the split-confusing...it was near I80/I90. I contacted the IL tollway phone-line and on-line and they can't tell me if we missed one. LOL. They said if we think we missed - we should just go ahead and pay. And if we pay that it needs to be the right amount! WOW. They sure don't make it easy. So what did we do??? We sent them $1.00!

It was great seeing Jeannie and Dell again!
Thanks for showing us such a great time.