Usually this time of year there is a strong hypnotic pull to the North to enjoy the crisp Fall air, blue skies, apples and cider stands by the side of the road and WINE! Lots and lots of wine.
Not sure how many the Traverse City area now supports but I'm guessing 30 million individual wineries. (Apparently the area is ideal as it is the same latitude as France's wine region and surrounded by Lake Michigan.) Alas my constitution only allows about nine stops before I fall in or out of the car.
DIGRESS: With my fondness for wine tastings I thought I would try a beer followed by a vodka tasting in a different region. New record of almost falling in the parking lot before 11 am. Lunch was definitely recommended. I have learned to carry much water and greasy potato chips with which to soak up the excess alcohol.
However this year is different as only 2020 can surprise and delight us. The idea of several stops, in masks, following other people to sip wine in a questionably clean inside venue did not have quite the same appeal this year. Not to mention hotel and restaurant exposures. Also since our annual home wine tasting party has been put on hold, there was no reason to "seek out new wines and explore new civilizations". But I needed a tree color infusion. So we planned a trip to Manistee to visit my sister and imbibe in relative safety. As there was a unique wood furniture store enroute, we planned a stop at a lakeside hotel the night before (loading up with sanitizer and wipes of course).
I made the unfortunate mistake of reading the reviews after the "imossible to cancel" reservation was made. Loaded up on more sanitizer and wipes. Turned out to be ok, just old and definitely on the lake. We were awakened with 20 mile an hour howling winds and waves crashing over the breakwall. Definitely Fall in Michigan. On the way up we got word that my sister was under the weather (not the dreaded C-19) and we could come basically at our own risk. Well one thing the pandemic has taught me is I have not had a cold or been ill since I started all this social distancing and hand washing. So it was a hard no.
As we were booked into the "impossible to cancel" reservation we forged ahead. The furniture shop definitely lived up to billing with some extradorinarily carved pieces and astonishingly high prices. The artists seemed to have a penchant for moose, bear and Native Americans with one full-size carved young lady sporting nothing but a smile. Not even an intricate necklace to hide her charms. Chose a more expensive restaurant on the water for dinner, assuming they may have the cleaning thing under control. Did not disappoint with the subtle lighting glinting off the plastic and pexiglass enclosing each properly distanced table. The view of marina docks was less than exhilirating with only one yacht in residence however. The rubber dessert tray is always a hoot, and I had a mad desire to to push on the tray to see if they wiggle like jello.
With 20 mile an hour winds and some rain climbing down the outside steps of the hotel with bags was an adventure but we emerged unscathed and hit the back roads. Interesting note. Upon leaving about 9 a.m. there was no one "personing" the front desk so you were invited to toss your keys into the mail slot. They really don't try that hard off-season.
There is some debate as to whether the colors are more vivid on a cloudy/rainy day but techinically we had no choice. Another interesting observation was made about the northern and middle interior of Michigan. The Biden and Trump signs were rather equally distributed. This is big as I do not remember that many Clinton or, God forbid, Obama signs the last couple times around. Democrats "be scarce" in the more rural areas.
Though as I have stated in an earlier blog, Biden supporters usually sport one sign while Trumpies bellow out their allegience in an entire chorus of lawn artwork. What is especially humorous is one never really sees that many Trump signs with Pence's name on them. Apparently he cannot even allow his political signs to show anything but his name LOL. Another interesting note, mask wearing was a little scarce in the middle of Michigan, even in the college town of Big Rapids. Is it a coincidence that some of the home grown terrorists after the Governor were from the area? Although one was from a town near us and a few near Grand Rapids.
Another small disappointment was not too many roadside stands though if there was one, they usually advertised their appearance after you zoomed by at 60 miles an hour. Finally stopped at a large one near Lansing that apparently everyone, and their kids, decided to patronize at 2:00 pm on a Thursday afternoon. I assumed they were all on a "home-school" field trip. As a major hater of standing in line, we went up the street to another smaller attraction to get apples and stale cider donuts. (note:did not know fresh, moist cider donuts could be that hard).
But I did get to see some gorgeous color so overall I give the trip a solid B.
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