Senior stuff

Except we weren’t staying.  We had places to go and things to do and see.  We got up on Wednesday, Sept. 22, and spent a leisurely morning having coffee and breakfast and then packing for a road trip, in a vehicle this time as I still wasn’t 100 percent.

We were headed north, to Ontonogan, Michigan, where we were going on an ATV tour for seniors.  We spent the day driving leisurely to our destination.  Although the colors hadn’t really begun to change around here, there were a few things to photograph.

I love seeing farm equipment coming down the road.

While I do enjoy farm equipment, my day was made when we spotted a couple of swans on a pond.

We ended up in a cottage near a lake just as it began to drizzle.  The forecast for the next day was not so good either so there was a second reason I was glad we’d taken the truck. 

We awoke on Thursday, Sept. 23, ready to go on our senior tour.  This is an ATV ride where they have ATVs and drivers to take you on some back trails to look at the fall colors.  We met at the designated place to meet the bus that would take us to the fairgrounds, where the ride would begin.  It was still drizzling a bit, but it wasn’t unbearable.

There was a long line of ATVs lined up.  I counted nearly 30 of them, all kinds, all colors, all sizes.  We ended up with Frank, who had a Cadillac of an ATV with a covered cab, doors, windows, a heater and a windshield wiper.  We got lucky as we weren’t wearing any raingear.  We’d not even thought to bring any.  But they took care of us.  We got lucky with our driver, too, because Frank was from around the area and could give us lots of information.

Our driver, Frank, at 72, was more senior that we are.

 

Some of the ATVs lined up and ready to roll.

We rode on, along a trail that stretched for about 20-some miles.  It started out over rocks left over from copper mining.  We rode over old railroad trestles, stopping here and there to stretch our legs, take a few photos and chat with others. 

We crossed several old trestles.

There wasn’t really the color changes yet and people figured the peak would be a couple of weeks later.  When I was down a few years ago, it was the same thing.  Oh well.  We had a great ride and saw some beautiful country from the trail side rather than the road side.

The colors were just starting to change.

We passed over a few little rivers.

We ended up at the Twin Lakes State Park where they had a lunch of pasties, cookies and beverages.  It was fun, and it was free.  When’s the last time you got a free lunch?  Of, course, you can't count the cost of airline tickets, hotels, food and gas to get there to go on the ride.  As we had come the furthest for the event, we were even interviewed by their local news station.

What's for lunch?  Pasties!!!

Just in case we needed it.

There were still pretty leaves, even if some were on the ground.  The one at the far right makes me think of a leopard.

Some of the colors are vibrant even in the rain.

Once we had finished lunch we were loaded back onto a bus and taken back to where our vehicles were parked.  From there we once again hit the road, ending up at a Ramada along the river in Hancock, Michigan.  It was still cloudy and not the best weather, but it’s been a great time and it’s always pleasant to stay at a place where you can see the water.