Goodbye Michigan!

I plan on going back and doing Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel someday, and then maybe the western coast and the beaches.  It reminded me of Minnesota - the terrain, weather, people.

We did a lot and covered a lot of ground in Michigan - but none so exciting as Chris winning another national medal.  I'm so proud of him!!

I'll leave you with this image, and hope that you enjoyed the blog!!

And one more stop...

We left Sault Ste. Marie at 8AM on Monday morning, and started our long journey home.  We were, to say the least, exhausted.

So what did we do?  We stopped in Appleton for lunch and beers with Andrew and Kari!  Also saw Avery, which was great.

It actually broke up the trip, and then after a freaking awesome meal, we headed home.  It was good to see them!!

Couple of things about Michigan...

1. When you ask people about "where" anything in Michigan, they hold up their hand and point to where the approximate location is...on the lower peninsula...which is the "hand."
2. The upper peninsula is called "the mitten."
3. There are deer everywhere, and road kill is plentiful...sometimes frightening when you drive over something that you are only certain it was a deer based on the shear area the carnage covers...
4. They make VERY tasty chocolates in the U.P.  I came home with $50+ worth that I will be savoring...hopefully for longer than this weekend.

Sault Ste. Marie, and Mighty Mac!

So our last leg of the Sunday journey took us all the way up (finally) to the U.P.

GM texted Chris to let him know that there were high wind advisories on the Mackinac Island Bridge - also known as Mighty Mac or Big Mac.

Here are some facts that might seem interesting to some, but seemed terrifying to me as I contemplated driving over it...

• Mighty Mac is a suspension bridge spanning five mile long bridge that spans the Straits of Mackinac, connecting the Upper and Lower peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan. 
• Opened in 1957, it is 8,614-foot long, and is the world's fifth-longest in total suspension, and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western hemisphere.
• The Mackinac Bridge splits Lake Michigan to the west and Lake Huron to the east.

What I can tell you is that (1) the wind advisory is really for big trucks, (2) it was pretty straight and flat, and (3) I did just fine.  It's unfortunate that I didn't blog back in 2008, because my freak out crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland would have been one for the ages...

Stayed the night with GM and MK, wonderful hosts who even made waffles for us in the morning!  They are good beer people, and we are so grateful to stay with them in their wonderful house in Sault Ste. Marie!

Mighty Mac

 

And then, we were in the U.P.

Traverse City and Jolly Pumpkin!!

OK, this was overrated.  Had some nachos becaase we were starving, and had a sampler of four of the Jolly Pumpkin sours.

Only was was OK.

So Chris bought a few bottles of the Rojo.

And I bought a bottle of bourbon and a bottle of cherry vodka from the distillery there.  WTF?  I think I need help.

Grand Rapids and Brewery Vivant! (Yes, again, don't judge me.)

As we were essentially going through Grand Rapids on our way up through Michigan anyway, I remembered that we forgot to stop at Brewery Vivant for growlers!!

So we stopped.  Two growlers of the North French (one went to GM and MK, our amazing Sault Ste. Marie hosts for the night), and a couple of four packs of the Zaison and Solitude.

We're going to be very popular this weekend when we share with CBD and JM.

Kalamazoo and Bell's Brewing!

First stop?  BUCKET LIST!  Bell's Brewery.  And what a total cluster it was.  Somebody tell me how they manage to make like 15 different beers, and only 2 are really good?  And those two are AMAZING.  Of course I speak of Two Hearted (desert island beer) and Hopslam (seasonal, yet a favorite).

We had the sampler, as you can see, and a glass of Two Hearted.  See the story of our visit play out in pictures...

Here we are...our pilgrimage is complete. 

I'm so happy!!  I'm here, I'm here!!!

How in God's name am I going to drink all of these...when
I really just want that glass of Two Hearted...

Oh yeah...that's how.  He'll help me.

Sigh...ain't nothin' finer than a fresh Two Hearted...NOTHING.
And especially not those other six beers, because they sucked.

Selfie at Bell's - it was windy!

Benton Harbor >> Kalamazoo >> Grand Rapids >> Traverse City >> Sault Ste. Marie!!

After we said our goodbyes with Sherwood, we embarked on our marathon journey from Benton Harbor up to Sault Ste. Marie where we were spending the night.

That's 402 miles, three breweries, and about 7 hours of our audio book.

Here we go.

Sunday - Visiting with Sherwood!

On Sunday, we got up early and drove south to Benton Harbor, MI, where we had the most lovely visit with our dear family member, Sherwood.  We visited him at his family farm - a wonderful piece of land and the house where he grew up.

He took us on a tour of the farmhouse - complete with historic pictures of many generations of his family, amazing art work (Sherwood is an amazing artist), and a feeling of such warmth, love, and home that I could see why he was such an amazing person.  Places tend to carry the vibrations, feelings, and energy of those that frequent them as well as the activities performed there - this was no exception.  Growing up here certainly imparted much on him, the amazing person that he is.

We talked a lot about Roger and my dad, which is pretty great, because I don't necessarily get to do that with many people that knew my dad, now that he has been gone for so long.  We also checked in on the rest of our families and all of the goings on within them.

We then went to brunch at a wonderful bistro in St. Joseph, and sat outside overlooking Lake Michigan.  It was a beautiful day, and we were so sad to leave.

Too often when there are years between get-togethers, it gets easier and easier to not see the people that you love.  That is something that needs to be remedied.

My apologies...this blog is most delayed!!

So after a huge night at the NHC, with big wins for all the Minnesota Clubs and, of course, for our own Brewmaster Smith, we were exhausted.  Up late, up early...it was rough.

And being in the car for 9 hours on Sunday, and 10 hours on Monday does not lend itself to blogging the right way.

So we are home, but I will now catch you up on our last two days of our trip...

Three Minnesota Clubs, three medals!!

Chris and Brett at the podium!!

Go Minnesota clubs!!

He won! He won! He won!

Silver medal for the lingonberry cider!!

Us at NHC Banquet!!

Dessert at NHC Banquet

Deconstructed Black Forest Cake.  Nom nom nom.

Club Night Gnomes

So as a better explanation to last night's gnomage...

The Northern Brewer crew decided to wear costumes last night to Club Night - the night at the conference where homebrew clubs set up booths and serve their homebrew.

Chris didn't know until about 7:15 that he was to be a gnome.  I walked into Club Night about an hour and a half later, and there he was, in all his gnomey glory.  Then the rest of them walked up.  I took a picture and then 7 gnomes converged upon me and gave me a big group hug.

Vacillating between horror and glee, I decided that it was a great group hug.

The gnomes were a great hit - you could tell some people really wanted a picture with them but were embarrassed to ask.  Note that Chris is the only one without a real beard...

Really...no words.

There are really no words...

Brewery Vivant...part deux.

So we went back tonight with the Norther Brewer crew - couldn't be a nicer bunch of guys.  Even bought me dinner.  So I did the only thing I could to repay them - I left.  He's on his own with the beer guys tonight, staying at a different hotel.  Thank God.

I'm going to tear into my stack of magazines (National Geographic Traveler, Wine Enthusiast, Travel + Leisure), and likely fall asleep with the TV on.

Ah...vacation.  How I love thee.

All Egan, all the time.

We even have a magazine.

Brewery Vivant - Amazing!!

Last night we went to Brewery Vivant after the industry happy hour. 

Oh. My. God.  It was amazing!!  Unbelievable Belgian beers, great food, and fun environment.  AND it is located in an old church!  Awesome.

And on Sunday, we'll be getting GROWLERS OF IT!!

Our bartender...and our samples!!!

Our farmhouse pate, and...

...our house pastrami sandwich.

The Zaison (Imperial Saison) and
the North French Style Ale (Biere de Garde)

Happy Birthday, Mr. Wonka!

I just saw online that it is Gene Wilder's birthday today!

He's 81 today, but scores 100 on the great actor chart.

Bonne Bell...post script

Yeah...not like it was when I was a kid...really tastes bad. 

Bonne Bell

I totally just bought this at Target.

We might need a snack...

Beer rundown...Founders starter.

- Oak Aged Rye IPA
- Double Trouble Double IPA
- Devil Dancer Triple IPA
- Backwoods Bastard Scotchy Scotchity Some Damn Thing

Whoa.  Definitely going to need a snack.

Founders Brewing

New brewery on our list!  Doors just opened, first beer of the day. 

Funny

Last night when we got back to the hotel after dinner, Chris dropped me off and there was a group of about six guys milling around the hotel entrance.

I felt like they looked a little suspect so said, "Watch me so I don't get killed."

He looked at me with the funniest "are you kidding?" face and said...

"They're brewers."

Wednesday Plan

Today we are off to:

1. Run to Target to pick up a six day supply of Chris's prescriptions...yeah.
2. Head to Founders Brewery
3. Maybe head to HopCat - doing a Stone tap takeover and special release
4. Check into the conference
5. Chris will help NB help set up for the conference - will be back at the hotel relaxing
6. Evening TBD!

Hmmm...really?

This morning there was a silverfish running around the bottom of the bathtub.

WTF?

Am I a hotel snob if I admit it?

Dinner and Beers - Day 1

We got to Grand Rapids about 9 PM last night.

Sidebar.  I'm not sure what I think of Grand Rapids.  It's a little run down, or at least the hotel and where it is located is.  I will reserve full judgment until later today as we do more breweries and site seeing.

Went to a restaurant called Graydon's Crossing - it was great!  Awesome beer list, good food.

Here's the beer list - all Michigan breweries:

• Patty - samplers of:
• Greenbush Sunspot, American Wheat - it was really tasty!  Of course, not as good as Chris's hefeweizen, but really...what is?
• Arbor Brewing Buzzsaw IPA - it was good, but a little overdone on the Columbia and Centennial hops
• Arcadia Hopmouth Double IPA - it was OK...wanted something more.
• New Holland Brewing IPA on cask - good, but by that point I was so tired and full, Chris finished it.
• Chris:
• Arcadia Hopmouth Double IPA - he liked it.
• New Holland Brewing Imperial IPA - pretty good, says he.
• New Holland Brewing Rye IPA - was OK, was light on the rye character.

I'm going to try (TRY, mind you) to only drink beers I can't get at home.  EXCEPTION:  Bell's.  We're going there on Sunday as a pilgrimage.

Welcome to Michigan!

We arrived!  This is a first for both of us - visiting Michigan.

Did you know that Michigan has the greatest number of lighthouses of any state in the US?  At least that is what they told us in Maine when we were lobstering.  I like to believe it is true.

Light House at Ludington

View of the Michigan shoreline

Coast Guard Station at Ludington

Here is what happens when they unload the ferry.  I had no idea they would have so many semis!  So you just stand there and wait for your car, while the valet's drive your car out, then RUN RUN RUN back into the boat to get the next car (later in the process up a steep ramp to the upper deck!).   I would die if I had that job.  That is clear.

On the Boat!

If you ever want to try something a little different, take the SS Badger (i.e. Ludington Car Ferry) across Lake Michigan.  It's a little cheesy, but the people are VERY nice, it is VERY clean, and there actually is a lot to do for 4 hours.  They had movies, bingo, and two TV lounges.

Here's me walking under the GIANT life boats.  Honestly, I really just thought, if the ferry sinks, what are the odds I'll get to one of these before freezing to death?  But they are there nonetheless.  There's another view of the rear (aft?) of the boat - complete with huge truck they were ferrying.

Lifeboats on the SS Badger

View from the rear of the ship

Selfie on the boat

They did have beers on the boat...like these two.  Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy and Leinenkugel's Red.  Well, let me tell you...it could have been worse.  Shocking coming from me, I know.  But at the time, where there are no other good alternatives (the Bell's Oberon RAN OUT), this is what you drink.

SS Badger

We have come aboard!  This is a picture of us pulling up to the car ferry...note the pollution being spewed...

It's a little old school.  Definitely not fancy.  And there are a lot of mullets and Nascar shirts.  We will see if the sea bands work and I can avoid being sea sick.

Research is important...

So I got "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt in audiobook for our trip...been listening for 2.5 hours.  It's amazing so far.

Good thing we like it because I just checked and the length of the audio book will have us listening for another 30 hours!!

Maybe I should have checked that before we bought it...

Roadkill

What is happening with all the dead deer on 94 and 29 in Wisconsin??  Good lord.  Is there a population boom?  It's like every five minutes there's another one on the side of the road.

Off to Michigan!

We are off on another road trip, this time to Michigan for the National Homebrew Conference. 

Interestingly, we will not be going through Indiana at all, instead taking the Ludington Ferry across Lake Michigan, and then coming home through the U.P.

No Super Subs this trip.