THE ENGINEERING OF AMERICA

Hi everyone,

A short drive from Flint to Dearborn, Michigan, the home of Henry Ford, the Ford Museum, factory and the Greenfield Village.  We bought a 2 day package and are staying about 3.5 miles away and get hotel accommodation and entry to 2 attractions each for a good deal. 

We couldn’t check into the hotel early so headed over to the Henry Ford Museum.  It’s all part of the same complex – HUGE HUGE HUGE – actually as you will get by now everything in America is big.  It houses a huge collection of machinery, steam engines, cars of course, agricultural machinery, American manufacturing, heroes of the sky, presidential vehicles, the bus Rosa Parks was on in Alabama during the civil rights movement, a drive in theatre, Weiner mobile – a vehicle that looks like a hot dog - only in America.  Just huge.    A circular modular house designed in 1946 which was to use aluminium, Perspex etc and was to offer ¼ million houses a year for the post war housing shortage. 

Attached to the Museum area is Greenfield Village which we will visit tomorrow.  This houses the Henry Ford house, along with famous houses from around the country that have been moved here to create a tourist historical village and Neil will be touring the Ford Factory.

Tonight we’re dining at my writer friend’s Kelli Finger/Abbey MacInnis’ house.  So cool to meet after all these years of chatting on skype or emailing on the net.

The area we’re in is really suburbia Detroit.  Very busy, commercial mixed with residential.  We're here for a few days...even spending July 4th, so it will be nice to get to experience it American-style.

The Weiner Mobile

Neil and the 1918 Willys Overland - like one of our Works in Progress

The Car Kennedy was in, in Dallas

The making of a Ford Model T

Lunch  with all the sauces - 1foot long hot dog (we shared it!).

See you tomorrow, Jane and Neil

CHRISTMAS IN SUMMER

Hi everyone

Still in Michigan

We left Petosky after a second night there, and even slept in!  Before we got on the interstate we did a little retail therapy – well I did – at a Marshalls – which is a department store like Farmers at home.  Then we took the back roads, more like NZ country roads/highway and was hopefully in search of lighthouses and stopped at Bay City – on a lake it’s life really is because of the waterways.  We stopped at the museum which was free to go in, and details the start of the city, the maritime life etc. 

Then we headed out of town – spying a flea market so we wandered around there for a while – nothing exciting bought.

But not far away was Frankenmuth.  This is a German-styled town – really busy as a tourist spot, but so pretty – they’ve done a great job with it.  On the outskirts just before the freeway again is the largest Christmas store in the world! – Heaven .  This place is ABSOLUTELY HUGE – probably as big as four football fields.  They have categories on everything you can think of and ones you would never think of.  Baubles for gifts for teachers, dogs, cats, baubles from around the world.   You could get lost there but they give you a map – there are fifteen different sections, and then more in the middle.  An cafeteria, a chapel, an hotel!  Can you believe it.

Me and the big guy!

Nativity outside the store

This says it all, but wait there's more - inside it's HUGE

They have snowflakes leading the way

Singing penguins on the way out!

There were bus loads of Japanese tourists just leaving and apparently on any one day there is 100 staff – though they normally have about 300 staff on the books working different shifts, and when its’ the real ‘season’ they have about 600 staff!   

From Frankenmuth it’s a short drive to Flint.  We’re really just bedding down for the night here before we head to Dearborn tomorrow.

Enjoy some photos.

Jane and Neil

LOCKS AND LAKES

Hi everyone, sorry yesterday's post was delayed - photo problems.  So you're getting two in one day - This is number 2

A late start to the day – ¼ to 9!   Most days we’ve been out and about by 8a.m.  Today we headed north right to the Canadian border.  We went to a town called Sault St Marie – which is pronounced Soo St Marie.  There is an American Sault St Marie, and a Canadian one which they add the name Ottawa onto the end.

Our boat for the cruise

Union Carbide Hydro works - the building is 1/4 mile long, all handmade cut stone

The closed doors of the 1st lock

Water is going up so we can go forward

The lock is opening - white dots indicate water starting to flow in

The 1st lock - the black doors are still shut -  u can see the water line where it will raise us up to in the boat.

The bridge between The US and Canada

Sault St Marie borders the St Mary’s River beside the great lakes. There were rapids between the two and so locks were built so that boats could traverse, though the locks are non operating for several months of the year.  I thought this was because of the ice etc but it’s really because they need to be able to do maintenance.  The drive to Sault St Marie is 2 hours passing over a HUGE 5mile long bridge from Mackinac City over the straights between Lakes Huron and Superior.   America sure knows how to do engineering.  I mean 5 miles of bridge!  Makes the Auckland harbour bridge look like a baby!

We did a 2 hour boat tour of the locks, going through two locks.  The first filled up and we were through in 8 minutes- all that water in 8 minutes.   Then we cruised into the lake area of which half way across we were in Canadian waters.  The Canadian side of St Marie has about 70,000 residents whereas the American side only 14,000.  We think this might be because the Canadian side had a big steel mill and smelter on its river edge and obviously it needed more workers etc. 

From Sault St Marie we decided not to go over the bridge to Canada for ‘been there’ moment, because we noticed the traffic coming back from the Canadian side to the US customs was extremely slow.  Instead we headed back south and stopped at St Ignace, a small town on the lake.  There was a big hot rod car show/swap meet on – and the cars, full of granny and grampa drivers were cruising up and down the main street.  Heaps of stuff for sale.  We got chatting to two guys who really recommended the fort reincarnation at Mackinac City – just back over that 5 mile bridge.  So we headed back again and found it an hour before it shut.   It’s huge and very very realistic. It is on the site of the original fort set up by the French/English who traded with the local Indians and had a really good relationship with them. 

The Mackinac bridge - five miles long 

A replica of an indian hut, because skins were traded, they didn't use for huts (teepees) but used bark instead

more of the bridge

Inside one of the traders replica huts

Whose that girl?

Part of the fort taken from the fortress wall

Instructions on the use of a black powder musket

 See you back tomorrow

Jane and Neil

NORTH...TO NORTHERN MICHIGAN

Hi everyone.

Jut a quick note first to say thank you to everyone for reading and your comments we've received on the blog and personally.  Nice to know we're being read!   

What an interesting day we've had.  We awoke to a really thick fog settled over the township of South Haven.  Even down by the lake you couldn’t see anything which was  a shame.  We had decided to go via some side roads northwards and they  took us through lovely leafy suburbs that reminded me a bit of Vancouver, Canada.  A quick stop when we saw some big stores, Neil gobsmacked at the cheap prices of building materials and even ride on mowers – are we being ripped off in New Zealand? Driving into northern Michigan we found ourselves in Manitsee.  We were driving through and I glimpsed down a side street, which in fact was the main business/shopping area.  Oh, my – what a gem of a town.  Built I believe around 1905 there was a huge steel mill factory from 1907 – not sure if still operating, and the buildings were really quaint.  The townspeople had down the town proud, the curbs all lined with potted flowers, hanging baskets.  Just glorious. Really worth a stop.

Streets of South Haven - not the best pic, but they were cute cottages

On from there we headed through Traverse City (kiwis think of a large Taupo township).  It buzzed, lots of old buildings and a circus being erected.   

Having gone off the interstate and taking the small side roads, though longer, as far as scenery is concerned it has been really worthwhile. Some of the small towns are so cute and worth a visit.  We are now thinking how we can find a route back to south of Joliet, without going NEAR Chicago.  

After Traverse City we headed north again – we’re getting close to the Canadian border – and we have stopped for the night at Petoskey.  It’s a bit of a resort town,  casinos etc but nothing like Vegas.  We’re staying at a Days Inn.  Great deal – we get free food from their cafeteria – whenever we like from 6 a.m. to 10pm!  Yes. True.  So dinner, breakfast and a sleep and shower for $59.00!  Can’t complain about that.  I even managed to get my veggies!

Menistee

The river which goes thru the town.  Really pretty

The entrance to the business area

Sorry we didn't get a post up yesterday but had problems loading photos.

Jane and Neil

TRUCKS, AND MORE TRUCKS...AND IS THAT THE MISSISSIPPI I SEE

Drove from Newton to South Haven today – and wondering why I keep calling it safe haven – could be because we need respite from the traffic!  It has been a long day.  More corn, but lush green landscape and the cutest barns – I think of Scandinavian influence, white with curved roofs and many had little turrets or some sort of toppers on them.  I struggled to get a decent picture but am hoping to find a good book on them.  Other barns in a similar style were that barn red, and across the lush land looked lovely.

However…not so the traffic – now don’t be insulted but America you need to obey your road rules.  No one it seems keeps to the speed limit anywhere, and heaven help you if you do, you’ll be trampled on by trucks and cars alike all charging past.  Indicators – what are they?  Courtesy to let you change lane when there’s a vehicle in the shoulder up ahead – nope doesn’t happen.  Sorry – not being rude to any American readers, but glory be this was not an easy day for driving.

However, we’ve made it to our safe haven at South Haven and are yet to decide if we head north to Mackinaw Island (north Michigan) or take the train into Chicago for the day.  Really, I think I would prefer heading north, or at least stay in town here and potter around.

So not much to tell today….tomorrow might be another story.

Jane and Neil

Photos.... disaster  - none really turned out today - but you would have seen lots of corn - again - driving over the Mississippi river (had to spell it singing that song!), and lots of speeding traffic.

One interesting thing is that there are sooooo many trucks on the road.  In fact i calculated that we saw at least 20 passing us the other way every minute!! So it would be at least 7200 trucks a day in our six hour drive.  That's a lot of trucks.

Hopefully we'll have more photos tomorrow

DO YOU WANT CORN WITH THAT?

Neil's eaten a tad too much since we arrived LOL

The view from atop the museum, looking over the Lincoln highway

What a day of contrasts!

Before we left Kearney, Nebraska this a.m. we first went to the Great Platte River Gateway Arch – I thought this was just a wooden arch from the times when Kearney was a fort. Wrong!  It was totally awesome and overwhelming.  You arrive up the freeway about 2 miles from Kearney to see this wooden  fort type face span the freeway.

It’s so much more – and travellers – definitely worth a stop.  You enter the museum to see a huge elevator going up into the roof span, a movie visual at t the top of the pioneers coming across the region.  Either side of the elevator it’s as if you are climbing a rock face with models of people depicting the pioneers. Oh, and you are greeted by everyone in period costume!  The guy at the front was quite young – early 20s and told us all about the Indians in the area.

Once up the elevator you enter another world – a walking/talking tour of 120 years of American history of this Lincoln Highway.  The pioneers and what they went thru – horrible at times – the development of the railway, the road from its inception up until today- you wear a headset and there are people talking as if they are reading from their diaries, talks of the hardships, the death and disease etc.  Sounds gruesome, but really it was fabulous and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

Hard to see but these are the states the Lincoln highway traverses

A sod house the indians used

Outside there are walks along the river, a sod house which is what the local Indians lived in – all very educational.

Next on our agenda was going to the Classic Car Collection – awesome – over 5 million dollars in cars and over 170 cars.  We got to talk to the guy I had been in email contact with the last few months and he and Neil talked about the cars.  Great visit.

1956 Ford Victoria

1921 Willys (like Neil's car)

A 1956 Kaiser

We had to head east then, the day was moving along.  Left Kearney (pronounced Karney) and the landscape changed gradually.  Still flat, still LOTS OF CORN.  I mean it went on for really about 300 miles!! Yes, true.  And it went back as far as the horizon.  Apparently they use some of it to make ethanol.   

The landscape by the time we hit Omaha, Nebraska changed to a very green and a gentle roll.  Very pleasant and relaxing after long straight roads and the rocky scape of Nevada and parts of Colorado.

But the traffic – what can I say!!! Scary! And the freeway interchange. Some observances – Americans drive very fast – most freeways are 75mph – which is about 120km and scary as heck because you have to change lanes if someone is parked up on the shoulder and the cars behind are moving lanes too and don’t wait around for slower kiwis!  We got thru the interchange but it was nerve wracking.  We decided however we would keep going and decided that we would ‘sail’ through our original stop which was to be Des Moines – which we hit at rush hour!  Dumb.

But actually it wasn’t as hair raising as Omaha.  We now parked at Newton, Iowa and have decided to forgo Chicago.  

One of the other interesting things on the journey today was the huge (I know I say that word a lot but it’s very appropriate for the USA!  Everything is big to us kiwis.  Anyway, we passed a huge wind farm, and then a bunch of long haul trucks went passed all afternoon and they were carrying the blades - one per truck, and the central column – a span per truck. And funnily enough when we arrived at our motel tonight, a bunch of truckers were here ready for the morning to haul these things across the country!  Would have loved to photograph them, but haven’t had a chance yet.  For the men reading this, the trucks are 217 feet long (I think that is just the trailers).

Anyway… we’ve settled down for the night – had a lovely salad at Taco bell – after venturing across the road!

See you back here tomorrow

Jane and Neil

HOW FLAT IS FLAT?

Well our time in Castle Rock with extended family has come to an end today.  We had a delightful breakfast  on the deck before we left.  We were so well treated.

Today was all about the changing landscape.  Gone is the rugged rock-scape and browns to oranges in color, replaced by the flat, flat lands as we headed to North Platte.  Apparently we have been told there is about 100 miles of flat road and then more flat.  It makes you realize the diversity of this country.  Imagine how the pioneers felt, going over the flat lands here, then arriving at the horrendously rugged and arid lands of Nevada etc.

 The land is very agricultural which was soothing to my kiwi-conscience.  However there weren’t a lot of cows – but there sure was a lot of corn.  Acres and thousands of acres of it.  It went for miles and miles to the distance and was constantly beside us as we drove east.   No sheep though!

Firstly we had a bit of a problem getting out of Denver – oops wrong way – and then we didn’t really want to go on the toll road, but had no choice – interesting – it’s tolled in parts – i.e. a few miles, then the next bit is tolled and so on, so by the time you get off it, you’ve been billed about 5 times!  Good money maker.  However it took us past the new airport.

Also a new discovery was the visitor sites!  We’d seen so few of them so far, but as we neared the eastern part of Colorado – at the town of Sterling there was a lovely visitor centre and very friendly volunteers.  Lots of brochures, clean toilets (very important) and a delightful grassed area for picnicking.

We’ve arrived in Kearney, Nebraska.  There’s a strong smell of sulphur – not sure what from, because it doesn’t seem to be a thermal area.  Tomorrow we head off to a vintage car collection, a wooden archway that is to do with the pioneers and local tribe, plus we hope if time, to go to a pioneer museum. 

Today has really been a discovery of the next stage of America, i.e the changing scenery and as Neil says, how flat is flat?!!!

See i told you it was flat!  And there were these powerlines all the way through!

Catch you here tomorrow.
Jane and Neil