On the road again

by chuckofish

It’s hard to believe that two years ago I was back in my home town celebrating my dual personality’s birthday.

Here’s hoping this year’s party was just as fun — I thought about you all day!

Time is a funny thing, isn’t it? Just a week ago I left Michigan, hoping to get home before the ice hit. I had a wonderful time visiting my brother and his wife, first at their home outside Detroit and then at their cottage in Algonac. We paid a visit to the Detroit Institute of Art, where we viewed the furniture and early American and European painting galleries, as well as the ancient art displays, including one of my favorites, the glazed tile Mushhushhu (aka Serpopard) from the Ishtar Gates in Babylon.

Now that would make an interesting kitchen back splash!

I haven’t been to a museum in a while, and I can’t tell you how nice it was to do so with my knowledgeable brother. We had a great time discussing the merits of each piece.

Once at the cottage, our focus changed to nature, of which we saw an amazing variety: a snowy owl that perched on the boathouse roof; a mink that frolicked not 15 feet away; several live muskrats (plus 34 dead ones along the road — we counted); an egret, and too many species of waterfowl to name. We also had a chance to go pistol shooting at the new range in Algonac State Park, which was great fun. I felt very professional, but my brother is the marksman.

We also fit in a little walking and birding. Here’s the hardy explorer hunting for the elusive red-bellied woodpecker.

It was too windy to take a boat out on the water, but Chris and Joanna did treat me to a superb dinner at a restaurant where we enjoyed perfect waterside seating and the catch of the day.

Really, I can’t say enough about the trip — the company certainly made up for the arduous drive there and back. I guess I’ll just have to get back on the road again soon!

Have a great weekend wherever you are, and don’t be afraid to hit the road.