Everyone enjoys a roots trip!

Those old roots …

Hello!

Up this morning … grudgingly - about 7:30 am and didn’t pull myself together until almost 9 … lovely night of sleep, as I was really tired.  The driving was lovely and until we hit Ann Arbor, stress-free … but once we hit rush hour traffic …

Driving over Clinton River bridge

Older brother's first home was here!

Beautiful tree lakeside

Clinton River

This morning we decided to do my Roots Route, something that I almost always do when we come to Michigan.  Lovely day although brisk and very breezy – low 60’s, which is really a change from the past week but, apparently, a low front moved through, bringing down the temperatures.  They’re supposed to go back up in a day or two.  Do hope they’re up by Thursday, as we’ve got baseball tickets to see the Tigers play the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (or whatever they’re called now) on Thursday afternoon! 

More Clinton River

Once around Selfridge ANG base

House in New Baltimore

New Baltimore house with flowers

Headed first down to Jefferson Avenue, which is the road that runs along the water’s edge, first through Lake St. Clair and then Anchor Bay and the St. Clair River. 

Fish Fly Bike Rack!

Beach/park at New Baltimore

New Baltimore Main Street

Church in Anchor Bay

My grandparents had a cottage in Fair Haven, on Swan Creek, and it seems like we spent most of every summer, and certainly almost every weekend of summer, at the cottage with various assorted aunts, uncles and cousins.  I really loved that cottage, and even though I haven’t seen it since I was probably 17 years old, I could draw a diagram of every square inch of the place.  Never mind the fact that there was only a cold water tap in the kitchen, and an outhouse behind the garage, it was a great place to be.  There were apple trees and weeping willows, and all were great for climbing.  My grandfather had a garden and a big strawberry patch and raspberry bushes.  Remember picking berries and eating more than went into the pails!  There was a big screened in front porch with gliders and rocking chairs, and some wonderful very old and old-fashioned furniture that I loved to sit on. 

An actual mail box in use!

Buck's Dixie Diner!

Where the cottage used to be!

Back of the property, on Swan Creek

These were the days before expressways were built, and every Sunday night we would be in stop-and-go traffic through Mount Clemens.  The problem was that Mount Clemens was known for their sulfur baths.  I found the following in Wikipedia:   The first bath house in Mt. Clemens, called the ORIGINAL, was constructed in 1873 and marked the beginning of the city's fabulous bath era, the city later to become known as the "Bath City of America," and famous around the world.  At any rate, the smell of rotten eggs was everywhere in the oppressive heat and humidity, and that’s when I discovered that one can only hold one’s breath for a certain amount of time before needing more air!  Wow!  Incredible memory!

When I was somewhere around 16 or 17, the cottage was sold, and we stopped going to Fair Haven.  The people who bought the cottage eventually tore it down and built a welding building instead.  They also took down most of the trees … very disappointing! 

So, back to the Roots Route.  We went through New Baltimore and stopped to walk around the little park (much improved over the years!) where we would occasionally go to the beach to swim.  From there to Anchor Bay, past the Church we would attend every Sunday morning, and then into Fair Haven and parked at Dixie’s Diner.  Technically, Dixie’s is called Buck’s Dixie Diner, but it is still basically the same small place that has stood directly across from the cottage since I was a child.  It has become a very popular place for breakfast and lunch.  It was definitely a very special treat when I was a child.  I loved to sit at the counter on a stool that swiveled all around!

First, we walked across the street to the cottage property.  It looks somehow so much smaller than it used to!  As I remember, it was a long run from the water to the cottage, where my Dad and uncles had their boats.  I remember we used to swim in the creek sometimes; heaven knows what was in that water! 

There is someone still living on the property, who wondered what we wanted, but was very pleasant when I explained why we were visiting.  He didn’t remember the cottage.  Oh well … I do!  From there, we crossed back over the highway, and walked the couple of blocks to what had been pure paradise – a real Dime Store on one end, a drugstore in the middle section (with more high stools at the soda counter!!!) and a small market at the far end.  Now the drugstore and market have been combined into one, and the Dime Store property is to rent.  Those were great times! 

Crossed the bridge over Swan Creek, and past the old fire station and found my very favorite house.  I always loved it, and used to imagine living there.  It had always been painted white, but now is done in lovely shades of gray.  Very much improved! 

Back of cottage property on Swan Creek

Former dimestore, drugstore & market

On bridge over Swan Creek

The house I always loved!

Back to Dixie’s Diner and in for lunch!  R had a Michigan Salad – greens with pecans and dried cherries and a terrific raspberry vinaigrette.  He said it was great!  I had a ham and cheese sandwich on focaccia with cole slaw and hash browns.  All delicious!  Then back to the car, heading to Algonac and the Dairy Queen.

Beautiful drive along the bay, taking our time.  There are some strikingly beautiful homes in this area, especially the older, Victorian style.  Drove through St. John’s Marsh, which is now a protected area – used to be called a swamp, but is now officially a lagoon and protected!  We did see two Momma Swans with lots of cygnets!  SO cute!  Stopped at Colony Tower for a few minutes (I think my love of towers dates from my first view when I was somewhere around 5 years old!)  And finally got to Algonac and my vanilla cone dipped in chocolate.  It was really blustery and cold, so I managed to eat it successfully in the car without getting it all over everything!  We drove north as far as Marine City, and then turned around and headed back. 

Back to the hotel around 2:30 pm with perfect timing, as my sister-in-law was finished up with her doctor’s appointment just then.  We did need to do a quick load of wash (yes, again!).  Lovely equipment here at the hotel, and we were done in about an hour and a half.  Now we have all clean clothes for at least a few more days!!  Yeah!!

In Dixie's Diner!

R's Michigan Salad

My sandwich with Cole slaw and hash browns!

St. John's Marsh with swans!

Colony Tower

Story of the Tower

"My" Dairy Queen in Algonac!

House near Colony Tower; I could live there ... in summer!

Marie and me with Tom's lion!!

Then left for Tom and Marie’s – about 4:15 pm – and guess what?!  We hit rush hour traffic yet again, along with some major road construction along the way!  Sheesh!!  Arrived about 5:15 pm – it took an hour!! – and it was SO good to see them again!  We visited at the house for a bit, and then they took us out to a lovely Mexican restaurant for dinner!  Real Mexican food – yummy, and definitely a great find!  R had his favorite – spicy shrimp, and I had three enchiladas with a red sauce and rice.  All delicious!  The burrito my brother got was HUGE, and he will definitely have left overs for at least several days to come!

Back to their house around 8 and a bit more visiting.  More family to see tomorrow, and we are very much looking forward to it!  Do wish they lived closer and that we could get together more often, but that is often the way with families, isn’t it? 

Back to the hotel and now to post and hit the sack!  Thanks for letting me share my Roots Route with you!

More later!

m

xxx