Fourth of July in Harrison, Michigan - 2

Patriotism on display on our national holiday, from a stars and stripes golf cart to a kid playing Captain America. However, there is something about an Imperial Storm Trooper waving the flag that's very uncomfortable.                

Fourth of July in Harrison, Michigan - 1

The big Fourth of July parade in this area is in Harrison, the next town north of Clare. Pure small-town Americana. This year's theme was super heroes.

Everyone here is so friendly. People strike up a conversation just because you are standing there. The man above and his family participated in the parade, riding a fancy truck promoting his auto detailing business. Mrs. C, a noted member of the language police, pointed out the spelling error on his shirt. Well, his brother printed it, he said. We avoided discussing politics.          

Plan B Was Okay

Turns out there was some misunderstanding about yesterday morning's event. Clare's little airport has a fly-in/drive-in pancake breakfast around the forth of July. No plane rides but 75 to 100 single engine aircraft, mostly old and some just strange, stop in for a $7 breakfast of pancakes (as stated), cheesy potatoes, ham, eggs and coffee. People ate at picnic tables in a hangar. And everyone got complimentary treats from Cops & Donuts, more about which soon.

After breakfast we drove way up north to Traverse City, where the National Cherry Festival was in progress. I guess they grow 'em up there. It was packed. Nowhere to park close enough with a baby in a stroller. Visitors swarmed across the main road, oblivious to traffic and signals, at times reminding me of migrating herds of bison. So we drove straight out of town.

The alternate destination was Leland, Michigan, even farther north. It's a cute village that lives off summer tourism (it must be brutal in the winter). There is a nice sand beach along the northern reaches of Lake Michigan. Audrey got her Great Lakes baptism.             

My New Business

Downtown Clare. Should I make an offer to buy it?

Possibility of a light aircraft ride this morning if luck is with me. Tentative plan for a day trip to the National Cherry Festival in Traverse, City, Michigan, way up north.              

Open Hamburgers

Forget sesame.

Greetings from Clare, Michigan, a little north of center in the state and kind of getting up and out there. My son, his wife and their 10 month old daughter recently moved here from Chicago. Long story but daughter-in-law is from here. 

The population is 3,100, by coincidence about the same as Marysville, Kansas, where Mrs. C went to high school and her mother still lives. The feel is very different. The central parts of Michigan we saw today are quite flat and have lots of woodlands. The territory around Marysville is rolling and open prairie. There is an expression in Kansas that the corn is as tall as your eye on the Fourth of July. This place is so much further north that it might not reach your knee.

These businesses are across the street from our hotel in the center of town. More exploration to come.

             

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Look Down

I had to go deep into the archives for this one. Taken from a restaurant in an upper floor of the tallest building downtown. Bridges, the Arch, the Mississippi River and Illiniois in the background.  

I have lots of pix still to post from the Pridefest Parade. They may have to wait until I run through images from tonight's destination, Clare, Michigan. It's kinda out there. All will be revealed.             

Tears Of Joy, Slurp Of Soda

At least that's how I interpret it. Form your own opinion.

May of may not do theme day tomorrow - I'll have to pull something from the archives. There's lots more of this material and we're on the road Friday for the holiday weekend. Off to the north woods and a part of this big country I've never seen before. Report maybe on Saturday, Sunday for sure.