Sat. 6/12/21, First Annual Motorcycle Ride Across the Mackinaw Bridge

 Hailey, Peyton and Isaac

 Peyton and Hailey Relaxing after a swim back home

 Isaac

Cheryl, Jim, Bill, Paul, Debbie, Elaine, Val, Judy

Me, Cheryl, Elaine, Gayla, and Eva

Elaine, Don and Wes

Don, Luis, Eva, Cheryl and Jim

Riding with 800 other bikes across the Mackinaw Bridge

 Mackinaw Island in the distance

 Our first wait...we found out there was a man on a trike who had a heart attack, crossed the center line and was hit by a truck and died.  We started praying for his family right away.  We found out it would be a three hour wait, so we went up the side edge and got off the exit a short way ahead.  Went to eat, then for a ride.

Bill took us down a gravel road along the water

Elaine, me, Bill, Cheryl, and Jim....we ended up at the Bridge View by St. Ignace.  We saw traffic moving on the bridge, so we went down a short little road(the wrong way) and got on the road right away and went through the toll booth.  We moved a little ways and then the traffic stopped again.  It took us 2 hours to cross the bridge.

 Policeman who handcuffed a guy and put him in his car....one of the reasons traffic was stopped.  There was also a wrecker taking a car that was in an accident away, and then an RV broke down....all reasons for the wait

 Elaine riding on the grid for the little way she had to...we moved to the pavement as soon as we could

Mackinaw City

Bill when we were shopping

Adam's soccer team got first place in U15.  Congratulations Adam.  I am so proud of you!!!

Friday, 6/11/21, Spent the day at CMA booth and motorcycle rally.

 

 New Christian Biker group stopped over to our booth

 Lots of motorcycles on the first day

Bill

Debbie

Lunch at the Keyhole restaurant with Wes, Gayla, Elaine. Loran, Cheryl, Arnie and Jim. We sat at two different tables. There were keys all over the walls, hanging from places in the ceiling and the bathroom floor had lots of keys covered with a clear coating

 Our waitress by Elaine, me on left, then Wes.

Two mighty men of God walking....Bill and Jim

 Mike and Don

Bill and Wes

Last night the thunder was so loud it even woke me up in our hotel room. Lots of lightening and rain.  When we got up it was still raining a little. We ate our bag breakfast from the hotel (granola bar, apple and bottled water) because the regular breakfast room is closed because of Covid.

We went out and the rain had stopped. We wiped the bike dry and went and picked up donuts and coffee.  We took a dozen donuts to the booth too to share.  We walked around lots, talked to lots of people about Jesus and explained what CMA is.  Handed out Bibles, tracks, kids coloring books and crayons, water bottles, and salvation bracelets.  It was cool  out but not cold.  

We had CMA members in the grounds.  We went to Wes and Gayla’s camper for chili and played 3-13. Gayla won both games. 

It was a great day with many opportunities from the Lord.  Melissa hurt her leg, and texted us for prayer.  Bill and I held hands and prayed right away.   She, Bruce and the kids went to our house swimming, and she texted me that her leg barely hurts now! We sure are thankful to God! I called her and talked to her because I was so happy.  Texted with Adam and Vikki.

Thursday 6/10/21, packed for our Mackinaw City trip, checked into our hotel

Following Wes and Gayla hauling their camper and motorcycle, Jim hauling his camper and motorcycle.  Before we got in to Onaway, a bear was standing in the road in front of the car ahead of Wes and Gayla.  It ran really fast into the woods.

Riding through Cheboygan

Bill , Dave and Paul

Wes, Paul and Bill

Bill, Gayla, Paul and Wes

Jackie, Bill, Jim, Debbie, Dave and Paul setting things up

Bill with the Mackinaw Bridge in the background

Dinner at Darrell's with these special friends.  They only let a few in to  eat at a time.

Isaac, Adam, Peyton, Eli and Jacob.  Vikki sent me this after they took all the stepping stones back and got the round ones and put them down.  It is so much easier to walk through now.  We are getting special stepping stones to put at both ends of the little bridge.  It isn't easy to walk across, but the kids like to go over it.

Got ready and finished packing and doing what needed to be done before leaving.  Wes called to tell us they were in their way. He was pulling his 5th Wheel, plus a trailer with the motorcycle on it behind.  We saw them coming so drove our motorcycle to the stop sign at the end of our road and waited to pull out after he went by.  It was a beautiful drive and nice and warm.  The roads were hilly and so much fun.  We stopped to eat in Mio.  I called my cousin Jim and Julie who live in Mio, but they didn’t answer, so I left a message.  It went from nice and hot to super cool when we got close to Cheboygan.  I was happy I had my sweatshirt and leather jacket behind my seat to put on.

We got to Mackinaw City, checked into our hotel, the went and registered and walked around. Paul who was pulling a trailer with all the CMA stuff for our booth had a blow out and it too the trailer fender off.  He was in Houghton Lake. We talked to some people and we’re able to witness about Jesus.  We came back to our hotel, until we heard from Gayla. We all met at the registration place and helped set the CMA booth up.  Then we went to get food with Wes, Gayla and Jim.  My cousins called and talked for a while. They were in Saginaw when I called.  Jim asked if we could stop and visit on our way back, so we are going to do that.  I haven’t seen this cousin for 20 years and we used to be really close.  

We enjoyed the hot tub in our room which was a surprise to both of us.  Did our reading, then went to bed.  Kimmy, Jacob Vikki returned all the stepping stones from our new garden today.  They picked up bigger round ones for us and put them in.  They are so good to us.  It wasn’t comfortable walking on the other ones when I tried them out last night.  

Wed., 6/9/21, Kimmy and the boys came over, Vikki, Peyton and Isaac came over, fun swim and work day,

 

Peyton and Isaac's last Online school day!!!  They did amazing!!!

Peyton, Jacob and Isaac

Eli loves the kitty

Adam

 Isaac relaxing

Jacob

Bill's face got red today...but Vikki really got sunburned

Jacob loading the stepping stones

Look at all the hard work the girls did for me today!  They moved those big rocks, put stopping stones in and edged the garden spot.  Bill hung the birdhouse, and Jacob moved the birdbath and helped haul all of the stepping stones.  Hard workers and loving family

Eli, Peyton, Isaac and Jacob

Jacob, Adam, Peyton, Isaac, Eli and Papa

Vikki sent me this cute picture

It was a super fun day today.  Kimmy and the boys finally were able to come over after two weeks of waiting for Kimmy to feel better from her cold.  Vikki and the kids came over too.  

Bill mowed the grass while we visited for a while.  Then we had fun looking at plants, swimming, visiting, playing UNO, and seeing the kitty.  We worked on the new garden area too.  

Kenzie called and I got to talk to her.  We all Face Timed with Melissa too and listened again to Evan's amazing speech.  We ate sandwiches and watermelon and swam some more.

After everyone left, Bill and I packed for our trip.  I watered some plants so they could soak overnight.  

Tues., 6/8/21, Made a celebration lunch for Vikki's last day of work, Bill got a bridge, wishing well and birdhouse for our new garden area, Amanda got engaged, Went to Coco Loco with Diane and James

 

 Congratulations to our niece Amanda and Alex.  They got engaged today!

Isaac and Peyton...last day of school here

Cute well, bridge and birdhouse Bill picked up for me today in Owosso

Cute picture of Angel and her mom and Bill's sister, Tina on their trip

Sweet friends Diane and her son James

Beautiful rainbow out in back of our house tonight

Got up at 6 and started browning the round steak and put it in the crockpot for Vikki's last day of school celebration meal.   Spent my time with the Lord, then got a call from Vikki.  Peyton had an early field trip for school, so she wanted to know if they could come here early. Of course was my answer.  They got here and Bill was just about to leave to pick up a bridge in Owosso.  Bill invited Isaac to go with him.  Isaac wanted to, so they left.  Vikki brought me a water bottle that keeps things hot or cold like hers.  It is so nice! Peyton started her field trip online with her teacher and classmates.  Vikki and I ate our sandwiches (she brought me one) and drank our coffee.  We walked outside and looked at my garden and plants.  The corn is really growing.  Beets are coming up, and the 5 sunflower seeds I planted all came up.  Vikki and I shared the sunflower seeds, but I only wanted a few.  We filled out Bay Shore Forms so I could get them in the mail.  We relaxed and visited until she had to leave for work.  Bill and Isaac got back and had also got a wishing well and a cool birdhouse that matched.  Kenzie got a wishing well too, when she and Travis went to help Bill.  We have a great family that is always willing to help us.  Peyton helped me peel potatoes, and sure is a great helper.  I got some tracts, kids CMA coloring books and crayons, and CMA information brochures out of the attic to take to Mackinaw City with us for witnessing and for the CMA booth.  I dropped off some stuff to Melissa's, then took Peyton and Isaac to Vikki's work, so she could take them to pick out books at their school.  I went home and Bill had the potatoes all cooked for me.  I mashed them, and cooked some corn.  When Vikki came, she walked out back to look at the bridge.  Then we all ate.  It was yummy and was the best round steak ever.  I will be getting more when I go back to the Mennonite Store.  No fat on it, just great tender meat.  I texted with Adam, my friend Vikki and two friends who are going through cancer right now, (one started Chemo today and the other is having surgery tomorrow) and another friend from church having foot surgery tomorrow.  Praying for all of these dear friends.  We met Diane and James at Coco Loco's for a late lunch.  We went at an off time so it wouldn't be busy.  It was so nice enjoying their company.  James is our Vikki's age and had a stroke.  He is a veteran and he helps James get to Marine Corp League meetings and events.  They started going to our church.  Bill and I went to Sam's Club.  We got some things that were in their sale brochure.  I'm really excited because Kimmy called and she and the boys are coming tomorrow to visit and swim.  She has been staying away because she was sick and didn't want us to get it.  It's been two weeks since I have seen them.