Today we only drove about 100 miles compared to the 270 miles of yesterday.
We left New London and drove to Manitowoc to the USS Badger car ferry that would take us across Lake Michigan to Ludington, MI. It was impressive how many cars can be loaded onto the ferry. We were the last to be loaded as we drove ours on. As always we make quite an impression and people take our pictures. Everyone is always amazed at how far we've driven in these cars.
Once on the ferry all passengers went to the top side. The ride is about 4 hours and the time changes to Eastern time. During the 4 hour ride there is quite a lot to do if you choose to. In the main part of the ferry you can play bingo, watch movies, shop at the gift store or browse the museum. Of course they also serve food and drinks. If you'd rather not do any of this there are plently of places to sit around tables and visit or stand or walk outside on the deck. After touring the ferry our group sat inside and visited at a table.
It's interesting to see who rides on the ferry and this time there was a very large group of Amish. I struck up a conversation with one of the young women and asked my normal 100 questions. This group came from Indiana and had been traveling around in a bus for about 2 weeks. I didn't remember Amish could ride in motorized vehicles and it didn't occur to me that they take vacations, too! It shows how little I know of their culture.
We reached Ludington, MI where we stayed at a Roadside Inn for the night. Across the highway from our motel a carnival was going on. It looked so inviting with the colorful lights dancing in the night. I would have liked to have gone over to ride the ferris wheel, but everyone was tired from the days adventure so we didn't. Even though I wasn't able to go to the carnival, I did get to see their magnificent fireworks display. They were better than any on the 4th because they were close, no one was in my view and they were pretty much at eye level because I was on the second floor of the motel. Best of all they lasted close to 1/2 hour! I loved it!
It wasn't much later when Mother Nature tried to outdo those fireworks for her own. A huge storm with thunder, lightening and damaging winds came through. The TV said to take cover, but as we didn't have anywhere to go we didn't and it was over quickly.
Tomorrow we'll be driving 134 to Frankenmuth, a cute touristy German town know for there famous chicken.
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