From:  Chris Hoke <mineralrock@yahoo.com> 
Subject:  days 1-2, ann arbor, michigan, mackinac
 island, michigan 
Date:  Tue, 10 Oct 2000


Days 1-2
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Bay City, Michigan
en route to Mackinac Island, Michigan.

Fall. Fall.  it's here, allright.
driving for hours, all you see is the trees, and
they're brighter here than they are in cleveland.
bright crimson red leaves, with a touch of maroon.
green trees with a touch of red, a touch of gold.
we're "bounding", b/c our RV is a "bounder".
the decal on the side has a kangaroo with a litle 'roo
in her pouch. they're "bounding".
we're "bounding".

Last night we drove to Ann Arbor, home of the
University of Michigan, as well as the corporate HQ
for Car and Driver. Great town.  college town, lots
of silly shops, but also great restauraunts.
we ate at an italian joint called "gratzi", white
table cloths and bow tied waiters, but a relaxed
causal college feel. OH my lord, the food was
amazing.  i had mozzerella tomato and onion salad,
i hadn't had that since Italy but i knew it would be
great. and for the main event, pasta with bruschetta,
the pasta was sublime and subtle, but the bruschetta
just exploded with flavor. i know sunny and nick and
tyler, you guys turn your noses up sky high, but this
was truly great food.  and for dessert, tiramisu.

But enough about food. UM is one spiffy looking place.
 all young college type kids, thin and styled and
attractive. just like the buildings and streets and
everything in Ann Arbor.  thin, styled, attractive.
what struck me was this huge, 75 foot tall flag pole
with an equally impressive USA flag hanging from it.
it just starred you straight in the face and let you
know that UM was as part of the american dream as
anything else.

After we left UM we just drove, well, dad drove untill
he was pooped, then we saddled up for the night and
crashed, watching a little "get shorty" before we
passed out.

so, we just drove through cheboygan, the town with the
funny name.  saw some kids playing hackey sack.
could've been me. you know what? there are no foreign
cars in michigan. you know why?  cause that's all they
make, is cars. GM, Ford, Chrysler.  ton's of em.
all i've seen have been a few lexus's, and some small
jap and german cars in Ann Arbor.  but that's a
college town.

what else? there is an excess of bugs on the
windshield.  they just keep splatering against it.
you'd think bugs would know better than to fly willy
nilly across the freeway. or at least, high enough to
avoid the rolling condo that is the Bounder.  well,
we've got free will, not them.  too bad.
nick, i'm pretty sure we're gonna come BACK through
chicago, but we're going to be nowhere near it on the
way out.  so, i'll let you know in 3 weeks.
did i mention the trees????

if you need to get in touch, ***/***/**** or
***/***/****.  we prefer the later.
as always, mineralrock@yahoo.com  but don't expect a
speedy reply.

Chris (of the octogon beats)
bounding, somewhere between cheboygan, michigan, and
mackinaw city, michigan.