The 2024 Road Trip
Oct. 10 - Oct. 27
Out of State Gas
The first thing I noticed on the road was that gas was about $1.50 per gallon cheaper when I left California. I had to figure out ethanol content and what my new car's limits were (max. 15% and I found none that was above this. (10-10-24)
Mona Lake
This was shot from the back window of my friends Dan and Lynn Robinson's new Michigan house. They're transitioning from California to here near Muskegon, where Dan grew up. SO beautiful! I can see why they're doing it. I stayed two nights. (10-15-24)
The New Car
I actually bought this car because I didn't trust my 217,000 mile old, 2007 Ford to make the road trip. This was a used leased car, a 2022 Subaru Impreza. It was comfortable and ran great, but figuring out all the new electronic gadgets was like learning to drive all over again. (10-8-24)
Beautiful Downtown Brimley
Population about 450. It's on Lake Superior about 15 miles west of Sault Set. Marie. I was 16 when my church youth group visited this town. Two years later I and two others from that group visited the state park there, and met Mary. Mary and I have been friends ever since. She bought a small place next to the park and spends summers there.
Lake Superior at Brimley
A very short walk from Mary's place I stayed three nights. (10-16-24)
Changing Fall Colors
I hadn't thought of the time of the year when I left on the road trip, but I hit it perfectly for the colors. This was taken from a rest stop off of I-75 near Grayling on my way from Brimley to my cousin's place in Northville. Spectacular! (10-19-24)
Dad's Old Business
The morning after my wonderful visit with my cousin Bo and some of her family, I went to search for two family sites in nearby Rochester Hills. This is a nursing home my dad started back in the '60s. Back then it was Avondale Nursing Home and it's still operating under a different name (The Springs at Rochester Hills). I worked summers there. (10-21-24)
Granddad's Old House
My dad's dad was a very successful "industrialist" back in the 1930s and had a 40-room mansion built. It was called "The Haven". Due to a sharp rise in taxes, it was later converted into a highly respected psychiatric hospital which operated until 1968. It eventually burned down. The property became the subdivision of Grosse Pines in Rochester Hills, a short walk from where my dad had his business! This plaque commemorates the Haven. Google "Fred M. Shinnick" and you can read all about it. (10-21-24)
Another Shinnick Business
Several years ago, I discovered there was a pub in Chicago with my name on it. Different family entirely. I made it my Illinois stop on my 50-State Pledge. When I got there (contrary to posted hours) it wasn't open. Having left Michigan and passing by Chicago, I tried again. Again, it was supposed to be open but wasn't. But the picture of the outside was much better. (10-23-24)