Back in the US of A

Waterloo Recreation Area, Michigan

Ned again. After Debi posted the blog last night, we drove through the worst thunderstorm we've seen on the trip, and probably the worst storm I've ever driven in. However, by the time we got to our campground at Rondeau Provincial Park, the rain had stopped and the view across Lake Erie of the setting sun was beautiful.

We headed out this morning, excited to get back into the US, after 2 weeks in Canada. We waited in line for a bit at the border crossing between Windsor and Detroit, getting anxious as we watched the cars ahead of us get their trunks searched. However, when it was our turn, the border guard seemed quite envious that we had spent 2 weeks in Canada checking out several places that he had never been. Debi asked him if he knew any good history-related places in Michigan that we should check out. He thought for a second, and then called over to the guard that was working in the next booth. The guard came over and started discussing in great detail several Revolutionary War sites that he thought we should investigate. Eventually, we were sent happily on our way, without ever even having the door of our van opened. We have no idea what the poor people waiting in line behind us thought was going on!

On our way toward the border we had been listening to a radio talk show which discussed problems regarding the bankruptcy proceedings of Detroit, and how it was negatively impacting citizens. After hearing all this, I think we perhaps both expected to drive through a desolate ghost town. Instead, we found an extremely vibrant downtown, buzzing with activity, including a musical concert in a downtown square, and some awesome young guys drumming out intricate rhythms on 5 gallon plastic buckets on one street corner. As we left the downtown area, we saw more of the ghost town appearance that we expected, passing an entire shopping center that was completely boarded up. A few miles later, however, we drove through Grosse Pointe Village, which has gorgeous brick and stone homes, many with slate roofs, and perfectly manicured yards. Interesting contrasts, for sure.

After touring Ann Arbor, we eventually found our way to Waterloo Recreation Area to stay for the night. We were amused to tour the campground and see that summer vacation seemed to have been officially decreed for many of the families camping here. Once again, it is the "open" concept campground, with only a few trees, and lots of mowed grass between all the campsites. Our favorite sight, however, as we took a biking tour of the campground and surrounding area, was a bunch of kids gleefully splashing at the edge of the lake. We couldn't imagine that the water was warm enough to feel very good, since the air temperature was still pretty mild, but we figured these kids had suffered such a long and cold winter this year, that they were determined to celebrate the beginning of Summer, regardless of how cold the water was.

Meanwhile, Debi and I are feeling strangely relieved to be back in the US. Here we don't have to worry about figuring out signs written in French, worrying about getting enough "Loonies" to pay for a shower or washing machine, and, in general, not making fools of ourselves, because we're confused about bridge tolls, parking restrictions, or gas pumps.