2026 Road Trip - Day 4

Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026 - I fit in the 2 Art Museums I missed yesterday, so it was a FULL DAY. I drove north in Michigan for 382 miles, grabbing 39 Post Offices (and 2 Art Museums), and checked into the Super 8 in Mackinaw City, MI at 8:30 PM:

Down the road, and at the Grand Rapids Art Museum at 10:30

Favorites include N.C. Wyeth - The Red Dory, c. 1937-38 oil:

Asher B. Durand - View in the Valley of Oberhasle, Switzerland, 1842 oil:

Childe Hassam - Summer Sea, 1906 oil:

I then had a late breakfast/early lunch at Cracker Barrel - it was PERFECT:

Then back up the road to the Muskegon Museum of Art at 1 PM:

Favorites include Edward Hopper - New York Restaurant, 1922 oil:

Victor Casenelli - View of Venice, not dated, oil:

Alfred Thompson Bricher - Rocky Coastline, not dated, oil:

Pretty Lakes in this part of The Country:

The most impressive Post Office was in Cadillac, Michigan:

I checked into the Super 8 in Mackinaw City, MI at 8:30 PM:

Thank you God for another wonderful Adventure Day!

Music for today:

in this morning's hotel room - Bill Evans - Complete Fantasy Recordings (Disc 2), 1989 album, last heard 4/28/2021:

On The Road: Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness' First Finale, 1974 album, last heard 6/30/2024 - very cool:

Loggins & Messina - Full Sail, 1973 3rd album, last heard never:

Lake Street Dive - Fun Machine: The Sequel [EP], 2022 album, last heard never - KILLER VERSION of Bonnie Raitt's "Nick of Time":

The Cure - Galore, 1997 greatest hits album, last heard 6/30/2024 - very good stuff:

Jerry Garcia - Garcia, 1972 1st solo album, last heard never:

Steely Dan - Gaucho, 1980 album, last heard 6/30/2024. I really like Steely Dan:

Jimmy Buffett - Son of a Son of a Sailor, 1978 album, last heard 1/23/2019. you know, Jimmy Buffett:

various - Son of Frat Rock!, 1988 compilation album, last heard never - FUN COLLECTION

Shameless Plug: if you enjoy this blog, you may like my other one about Hiking the 4,000 footers in New Hampshire/Vermont/Maine/New York:
hyperlink: dixonheadingnorth
http://dixonheadingnorth.blogspot.com/

2026 Road Trip - Day 3

Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026 - I was able to take today a little easier. After "Saturday Morning Bible Study" (on Zoom, ending at 9), I drove northwest in Michigan for 271 miles, grabbing 30 Post Offices (and 1 Art Museum), and checked into the Days Inn in Norton Shores, MI at 6:30 PM:

I crossed into Michigan at 11:07

I saw nice "town signs" in Hillsdale, Tekonsha, and Marshall:

In Galesburg I stopped for a little gift for Wendy and me:

In Burlington I yelled "CONGRATULATIONS" to a fun wedding party!

I made it to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum at 3:30 (they close at 4):

a lovely painting by Thomas Hill - Mt. Popocatepetl, Mexico, ca. 1880 oil:

They also have a cool exhibit on the Gibson Guitar Company, which started out in Kalamazoo before moving to Nashville:

At one point I texted my sister Cary: "Making my way through brownies-and-M&Ms, as I make my way across the country":

Of course there is the occasional detour:

After 271 miles, I checked into the Days Inn in Norton Shores, MI:

Thank you God for another wonderful Adventure Day!

Music for today:

in this morning's hotel room - The National - High Violet, 2010 album, last heard 8/16/2025. They are from Ohio, and have a song "Bloodbuzz Ohio":

On The Road: The National - First Two Pages of Frankenstein, 2023 album, last heard 8/15/2025:

Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive! (2 cds), 1976 live double-album, last heard never. lousy - sometimes The Past should stay in The Past:

Yes - Fragile, 1971 album, last heard 6/30/2024 - GREAT ALBUM:

Neil Young - Freedom, 1989 album, last heard 6/30/2024 - EXCELLENT:

Cream - Fresh Cream, 1966 debut album, last heard 6/30/2024. Excellent Classic Rock:

Elton John - Friends soundtrack, 1971 album, last heard 6/06/2021. lovely songs:

Grateful Dead - From the Mars Hotel, 1974 album, last heard 6/30/2026. you know, The Dead:

Jimmy Buffett - Fruitcakes, 1994 album, last heard 6/30/2024. you know, Jimmy Buffett

Shameless Plug: if you enjoy this blog, you may like my other one about Hiking the 4,000 footers in New Hampshire/Vermont/Maine/New York:
hyperlink: dixonheadingnorth
http://dixonheadingnorth.blogspot.com/

2026 Road Trip - Day 2

Friday, Aug. 14, 2026 - Back in the Heartland of America! With all the stuff I wanted to do, I didn't leave the hotel until 9:30 AM, and checked into the Super 8 in Perrysburg, OH at 7:45 PM: