2017 MinnWisMi - Battle Creek to Jackson

Tuesday - October 10 - Battle Creek to Jackson
Our sound of the day came early as these geese flew right over us just as we left the motel.

Our route out of town was the path along Battle Creek. It only took us 30 minutes to get to the outskirts of town. Often it can take an hour for a big city like this.

This historical marker tells about the Lockwood House. It is a very substantial brick farm house built in an Italian villa style completed in 1855. The walls are 18 inches thick! It was used as a chicken coop in the 1930's but was restored to its former glory in the 1990's when it was put on the National Register.

The owner drove in while we were standing there, which is the law of driveways. She asked if we needed help which we didn't. If only she had invited us inside as the trees made it hard to really see all of it.

The farm across the road was very attractive as well.

We went from Italy to Honolulu a few miles later in Marshall. The house was built in 1860 after the original owner served as a US consul to the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands in the 1850's.

The road we took out of Marshall had brand new, very smooth asphalt. We mostly had it to ourselves as the signs said it was still closed to through traffic as they weren't done striping the shoulder.

We are still just a little early for the best fall colors.

We were standing outside the post office in Albion trying to figure out lunch options as the main street was totally closed due to reconstruction when a local woman stopped and asked if we needed help. This is where she sent us.

It is another train depot that has been converted to a restaurant.

This was in the women's restroom and reminded Donna of sitting with her sisters in the back of the family VW bus. Of course, that one didn't have flowers on it.

"The American Molder" a tribute to the craftsmen and laborers of Albion.

It first opened in 1843 as the Wesleyan Seminary.

The road we took out of Albion was also new asphalt and no paint at all, with the shoulder rock still in piles. Again we had the road mostly to ourselves......touring bliss on such a fine autumn day!

So we took our time and played around a little with Doug's blur shot.

The cattails think it is autumn too.

After miles and miles (and hours) of new asphalt and almost no traffic, we reached the outskirts of Jackson. The shoulder disappeared about 3 miles from our destination. 2 1/2 miles out a factory shift change was spilling LOTS of vehicles out on the single lane road. It was crazy with traffic from both directions! We pulled off  3 times in the mile that passed until the road became 4 lanes. Not the most fun way to end what was otherwise a great day.