The July Ludington Rally 

The first day of our July rally started with our arrival at the sunny Mason County Fair Grounds in Ludington, MI.  We found a beautiful campground with our host, Marcia Hansen, welcoming us and showing us to our building for our coffee hours and parties. Rick & Eleanor Payne and Ed & Sherry Sroka were our Rally Masters this month and we had 22 coaches plus 2 guests!

After our happy hour we had a fantastic dinner catered by the famous Q Smokehouse with BBQ Ribs, BBQ Chicken, Smoked Baked Beans, Mustard Potato Salad and Candied Sweet Potato Casserole. What a great way to start out a rally.

Wednesday we started the day with coffee hour featuring homemade Amish Cinnamon rolls and Blueberry muffins furnished by Country View Bakery. Then we met at the Ludington Maritime Museum. The guided tour was very informative, and the building and contents were very impressive with the history of Great Lakes freighters and the Car Ferries. They even have a simulated pilot house where you could be the Captain and bring the Badger Car Ferry into port. A seamanship course would have helped as most crashed into the walls! That evening we met at the 100 year old Timbers Steak House on their outside upper deck for a fabulous dinner and watched the Badger Car Ferry come into port from Wisconsin and park while we were eating.

Thursday morning, after coffee hour we had an open day to enjoy the area’s beaches, museum’s, restaurants, lighthouses and other activities in the area. There’s so much to see in the area that we’ll have to go back.  At happy hour the Northern Lights members had a surprise “69th” Wedding Anniversary party for Rod and Maggie Chubb! A decorated cake and ice cream was served to all and a fruit basket with a photo of them at The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island was presented.  Maggie and Rod have been officers in the Northern Lights for many years and have put on many, many rallies, still attending all of them!

Friday morning after coffee hour, we said our goodbyes until our Holland August 17th.  Hope to see you all there!
PS  After viewing the slide show, did I mention that we like to eat??!!  Ha!