Hitching His Way

Mr. Pickle recently stuck out his thumb in the parking lot of a library and hitched a ride with Patti and Andy, who were on there way from Cincinnati, Ohio to Northern Michigan and back down to Cincy and then Kentucky. It was magical timing that they were able to pick up Mr. P in Ann Arbor on their way. He hung with a robot, a dog mayor, a lizard, a stack of beer, rode a giant slide, and was chased by a tobacco farmer. Such adventures were had! And they took amazing photos. (I always love the pics I receive of his travels, but these were kicked up a notch.) Here we go:

Mr. Pickle's thumb was out and he hopped on board in the middle of Patti and Andy's trip to northern Michigan. He may have had some inspiration...

He joined their trip in the parking lot of the Ann Arbor District Library and they hit up The Lunch Room! The finest vegan restaurant in town. There he met a tasty pickle friend.  

They enjoyed Empire Beach, MI. While there Mr. P worked on his boarding skills!  

His happy hosts and a spectacular view at Empire Beach.  

Empire Beach sunset times for this pickle. He had his camera at the ready! 

They visited the Michigan Legacy Art Park. 

Riding the Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide!!! This looks amazing. Surely the finest ride Mr. P has enjoyed. 

Back in Cincinnati, OH they stopped at the Rhinegeist Brewery. 

While there they happened upon a craft fair! Beers and crafts! Mr. P was digging it. Note: above him is a Big Ass Fan. That's what it's called, FYI. *snicker*

All things green! Beverages! Mmmmm.

And look at that cute hat. 

(I love it when Mr. P dresses up for his travel hosts.)

Great American Tower at Queen City Square in Cincy. The top of it was inspired by Princess Diana's tiara. Huh. 

 Visiting the Genius of Water fountain in Cincy.

Roebling Suspension Bridge. They like to say that the Roebling Suspension Bridge was the inspiration for the Brooklyn Bridge. The Ascent building by the bridge was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, who is the master architect for the reconstruction of the World Trade Center site.

A stop at the beautiful Cincinnati Music Hall.

BIG PURPLE MONSTER! Balances Mr. Pickle on his finger. 

Metrobot at the Contemporary Arts Center meets Mr. P. How cool is that! Robot! Art! Dance party!

Will all the google eyes please stand up. 

Good thing Mr. P's eyes are sewn on. 

Mr. P is just one of the many faces of art.

What a beautiful shot of Mr. P at the farmer's market in Cincy!

Mr. Pickle did.

He finally made it to Kentucky! A new state on his list to visit. WOOHOO.

And while there he met the mayor of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky. Who, yes, is a dog. Really.

Getting into some trouble at a tobacco barn. The barn owner stared them down and had to make a run for it. Holy smokes! 

Mr. P checks out the Rabbit Hash General Store. 

Taking lessons in foliage. 

(I met Patti at Craft-A-Way Camp, where we were taught about the difference between the two. So this is realllly funny. Well, to us.)

Kentucky laundry stop.

But where is the old stuff? No, like the OLD old stuff?

There was an old lady who lived in a shoe, and she had a pet pickle who refused to live in a boot.

Illegally hanging out with some DHL planes, no big deal. 

Florence, Y'all.

Mr. Pickle had fun visiting the Big Bone Lick State Park in KY! Bison!

Or, no bison, actually. They were off feeding. DO NOT APPROACH!

Horses at Turfway Park. 

This pickle sure loves animals. 

Mr. P getting close with the lazarus lizards. You see that lizard behind Mr. P? These lizards were introduced to Kentucky from Italy by a little boy in 1951, and now they're everywhere! Whoah.  

~~

Kentucky marked his 30th state! Only 20 more to go, dear readers. That's right. YOU. ME. We need to get him to those 20. Where are you taking him?! Maine? Oregon? Alabama? New Jersey? Check his itinerary and get him on your travel schedule.

~~

After getting back to Cincinnati, he was shipped off to his next destination so he could travel to St. Louis, Missouri. BUT! The USPS failed us, and he did not land in time. No Missouri for this pickle. Hopefully he'll make it back to Michigan in time for his trip to Italy! 

To the Lake to Play Play Play!

Mr. Pickle made a quick trip to Little Grass Lake in Jackson County, MI for Memorial weekend. He spent the day with my family. It was a casual weekend of chilling, relaxing, lazing, playing. He had a great time!

Mr. Pickle enjoys an Oberon shandy sippy cup style. 

Mr. P had fun making bracelets with my nephew's Rainbow Loom. This little project is quite fun! He got tied up working on his pattern. 

 My niece and Mr. P sport some life is good swag. Because, you know, life is good! 

~~

His summer is pretty open! Hit me up if you wish to take him on a trip with you.

An Up North Easter

I don't want a pickle 
Just want to ride on my motorcycle 
And I don't want a tickle 
I'd rather ride on my motorcycle 
And I don't want to die Just want to ride on my motorcy-cle

As sung by Arlo Guthrie. Pretty much sums up Mr. P's weekend. 

I traveled up to Burt Lake in Cheboygan, MI for Easter weekend from April 17-20 with the boy's family, and of course I brought Mr. Pickle along for the ride. It was a low-key weekend of hanging out with family and eating and drinking, but boy did Mr. P make the most of it. He pretended he was the Easter Bunny, went for a big walk, hung out with FOUR awesome dogs, caught some beautiful sunsets, played pool, and went to a spooky book store. Mr. P was beside himself. Here we go:

We arrived at the cottage just in time to catch the sunset over the frozen lake.

Of course! (wink wink)

Mr. P had a teeny tiny sip of this fancy beverage. WHOAH. Went down smooth.

Mr. Pickle played pool and shuffleboard in the game room. 

While in the game room he also ran into trouble with a fish. (What is it with him almost being eaten by other animals on every trip he goes on?!)

Coasting along. 

Mr. P photobombs the fam. Oops.

 

Plenty of ceramic doggies in the cottage. And books to read. 

Not ceramic were the FOUR dogs he got to hang out with all weekend! WOOF. He is an animal lover and as long as they don't drool on him he's cool. (He may have tasted a little of Curtis's drool, but well, that's Curtis for ya!) 

There was plenty of time to sit on the back sun porch reading, drinking coffee, chatting, and staring at the beautiful frozen lake.

A woodsy walk! With the dogs! It's nice to catch the woods on a weekend of big melting.

 Mr. Pickle visits Chillermania! in Indian River. Books by Jonathan Rand! We were MOST excited about this little pit stop.

 

 Mr. P eyes the shadows on the exterior of the second building.

 Michigan Chillers books! This little store was FULL of books by Rand.

 

Chillermania! was also full of spooky decor such as spider webs, fake puke, and these cute Frankesteins.

Mr. P's first encounter with a dead body. (I think?!)  This was outside Chillermania! so I'm pretty sure it's fake.

 You can't head up that way without hitting the local watering holes. First up was Breakers in Topinabee. A super cute place with a fun atmosphere. Here Mr. P enjoys a hard cider.

 Another night, another watering hole. This time Hoppies Tavern in Cheboygan. He tried to take a few photos but it was too sunny.

 

Easter weekend was the perfect chance for Mr. P to try out one of his latest accessories. What do you think of his new ears?! He was almost swallowed by all these jelly beans! Poor pickle. 

Happily, he survived the beans and the dogs. 

~~

Quite the opposite adventure, but he's headed to Myrtle Beach this weekend!   

After that he's got some free time. Check out his itinerary and see if he's free for your next trip!