We got an early start on our down state journey, crossed the bridge and entered troll land. It was foggy when we began, with the island stolen by Canada, but we broke free from it when we got on the highway. Anne took the first shift, getting us to West Branch and I drove the rest of the way. Traffic was light. We stopped for gas at Birch Run. For some reason the RAV4 is getting less range than normal when I fill up in Michigan. I don’t know if it is the formulation or what? Satellite radio supplied the mind floss for the journey and served as our mental cruise control.

We arrived in Ann Arbor and found our Air B&B. It is a basement studio apartment that is billed as an urban treehouse, which seems like an oxymoron, but is actually quite apt. We inadvertently tried to enter the neighbor’s house first, but it was locked and we were fortunate no one was at home as we tried to break-in. We’ll stay here two nights. We have a backyard pizza party tonight and Harry’s birthday party tomorrow. There is also our friends from Saint Louis who now live in town. I also hope to visit my family’s former house.