A drive around Amish country

Bill and Bonnie took us for a drive to see the sights around the area. There is a large Amish population in this area and of course it's interesting to see this culture a little more up close. Sorry we don't have many pictures, but we didn't want to seem intrusive.

First, we went to the general store that's run by the Amish. Really interesting place, and with very reasonable prices. And we don't quite understand their aversion to electricity as this store is not connected to the electrical grid, but does have lights powered by solar panels and batteries, a modern electric cash register. We bought some smoked cheese and they even had some gluten free crackers for Ruth.

Harvest time in an Amish field.

There are also a lot of lumberyards in the area that are Amish run. Interestingly, some of them have diesel generators to provide electricity. However, we saw many Amish homesteads that obviously had no electricity whatsoever. 

We then went to another Amish store. Locally, it's known as the Amish Walmart because it carries just about everything! Really interesting store, and we each bought a new pair of sunglasses...for $2.99 each! Again, really reasonable prices, on everything in the store. Bill and Bonnie needed some plumbing antifreeze, and it was $3.99 a jug. That was the normal price, not a sale price. The stuff usually sells for $5.99, although I think I have seen it at a real Walmart store for cheaper. Bill says that the Amish don't try and make a killing on stuff, just a very small profit on each item. 

Back at the house, we had a look at "the Bus". Bill is a Nascar racing fan, and a few years ago he and a couple of buddies decided to build a bus for going to the Michigan race. They've got it all fully equipped with bunk beds and all the necessary RV parts for a weekend at the races. Including a rooftop viewing platform!

Bill and Kevin on the Nascar bus.

Some year we will make it back to this area and take in a race weekend on the bus. That would be so much fun!

Bonnie's daughter and grandsons came over for dinner so we could meet them and Bill roasted a pork tenderloin on the grill. Then we had a fun game of Euchre in the evening, but we were all pretty tired so called it a night fairly early. Bill and Bonnie are off early this morning taking their new motorhome down to Ann Arbor to get solar panels installed.

And we're off to Canada! Headed back across the border this morning, with a destination of Elliot Lake, Ontario.