So, in the end we spent two weeks in St Joe with Barbara, Marty, their daughter Bea and the beagle Sully.  Matt and I are so grateful for the help and base that we have had in St Joe as B&M pointed us in the right direction for everything, from a place for breakfast to where to buy Reggie and all the stuff we have had to get for our trip.  We repaid this kindness by drinking their red wine, talking nonsense about their election and getting Sully so excited that he chewed up more things than usual!  Typical Bradbury guests from hell routine – that we do so well!

We arrived after our initial long weekend in Chicago and checked into the Silver Beach Hotel as we always knew that it would be way too much to camp with the Craigs whilst they are busy with work and school.  It would have been hell of an intrusion, so after a couple of nights we left the hotel and went into a flat which Barbara had kindly arranged to us.  St Joseph is a very pretty town on Lake Michigan and attracts people with second homes who want to have a summer break there.  The flat we rented for ten days was a case in point as it belongs to someone who works in Chicago – but it enabled Matt and I to get planning what we would need to get on the road properly.  Thank you, Lisa, and Barbara for this crucial help.

St Joseph was also a lovey introduction to US life.  We had good meals with the Craigs, great runs around the lake as the scenery is lovely – the trees are stunning and curiously the squirrels are black.  We had our hire car – so we could start shopping and organising insurance, etc. for Reggie.

First weekend we were with B&M we took a trip out to Indiana and saw some Amish villages.   Absolutely weird to see Amish people in horse and carts running along the side of the road whilst everyone comes past them – but we ate in a restaurant which is renowned for its comforting fayre and it was hearty, puritan food!

We then went to downtown Niles which is in the process of being regenerated and met a friend of Barbara’s who has just opened a bar there.  The old commercial areas of St Joe and Benton Harbor are also being developed and overhauled – which is very interesting to see as unlike home if something has gone bust it just collapses there and then – there is so much space that no one needs to refurbish it, they just get a new plot and start again.  

All the things we have heard about the election are true – you can see how technology and globalisation is affecting people here.  Whirlpool are the largest employer in the St Joe area but the stats of how many fewer people employed now compared with 20/30 years are understandable, but high none the less.  They have just relocated some of their staff to a new campus much closer to town, away from the massive headquarters they had previously just up the interstate, as again they recognise the vibe that people want to live and work in closer communities.

We left town on Monday this week, but called back for one last meal and farewell with B&M on Wednesday after having a couple of practice nights in sites about an hour from St Joseph.

It was sad to say goodbye as they had been such a huge part of our story so far.  We have their address now – so all the parking tickets and speeding fines are going there!!  For all our college friends, I can report that Babs, Marty ad Bea all look very well, their home is lovely and they send their love to you all. Thank you Angela for the photos from the frame of shame – they gave us a very good giggle one night.