A Major Change of Plans

In our prior posting, we weren’t complaining about sitting still, just saying what was happening.  Well, that sure changed! 

On Tuesday, in order to stay busy, we went to the Gilmore Car Museum just outside of Kalamazoo.  It seemed there were a million cars there, everything from early steam-powered horseless carriages, through the classic period (like this Deusenberg)

 

Cars from the Muscle car era:

 

Special displays of Lincolns, Cadillacs, Franklins, and Ford Model A’s

 

Plus hotrods and family cars, all spread out in about a dozen separate buildings.

An entire day could be spent at the Gilmore, but we cut it a little short after only a couple of hours.  Something seemed different regarding Bob’s eye so we made another long drive to Grand Rapids for a “just in case” inspection.  Not much changed as a result, except to increase the head-tilt from 30 degrees to almost 90. 

Wednesday we took some time to do a little shopping and found our favorite donut shop:

  

On Thursday’s eye inspection, it was found that the torn retina was fixed OK, but there was some additional fluid inside the eye that needs to be “squeegeed” out.  This extra procedure will require an extended recuperation period with lots more restrictions.  It should be done within the coming week, but doesn’t have to be done immediately.

Not wanting to have a long recuperation in Michigan in October, we changed our plans to drop the next scheduled project at a camp in southern Indiana, and to instead push hard for Phoenix: 1900 miles in 5 days.  Thank goodness for sisters!  Paula said we could stay at their place for this recuperation period.  Our Dr in Kalamazoo has given us a referral to another practice in Arizona and has faxed his records there.  We have an appointment next Tuesday.  We left the Dr.s office, returned to the Expo Center, and got ready to hit the road all in record time.

We have heard really good things about the on-going work at Midwest Missions in Chatham Illinois, including the invitation to stop by, when in the area.  Our route took us right through there so we stopped for the night on Thursday.  We got there just in time to be invited to dinner with some of the Nomads currently working there.  After an early start on Friday (our bodies were still in Eastern Time).  We got through St Louis late in the morning.  Here is the Arch:

 

 

We had a big driving day and got as far as Tulsa OK.  Paige did about half the driving and experienced her first toll plaza.  Three more days like this should get us to Phoenix in time for Bob’s appointment.