Port Huron, Michigan - A Walk Through Our City

What was I to do with six children and a busted van? My original plan was to sit at home and feel sorry for, well me mostly, as it was Memorial weekend and everyone was doing cool things with cool people and I was stuck at home. Then I realized that the videos had to go back... this how our trip started.

Everyone knows that Memorial Day many of the stores are closed and the federal buildings are locked up tight so I didn't think there would be anything that we would be able to walk to and do, boy was I wrong! We started doing a simple chore and turned it into a fun journey. I loaded the four toddlers into the two double strollers and with Dad on one and me on the other we went off with my two other little ducks following in a row. I wasn't really thinking of how far away it really was because I could imagine the drive in my head. It was down the street, then over one little bridge, then to the light, right there at 10th and Lapeer sat our Family Video that just opened up.

That walk turned out so much more than that little picture of a map in my head. As we were walking we were able to look at the history that is Port Huron. The old style houses spoke to us, some kept as big 5 bedroom houses with big yards and gardens, some turned into apartments with barely enough parking for two cars. The columns that were painted pinks and blues and greens to show depth, and some that have been worn and weathered over time to a flaked old white and grey. I could only imagine how many families have lived in some of them, and how the same family has passed other houses on to kin generation after generation.

When we got to the drawbridge I was awe struck. I realize when I drive over it, or get stopped in front of it, that it is a draw bridge and you can actually see through it, but it is all entirely different when you are actually right there, standing over the water and able to see all that water under your feet. I am very aware that many of my fears are quite silly, like the one of bridges, but when you are in that moment they do not seem so silly to you and here I was going to cross a bridge, slowly, with six children in tow. I braved my emotions and waited as the bridge lowered and its mighty girth seemed to get more and more narrow as it spread out in front of me. I explained to my children that those flashing lights were there to protect both the people crossing, and the cars, and that no one is allowed to cross until the bars are all the way up and lights off. We also chatted about rail road crossings and how people cross before the lights go off, and how they could get tickets for not waiting, even through the arms were all the way up. I wonder, as well as my children, if the same holds true for bridges? Midway there is a dedication to the bridge that I had never noticed before. It was very neat to be able to read a little of the history first hand instead out of a book. There I was touching it and feeling the bridge rumble beneath my feet and I could imagine the people that worked to make that bridge safe for me and mine to cross the water and also allow those boats at our side in the water to also pass to the open water on the other side.

Finally we achieve our goal and reach the store and decide to get some more videos for later in case we don't find anything interesting to do. Yes I think this was a weird thought, now, being that our trek has already proven to be very enlightening and much more fulfilling than television but it happened and needs to be said. On our way out it was decided that we needed to go back another way and perhaps hit one of the 4 parks that we could pass if the kids could make it. Pine Grove Park was right on the water and sounded like a good park to hit as there would be a nice breeze off the water to cool us off.

We noticed the Coastguard ship, Hollyhock, that is always docked there and it seems so much larger walking next to it as opposed to driving by. The sound of the water hitting it was only outdone by the sounds of people that were gathered at the park. The view of the Blue Water Bridge was one to be set in picture pages with they freighter just passing under it. The freighter looked so loaded that it appeared almost flat against the water save the top of the tower. As we moved closer to the park we could hear gun shots and the people were all quiet standing facing the United States flag. Homage to our fallen. My children had never heard nor seen a gun first hand and we talked of the men and women that gave to our country so that we may live free. Just as I was able to finish explaining the 21 gun salute, taps sang out over the crowd and a new silence befell everyone. When it was over we were able to explain honoring those that honored us once more.

Being that the park was so full of people we decided to continue on our way. We were having a fun time spending our time together, exploring everything and talking about the rich history in our small town. We walked along the Bridge to Bay trail, towards the bridge, and could clearly see the differences of the two structures that make up the crossing from United States to Canada and back. We passed the little Lightship that sits on dry land as an attraction and remembered our field trip through the ship. The ship will still sound off back to the freighters as a sign of respect and as we were almost to the Thomas Edison Museum the Lightship sounded off to a passing freighter. The sound echoed off the water and we turned back to look. I could almost imagine people standing in the ship at attention as they passed their fallen brethren that were not forgotten and held forever in images in the Lightship for future children to learn about.

It was getting close to lunch time, and we were almost home after an almost 5 mile walk so we headed past the Thomas Edison Depot under the Blue Water Bridge and went straight home. As I was filling their little bellies, and resting my tired legs, I realized that we need to get out there and make our own day instead of trying to have the day entertain us. I not only learned more about my town, I spent that much more quality time with my family. Instead of watching those movies we rented, we walked to the other park nearby and spent the evening there, and that extra time with my children that day, well there is no greater treasure than that.