After the excitement of the bed and breakfast, Claire and I continued north into Michigan on our vacation. We'd decided to go through some of the towns we'd seen on our previous trip and planned on going up the west side of the state through Benton Harbor, South Haven, and others. We'd been to a few already on our previous trip like Saugatuck and Holland where one of my great-something grandfathers settled after coming to America from the Netherlands. They were on our way up to Grand Haven and Grand Rapids though, so we decided we'd stop by them again.
"I want to hike up to that tower thing they mentioned last time we were here," Claire says after we've walked around a few of the shops in Saugatuck.
"How do we get across the river?" I ask, pulling out the map from my back pocket.
"We can see if that chain ferry thing is working," she suggests. "But first, I want to go back to the car and switch some stuff out of my purse."
I nod and we walk back down the small streets. It's a weekday so the tourist traffic isn't high. It's quiet and shop owners are visiting other owners talking about the weekend to come. When we reach the car, Claire decides she wants a new water, so I have to go back and find a store that will sell me a bottle of water. As I walk away she has her head in the trunk of the car moving things from her purse into my backpack. I cringe as I know she's just leaving my stuff roll around loose back there.
I don't have to go very far to find the water bottle, and when I return, she is waiting for me with the backpack in hand. She gives it to me and I sling it over my shoulder. I'm not really sure what she's put in it because it feels odd and bulky. I don't say anything about it though. I make enough fun of her packing as it is.
We set off for the chain ferry using the map, and luckily it is up and working. The ride is smooth enough and we're across the narrow river in no time. As we get off and walk down the sidewalk we see a wooden sign for Mt. Baldhead which sounds a little bit like a dick joke to me. We follow the sign and are quickly out of the thin line of residences on this side of the river. We find a trail headed up into a wooded area. As we walk the trail it gets steeper and steeper until we are climbing on steps carved into the side of the hill. Claire doesn't exactly like hiking so I expect her to start complaining, but she doesn't and we make it to the top of the hill they called a mountain. There are no trees on top which is where I guess it gets its name.
Claire asks for the backpack so I hand it over. As she rummages through it, I wander off to the side to look around. We are at the tallest point around and I can see the town below. I see the little paddleboat that we took last time. It is just starting to depart on its tour of the river before it will head out onto the big lake. I follow the river with my eyes and I see it widen and plunge into the deep waters of the lake. On the right, I see the abandoned mansion that we went passed on our own boat ride. I'm surprised with how close it is to us. It felt like the river was longer than that and the lake was further away. I turn around to point it out to Claire and see that she has her camera out taking pictures.
"I can see that big mansion from here," I say.
"Really?" she asks and walks over.
I point and she takes a few pictures.
"Its closer than I thought," she says.
"We could almost walk there."
"Let's do it," she says.
I look at her and she's got a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"How are we possibly going to get there?" I ask not even bothering to mention trespassing.
"It looks like if we go back down and follow the road it will come to that driveway," she says pointing.
"There's a gate," I say.
"We can find a way around. I just want to look."
"Terrible idea."
"You're no fun."
I sigh. She's right. I am no fun. I hate being the no fun guy all the time, so I agree. She runs up and kisses me in excitement before stuffing the camera back in the backpack. We walk down the hill again and it is easier this time. By the time we are at the base of it and back to the road, she is confused about which way to go. I turn right and she follows me. After we walk for several minutes, I stop.
"Thought it was closer than this," I say.
"Me too." She pauses to take a drink of water. "You sure you went the right way?"
"I'm positive," I say and take the water from her.
"Let's go just a little bit more then."
We head off down the road again and in a few more minutes we come to the gate we saw. There's two large brick pillars on either side of the road and iron gates locked shut between them. I'm about to suggest we go, when Claire walks off first to the left and then to the right. She looks back at me and motions me to follow her. She leads me to a spot in the fence where the ground has shifted and the brick post has slumped to the side. It has pulled away from the fencing and there is a large gap big enough for most adults to wiggle through.
"This is so illegal," I say.
She just grins at me and goes through the fence.
I sigh and follow her.
We walk down the front lawn which has not been mowed all summer from the looks of it. Clearly no one has lived here in a while. There's a circle drive at the front of the house with a now defunct fountain in the middle. Claire takes out the camera again and takes a few pictures of the derelict fountain. I remind her that she won't be able to post them online and she nods. We marvel at the four car garage before heading up the steps to the huge front porch. I look in through the door and she looks through one of the large bay windows. She takes a few more pictures before walking over to me and trying the door handle. It is locked.
"Guess we have to leave," I say eager to get back. My nerves keep getting worse and worse despite the forlorn beauty of the abandoned mansion.
"Not yet," she says. "Let's at least walk around the whole thing."
We set off to the side of it, stopping every now and then to take pictures. There's a garden with lots of stone benches and overgrown hedges. I feel like I've walked into a period piece from England in the 20s. Towards the back of the house Claire finds two glass sliding doors and one of them has had the glass broken out. There's a brick in the room and I'm pretty sure someone threw it, probably some local kids on a dare. Before I can say anything, Claire walks through the broken door and into the large house. I follow protesting.
"I'm just going to look around," she says.