The current real estate market and the US economy is bad for some but good for others. I have seen both sides. I came across this foreclosed home and it was just perfect for the location, house and price.

It’s on 3 acres of land of hilly terrain and has a view of Deer Lake. The house is about 2,000 square feet (220 square meters) and has 3 bedrooms / 2 bathrooms. It looks like it has been sitting empty for about a year but it is in overall good shape. It was built in 2001 so everything is pretty new. The outside foundation (walkout basement and garage) looks a bit unfinished but nothing that can’t be improved.

The best part is that it is only 3 miles from my work and just outside the small town of Boyne City. Quiet in the country but still close to everything. Boyne Mountain with the best skiing in the Midwest is only a few miles away. Petoskey and Charlevoix are both about a 20 mile drive.

It looks like moving is some time in February. More details to follow..

I was snapping some pictures during lunch and after work on my way home. Fall colors are quite spectacular in northern Michigan this year but it seems each fall is better than the previous one. This weekend and today was the nicest weather with temps in the mid 70s F. (about 24C). It cools down quickly at night, the lakes are already too cold to swim in and you know the November storms will blow in from Lake Michigan sooner than you think.

But for now, just enjoy the freshest apples picked from trees earlier in the morning, visit some harvest/fall events, go for a walk in the woods, take a deep breath and smell the leaves and trees. And enjoy the colors, of course.

The pictures can be found here: Link

Those were the longest two weeks waiting to fly to California and take delivery of my new 9-5. Flights were on time, airports were not that crowded and everything went very smooth. I was met at the SNA airport by my sales guy who picked me up in a Fusion Blue 9-3. How’s that for Customer Service?

Only a few pictures so far but many more will follow.

My dealer in California (where I bought both my 9-3s) had a 2006 9-5 SportCombi with vented seats, Sport package (lowered suspension, Aero seats, alu dash) and Visibility package (xenon, park assist, auto-dimming mirrors). It is basically an Aero with everything except navigation.

It is a Saab certified vehicle (6 years/100K mile full warranty), has special financing rates (1.9/2.9/3.9) and includes the California Delivery Program. Why buy a car close to home when you can buy one 2,500 miles away and drive it home? Road trip! I drove the exact same car with same specs at a Carmax store in the Chicago area and I knew this was my kind of car. The color is smoke beige with a parchment interior. I am flying out there on Saturday Sep-27 and can hardly wait. I’ll miss my 2005 9-5 Aero but this 2006 is a new experience and a new chapter in my Saab story.

So where to go between Southern California and Michigan? I was thinking of heading through the CA and NV desert, head up to Salt Lake City and on to Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Continue through the Dakota's and Minnesota, into the U.P. of Michigan and cross the Mackinaw bridge.

4 days of relaxing after 4 weeks of moving. A nice state campground (Muskallonge Lake) a few hundred yards from Lake Superior and about 20 miles NW of Newberry. Hiking, kayaking, swimming, laying on the beach and drinking beer gazing into the campfire under a sky filled with a million stars. Perfect.

The house finally sold after 3 years on the market. From first showing to closing and moving out within 4 weeks! Time to move on..

The Memorial Day weekend marks the official beginning of summer so always a good excuse to take the bike out for a short trip. I ended up in Manitoulin Island in Ontario first and took a detour along backroads coming home. I always enjoy exploring Canada and this trip was no exception. Enjoy the pictures.

The cherry trees were coming out of their winter sleep so I cleaned up the Saab and took some pictures. I also found a field with many dandelions which made for a great back ground. Find the pictures here: Link