A group of us flew to Ann Arbor, Michigan last week. The reason for the trip was to check into how the research we are sponsoring at the University of Michigan College of Engineering is working out, and also to attend the homecoming football game.
We left San Diego on Wednesday and flew direct to Ann Arbor. The flight took us about four hours. We stayed at the Regent Hotel, which was about a 15-minute drive from campus.
We had some spare time on our hands after we got settled in, so we took a drive to my old family home in Grosse Ile. No one was at home when we visited, so unfortunately I was unable to go in. That evening we were treated to dinner by the university, which was very enjoyable.
Thursday was spent touring the university and meeting with researchers. The campus was spectacular, really beautiful. As I recall, dinner was at an old train station that had been converted into a restaurant.
On Friday we participated in a formal event sponsored by the university. This event took place at the Michigan Union, which serves as the university student union.
Saturday was devoted to attending the Michigan versus Purdue homecoming football game. Michigan won by the score of 36-14.
There was an interesting flyover at the beginning of the game when the game ball was delivered by someone wearing a jetpack in honor of the Apollo 15 crew, which was made up of University of Michigan alumni. It was definitely something you don’t see every day.
That evening we had dinner at a very unique place — The Chop House. The food was very good.
If I haven’t already done so, I would like to take time to thank all of my various hosts during the course of my visit to the university. I hope to see you again in April, when I am planning to make my next visit. If I am able, I will add DC onto the itinerary.
I have included two photos from the trip — one is of my visit to the Computer Science and Engineering building at the University of Michigan College of Engineering, and the other is of my old house in Grosse Ile. I wish I could have stayed longer.
— Bob
