Tuesday
We drove through Wisconsin on our way to the Upper Peninsula (UP) area of Michigan. We did our best to hit every bug, bee or insect with our windshield. After stopping to clean our windshield (several times to get all of the bug goo off), we promptly hit more swarms of bugs, butterflies etc., even a bird. Once we entered UP, the bugs seemed to stop. We had made it through the land of 10,000 lakes and now were in scenery very similar to Alaska, minus the bugs. We headed due east on SR 41 to Marquette, where our Garmin gave us a downtown tour (twice before I shut it off) then continued on to Newberry. We drove mostly back roads and found a nice bakery in Trenary, about 40 miles south of where we were supposed to be! Oh well, it was a nice area with wonderful scenery and lots of small towns. Once we reached Newberry and set up camp we headed out for a small drive, up the peninsula to Whitefish Point, a spit of land that is just a couple of miles from Ontario. We stopped and did a couple of smallish hikes at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. The upper falls are second only to Niagara (east of the Mississippi) in the sheer volume of water that is going over the edge. The water is tinged with tannins from the plant life, very similar to falls we have seen in Alaska and the Suwanee river in FL/GA. We watched a lone fisherman in a kayak pull in a walleye that was about 40 inches, just below these falls.
The lower falls (actually a series of about five individual waterfalls) is located about four miles downstream, on a nice footpath from the upper falls. There were people actually swimming in flat section between the two sets of waterfalls in the photos below.
After we got our fill of the waterfalls, we continued on to Whitefish Point where there is a lighthouse and museum. The museum was closed but we enjoyed walking the premises and going down to the beach.
The buildings were in remarkable shape considering the exposure and the age.
There were several people swimming in the lake here. I did not venture to see how cold the water actually was, but I assume it was pretty cold, this IS Lake Superior. I started down to the small lagoon to look for sea life before I realized that this was a lake and not the ocean. It is hard to fathom the size of these lakes.
This is the rudder that was salvaged from the shipwreck of the M.M. Drake, a wooden steamer that shipwrecked in 1901, about six miles off shore from the point. The wreckage was discovered in 1978.
Whitefish Point has been called the “Graveyard of Lake Superior”. From a total of about 500 shipwrecks on the lake, more than 300 have occurred on this point, with a total loss of life of about 320 persons. The Edmund Fitzgerald went down here in November of 1975.
We saw several large brown egrets with bright red heads on the way back to camp and slowed down to watch a large porcupine scamper through the brush. Needless to say, it was dark when we returned from our short drive.
Wednesday
We drove south in the morning, towards Traverse City, crossing the four mile long suspension bridge separating Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The view of the lakes from the motor home high up on the bridge was spectacular. You could see many different shades of blue with the depths change. The Mackinac Bridge has serious land and speed restrictions for trucks and motor homes due to potential high winds, but it was very calm this morning.
We reached camp and set up for the evening, then went to dinner with Michelle at a Mexican restaurant that we have enjoyed previously. After dinner we did a quick drive through town then headed back to camp.
Thursday
In the morning we picked Michelle up then decided to visit some wineries on the Old Mission Peninsula. We started at 2 Lads Winery, which was the furthest out and headed back towards town. The view from the wineries usually included Lake Michigan (sometimes you could see the lake looking both east and west).
Cathy and Michelle compared some white wines. The tastings including multiple varieties but I was the DD for this trip.
After 2 Lads, we headed to Chateau Grand Traverse where Cathy and Michelle continued their tastings while I enjoyed the vistas.
We ended the day at Mari Vineyards, a relatively newer establishment that had a great outdoor seating area. Again, the views from most of the wineries on the Old Mission Peninsula were of the lake and it was our last stop of the day.
We met Eric in the evening for wine and snacks at his restaurant, The Cooks’ House, then walked to a cigar bar a couple of blocks away. The weather was perfect. We enjoyed a couple of cigars and a glass of a local Cabernet before “calling it” near midnight.
Friday
In the morning we traveled north to Mackinac Island, located in Lake Huron and only accessible by ferry. Once on the island we were limited to horse-drawn vehicles, bicycles or walking. We chose to walk. This is the main street in the business district. The bicycle traffic was extreme, with bikes buzzing by you going in every direction. It may have been better if we stayed on the sidewalks but I am used to walking in the street!
We walked down to view the yachts in the harbor. This harbor is located below the fortress, which was high on the hill and overlooking the entire townsite.
Looking down the street, the fortress would be atop the hill on the left and the housing we were heading to was directly ahead. We were fixing to purchase a cottage for the summer, but, alas, the pricing was a little steeper than we anticipated!
This is looking up at Fort Du Buade, constructed in 1690 to protect French commercial interests on the island. The main entrance is though the tunnel in the center of the photo.
This church was founded by Jesuit priests in the early 1700’s. The tomb of Madame LaFramboise is located in the basement. It was the devout Catholic Magdelaine Laframboise, who first welcomed Reverend Ferry to Mackinac Island in 1823 and provided space in her home for his first classrooms.
This is one of the hotels on the island. It is located directly across from the yacht harbor.
The view looking up the streets of town. The area was stunning and the lack of automobiles really helped keep it relatively quiet and clean.
Here are some of the cottages that we had our eye on. Most ALL were priced out of our range!
Walking through town we came across this building, originally built around 1670. It became the center of the British military and fur industry in 1781, was occupied by the Americans in 1796, and was reoccupied by the British in the War of 1812. It then became the hub of the Astor’s fur trading industry in 1817 and was converted to a popular resort when the fur trade declined in the 1830s.
This is probably the oldest home on the island, dating to 1780.
This is the famous Grand Hotel, made famous by the movie “Somewhere in Time” and is the largest summer hotel in the United States. Visitors were stopped by the red-clad ladies at this point unless they wanted to pay the $10 fee to walk the premises. It was a little out of our price range!
Walking back to town, playing frogger with the bicyclists racing down this hill, we were almost hit by a golf ball that landed across the street from the green on the left. I have a nice souvenir as the golfers did not approach me to get their ball back. Hmmm.
We took a shortcut back to our ferry, through this alleyway that was off-limits to bicycles. The gardens, even in the backyards were beautiful.
Here is a last look at the island, taken from the ferry.
Saturday
Today we visited the Blue Vase, a discount bookstore that opens on the weekends only. After spending more than an hour there, we left with several shopping backs of books, movies and audio books. Michelle even bought a video game (she doesn’t play video games). After the bookstore and breakfast at the local bakery, we headed up the peninsula to the town of Charlevoix. This is the hotel that was directly across the channel from where we parked. The channel is a direct route from Lake Charlevoix to Lake Michigan.
We crossed the bridge into town and were given this view of Lake Michigan. There was a lighthouse where the channel enters the lake.
Just after we crossed the bridge, it raised to allow two sailboats to transfer from Lake Charlevoix to Lake Michigan. This happens every half-hour to minimize traffic disruption.
We had lunch at a deli in town then walked along the channel. The drawbridge is behind Cathy.
Cathy goofing at the welcome to sign.
We walked out to the lighthouse and watched the fishermen for a while, dodging the seagulls. The water was crystal clear.
After leaving the lighthouse, we walked to the local beach then up the hill to the residential area overlooking the lake. There were some “unusual” homes on the overlook.
We walked by the library and city park, and saw this butterfly. It was one that missed our windshield, thank goodness! The park was in full bloom. We made our way back to town and headed the 45 miles back to Traverse City.
PS: I am glad I ran Pikes Peak a couple of weeks ago. Last night they got blanketed with snow at the top! Brrr.
Travelling with the Schinglers 
Such beautiful places. With my morning history lesson
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