August 2, 2007

Mackinac Bridge seen from St. Ignace

Michigan’s U.P. or Upper Peninsula. A thunderstorm in the morning decided for me that I would not be going to Mackinac Island. Instead, I drove up to Sault Ste. Marie to see the Soo Locks. Very interesting to watch big ships move through the locks. The traffic through these locks used to be busier than the traffic through the Suez Canal and Panama Canal combined.

Barge in the Soo locks

West on route 28, nothing but pine forests. I started to wonder if it was a good idea to go all the way up north to get to Wisconsin instead of taking a ferry across Lake Michigan yesterday. In the end the U.P. route turned out just fine. After all that forest, I finally saw water, Lake Superior. Great blue water. What will I do when I am in the middle of this country and there is no water in sight? After I got very annoyed with some drivers, I had to pull over at a scenic outlook to get away from them. What a great spot to pull over. There it was a beautiful empty beach right on Lake Superior. Got my swimsuit and went for a swim. Ah, what great way to end the day. I made reservations at a motel in Marquette, not far from where I was swimming. It is nice to have the toilet within 10’ again. Great view onto the Lake from my room, unfortunately, also great traffic noise.

Old City Hall, West Washington Street

Tonight I splurged. I went to dinner. Food at a table with linen tablecloth. What a difference to eating in a tent by flashlight. I think we all need to be deprived of the basics for a while to really appreciate the little things in life.

With a little luck I make it thru Wisconsin into Minnesota by tomorrow evening. Why didn’t anyone tell me that this is a REALLY big country?

Until next time.

P.S. Pictures will follow soon, haven’t downloaded all of them yet.

Separate e-mail to Carol who lives in Michigan.

Hello Carol,

just a quick hello from the road.  I am right now in Marquette on my way to Duluth.

I just had to tell you how beautiful Michigan is.

I drove from Emmett west on M-21 to Covert (there was a KOA camp ground) via Kalamazoo.  The drive on M-43 was stunning.  Hilly roads, lots of trees overgrowing the road, wow.  Up the west coast, stopped in Saugatuck, nice, but

Irrigation

almost too many tourists.  Drove past the Sleeping Bear Dunes, saw the giant dune, but didn’t climb it.  Opted to go for a

Girl jumps off pier at Crystal Lake

swim at Glenn Haven.  There were a lot of beautiful spots in between.  The landscape is ever changing.  I did drive over the Mackinac Bridge, unfortunately, in pouring rain.  Skipped Mackinac Island and headed for the locks in Sault Ste. Marie, very interesting.  I have to admit that the drive from there to Marquette for the most part was a little dull, too much forest.  But it paid off, I pulled off the road 10 miles east of Marquette and went for a swim in Lake Superior.

Everything is taking so much longer than I had thought.  I am starting to make short cuts.  Crossing thru the northern tip of Wisconsin instead of driving down to the Wisconsin Dells.  Guess I have to take another trip to see everything I by-past.

Not sure if it will be worthwhile to drive up to Hancock Houghton to see the mines.  What do you think?

Thanks for your tips.