Lower Michigan and Going Home!

Across the Straits of Mackinac spans the five mile Mackinaw Bridge.

  This is where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron combine.

The bridge is 200 feet off the water at the deck.

One beautiful bridge that makes life for the "Yooper's" much more comfortable.  It was opened in 1957.  About 8700 vehicles cross the bridge each day.  

Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Mackinac City

McGulpin Point Lighthouse 

Headed to Route 119, called the Tunnel of Trees; we ran into a Michigan legend called the Legs Inn.

It was a beautiful ride down the west side of the state to Harbor Springs and Petoskey.

 

Harbor Springs

 We went for a boat tour to see some of Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan.  

Reminded us of the Midlakes' Barbara S Wiles...

Traveling down the east side of Michigan...

Forty Mile Point Lighthouse, Rogers City

 

 

The oldest of the Presque Isle Lighthouses

This is the active Presque Isle Light that is currently being used.  

Old Bailey Schoolhouse

 Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, Alcona County

Tawas Point Lighthouse, Tawas State Park

  

Our last BIG stop was to see The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.  It tells a lot of the history of American innovations and inventions.  We spent two days there.  First at Greenfield Village, which is the outdoor educational complex set up like a village with replicated homes of famous inventors and opportunities to try out different forms of making things from looms to metal lathes.  You could move around the area in horse drawn carriages, Ford model T's, or ride the steam train!

 

 

  

Our turn for a Model T ride!!  

Alan asked a lot of questions and it was fun a ride!

 

The Wright Bros. home

Henry Ford's boyhood home.

The round house

Old farm implements and tools.

a machine shop

The next day, we were back to go to the inside museum.  This included hundreds of examples of inventions and products.  Plus things Ford had collected during his lifetime.
The whole museum had started with his collections.

One of several of the Presidential limousines as the protective bubble top was improved.

Remember? ...

The man and his music.

Abraham Lincoln was sitting in this chair when he was shot.

Possible housing for the GI's as they returned from WW II.

So that how it's done!

On my birthday, we drove into Detroit and walked along the Detroit River Riverwalk.

GM building

and the atrium

Children playing and laughing in the fountains.

Yummy!

NOW...

Time to go home!  We left the Ypsilanti (Detroit area) and crossed into Canada.  Took the 401 and 403.  Stayed overnight in London, Ontario.  Next morning pulled out and headed across the Welland Canal.  This is the shipping link between Lake Ontario and the rest of the Great Lakes.

 Crossed the US border at St Catherines/Lewiston.

Into New York State!

 And we are home!!  11 months of travel.  26,000 miles total.  9200 miles by RV, the rest by car.
23 States, 48 RV Parks, 2 Walmart's, 2 friends driveway's, and sights so beautiful the pictures can't capture it all.  We saw so many family and friends that we had looked forward to seeing after miles on the road.  What a special gift to us to spend time and enjoy our dear ones.  Also made some wonderful new friends as we went.  People just like us on grand adventures, getting out of the cold winter, folks down on their luck doing the best they can, families traveling and homeschooling, retired people seeing America.  Many on their way to some place, many just going as they wanted, where they wanted.  We visited churches where the Word is being taught and the Savior is proclaimed.  It was our privilege to worship with these Saints for one week or a couple of months.
Home looked so good to us...and big!  We do own too much stuff, however!  Now we settle down and reconnect with our family and friends here.  And make plans our next adventure!!

 Thank you for taking this journey with us!  'Til next time!!!