Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Mackinac Island

Entering Michigan...

Went to Escanaba to buy groceries and ran smack into a very rainy storm.

 God"s promises prevail.

  

Marquette Harbor Light, Marquette, MI

 Ship unloading at an old iron ore dock.

Presque Isle Park

 Lake Superior

Old iron ore docks litter the harbor in Marquette.

Old Bay Point Lighthouse

 Lake Superior 

Traveled next to Munising.  We went on a Shipwreck Tour.  The Great Lakes have taken their toll of
ships going down during bad weather.  Very interesting plus just good to be on the water boating!

Old Grand Island Lighthouse

Storm coming, headed into port.

Next we stayed in Brimley, MI for several days.  Lots to see...

Bay Mills Lighthouse

 Two ships passing in the narrow shipping channel.

We drove north to Whitefish Bay to see the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and active US Coast Guard Station.  It was a beautiful ride along the lake and an most interesting day.

Shipwreck Museum

 2nd order Fresnel Lens.

Ship's Bell recovered from the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Sunk in a great storm on November 10, 1975 and made famous in the song by Gordon Lightfoot.

Coastguard rescue boat

 Rudder from an old sailing ship.

On the way home, we went to Tahquamenon Falls State Park to see the upper and lower falls.

The color of the water is from the amount of Tannin in the river.

Next day we headed to Sault Ste Marie to take a boat tour of the Soo Locks, which allows shipping out of Lake Superior to the rest of the Great Lakes.  The first generation of this lock was built in 1855.  Another one was built in 1914, A third in 1919 and the fourth in1943.
It was rebuilt to accommodate bigger vessels in 1968 with the completion of the
St Lawerence Seaway.  The United States does not charge any vessel to use these locks.

Entering the lock.

 Gate closing.

 Filling

 Out we go!

On our way...

We also got to go through the much smaller but not commercial lock on the Canadian side of the St Mary's River.  

We took a ferry to Mackinac Island.  People go and spend entire vacations there.  We just spent a day.

Lake Huron and the Mackinaw Bridge in the distance.

Coming into the island harbor

There is no motorized transportation on the island so folks walk, bike, and use horse drawn carriages.

 We took a carriage tour of the island, which was narrated, so we got some good stories along with the clip clop!

 The Old Stone Church.

The Grand Hotel

Saw a wonderful collection of old carriages, beautifully restored. 

 Traveled through the rural parts of the island.
This stone arch eroded over time into a bigger and bigger hole.

Then back to town through quaint streets with beautiful homes and cottages.

Lots of sail boats in the marina preparing for a race.

 Headed back to the mainland. The end of a wonderful day!