Indian River and Mackinac Island

Headed South, approaching the middle of the bridge

Wednesday morning we left St. Ignace for Indian River RV resort. We had stayed at this park before so we knew we would be staying a full week. Crossing “Big Mac” Nancy always has to keep her eyes closed or doing something else as the railing on the bridge looks like nothing more than a toe stop when you are so high up in the air. Tuesday had been very windy and the prediction for high winds was again for Wednesday, so we left early. Our bridge crossing was uneventful … NO wind.

We were way ahead of schedule so we stopped at the first rest area south of the bridge and played with Charley for an hour or so.  

We arrived at our Indian River campsite still early but they had our spot open so it was all right. That afternoon we headed into Mackinaw City and went to the Mackinaw Kite Co. shop for Tom.  We walked Main St. and the open air mall before heading back home.

Thursday, round trip (360 miles) to Grand Rapids. We really needed new tires on the Cadillac, bad. We called Costco. They said they had 13 of the tires we needed in stock and would be open until 8:30 so we left shortly after noon for the long drive. Why Costco? Well we get tire rotation, balancing, nitrogen fill and a few other perks and we have one close to home so we wanted to purchase them there. When we arrived Tom went into the tire center, only to be told they did not carry the tire we needed after all. What they had were te wrong load range and could not be put our car!! After much apologizing they called Belle Tire just down the road who had the tires we needed and yes they were open until 8:00 . Belle Tire took care of us right away and were cheaper than the quoted price at Costco to boot! Thank you Belle Tire.

Friday once again on the road. Our campsite is just a short hop, skip and a jump from Burt Lake State Park. We visited the park.....boy was it full! Yes we could have fit in a very few sites with our RV but not too many. Good to know as some of the other state parks we would not fit into with our rig at all. Most States' State Parks were designed and built long before todays “Big Rigs” were thought of and haven't been redone to accommodate us yet. Plus none seem to have full hook-ups, water, 50 amp electric and sewer anyways.

Saturday, to Petoskey and Harbor Springs, what a great day. We called an old friend, Katrina hoping she might be free and could get together for lunch. She was busy already but we talked on the phone and did a nice catch up. “Kat” tells us a great place to eat for lunch, Park City Grill in Petoskey …. had a fabulous lunch. Then we headed north towards Cross Village through the tunnel of trees. 

This is one great drive on the high bluff of Lake Michigan where at times you get to see the great lake, but otherwise you feel like driving through a tunnel but it is all of trees. At the north end of the tunnel is Cross Village and the infamous “Leggs Inn”. This is a great place to eat, but we weren't hungry! 

Nancy took photos of the gardens, it is so cool. You can eat inside the old Inn or outside on the patio overlooking Lake Michigan.   

Sunday and we are off to Clare, Michigan. We are soooo lucky, grand-daughter, Katie is coming to camp with us. What fun! Sure hope we are up for the adventures of an 8 year old. When we arrive back at Indian River, it's walking Charley, riding the bike and of course we can't forget the playground and swimmng pool. 

 Kate, did you bring extra shoes? Nope, just flip flops? Ruined her capris before we even saw her, hole in a knee. So after a late dinner and on a Sunday night with plans for tomorrow, we head to Walmart and buy tennis shoes, 2 pairs of capris and a new top.  

Kate said, Wow Grandpa!! 

Monday is the day we needed tennis shoes for. We are off to Mackinac Island. First we stop in Mackinaw City to show her the Big Mac bridge. She is amazed by it's size.  

Kate & Grandma in front of "Brigadoon"

Next it is off to the docks where we board the ferry out to the Island. After we arrived at the Island Nancy called her cousin, Janet to find out if they are even on the Island. Sure enough they are and Janet meets us at the harbor and says she has to go to book club but, come to the house, “Brigadoon” about 1:30 and Suzy will take us over to pick Janet up after her meeting. 

Wow, imagine our surprise when we arrive back at Janet's home to find out we are going in a private carriage ride. Suzy (the horse trainer) and Jay (Janet's hubby) are busy getting the carriage ready. 

Downtown Mackinac Island

After a ride through downtown Katie gets to sit in the front seat of the carriage. Before long Suzy is teaching Katie to drive! 

Approaching the Grand Hotel Portico
the first time today.

Talk about a thrill for Katie, she is speachless!!!!(first time in 2 days). After we pick Janet up from bookclub they took us on an extended horse and buggy tour of the Island. What a great and unexpected thrill. 

Beautiful pair of horses and buggy,
Jay's pride and joy!!

 Katie will sure have something exciting to tell her friends and family about. After our extended tour of the island it is off to town and then the docks for the ferry ride back to the mainland.

Kate really has hold of the reins

Waves on Lake Huron overpowered our little 'Princess"!

Kate wanted to say she stepped in Lake Hurons' waters. Ended up just a little wet!! Then it was back to the RV to dry off and change clothes.

St Ignace

Monday we left Newberry for St. Ignace and on our way out of town at the intersection of M 123 and US 2 above the Visitor's center the sign tells one and all that Newberry is the Moose capital of Michigan. Well, let me tell you folks our luck with Moose is just used up cause once again we have yet to see a real live Moose. Darn!

Leaving ferry onto Drummond

Tuesday our only day in St. Ignace we headed north and then east towards Hessel, Cedarville and DeTour before going across the St Marys River on a small car ferry to Drumond Island. What a great day..sunny and a mild 75 degrees. It was a great drive and we enjoyed ourselves.

Let's see ... Ft Lauderdale's how far
from Drummond Island, MI ???

We found a lovely little restaurant on Drumond for lunch before heading back to the mainland.

Returning to DeTour

 We took the car ferry over to the island (the only way unless you have a boat) and just drove around. The scenery is great and Michigan's UP doesn't seem to be as dry as the rest of the nation. In DeTour we got out and looked at the harbor.

DeTour Harbor of Refuge

Tom & Charley with Hessels' Moose

Tom remembers being here in our sailing days.





 Then we stopped back in Cedarville a quaint fishing village and finally Hessel which is really a bustling village. 

Lake Michigan from our camp sight

Then on our way home we detoured to see “Big Mac” (Mackinac Bridge for those who aren't aware) and just sit and watch freighters go under it and enjoy the welcome scenery.

Newberry

Ahh, cool weather. Love the UP of Michigan for getting back to cool weather. We left Hancock on the Keweenaw peninsula, traveling through Christmas to arrive in Newberry. Still in the UP of Michigan but about 250 miles East and still in that great Michigan summer weather. Our nights are in the 50's or 60's; daytime temps in the mid 70's. Life is really good..... doesn't get much better!!!!

Friday proves to be an amazing day. The skies are bright blue and the clouds puffy white with the promises of another nice day. We packed a picnic lunch and headed north towards Tahquamenon Falls (rhymes with “phenomenon”). We stopped at the upper falls, first.

Part of Upper Tahquamenon Falls

Nancy before her 188 step trek

 They are pretty, the water looks kinda rusty, that is the tannin in the water, not rust. We walking to the upper falls rim. To get closer to the falls you have to take 94 steps down and 94 back up. Nancy did it.

Tom and Charley waited at the top for her. Then we found a nice picnic table and had our lunch by the river. Afterwards it was off to the lower falls. (The lower falls are about 5 miles away)

Small part of lower falls

The walk down to see all parts of the falls is quite some distance so Tom and Charley waited a third of distance along the pathways and Nancy walked the rest of the way down the path. The path is quite picturesque through the woods. But it was a great experience and one very much enjoyed.




Then we drove through Paradise to Whitefish Point.

Nancy's toes in Superior
Ask her about it !!!

Whitefish Point Lighthouse

Lake Superior
Graveyard of the Great Lakes 

You may think that point is familiar and it would be because that is where the great lakes freighter Edmund Fitzgerald went down. The point goes out into Lake Superior and the water is really cold. Canada is only 25 miles awayand that cold water is really deep too.

Saturday another great day so it's the day we head to the old Lake Superior fishing village and harbor of refuge, Grand Marais. Not a great road...but we were told it was paved so off we went. Well after about 23 miles of pavement we get onto 12 miles of gravel, washboard road.

Upon arriving in Grand Marais we found the old Coast Guard Station. We went to the high bluff above Lake Superior and had a nice picnic lunch. The town is typical old homes and not many business' but quaint and lovely to tour around. Then it was towards home for the evening.

Can you believe it we were in Christmas and Paradise within two days time. Makes one think about the holidays in south Florida. Maybe, we'll go to Hell …. Michigan, too, in the next few weeks as well !!

Sunday is usually a day of rest for some...but we prefer not to let any grass grow under our feet. This beautiful cool, sunny day is perfect for a trip to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. This is where the famous “Soo” locks are on the St. Mary's River. It's also where there is an international bridge going into Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. But our real destination today was the locks. We parked, and walked through the parks then found the visitor's center and toured that. Wow, what an abundance of information there is there. We have been thru the locks many times before on Soo Locks Cruises so we just wanted to watch a ship go through the locks for a change.

Near freighter rose to Lake Superior height
Far one has been lowered to Lake Hurons'

That's a 6 story locks Admin Building
These freighters are 1000' long, too

1000' freighter entering at Huron level

 There were to be two ships going through about 2:30.




Off to lunch at the old Objiway Hotel (where Tom stayed during GM's winter testing programs) and then back to the viewing area. Luck was with us....one downbound and one upbound ship going into the locks about the same time. Not too often that happens anymore...... shipping on the great lakes is really down. After that it was time to head home.

Austin, MN, Plainfield, IL & Houghton, MI

 Sunday July 15^th. We arrived in Austin, MN. Nancy's niece and family live there and we wanted to visit with them. Lynn, Aaron and 2 sons, Andrew (7) and Lance (4). We visited with them at their home and took them to dinner at the local Mexican restaurant. What a fun visit. Andrew and Lance loved to show us all their new things since last visit. Andrew had a soccer game after dinner so we all went and had an enjoyable evening. After that we headed back to the RV and they went home.

Monday we left early as we had a long day ahead of us. We left Minnesota at 7:00 and headed towards Plainfield, IL. where son Greg and family live. Lynn had told us about a couple of other RV parks in the area so we thought we might try the one closest to them. Drove there and got into the park.....NO decent electricity or campsite. It is an old park and VERY run down so we got our money back and headed back to the old reliable park near Joliet, IL. We arrived, set up, then headed out to the kids house to see them. 

Allie, Grandpa and Emily

Allie, Greg and Emily

Friday night we went to Downtown Plainfield Days; Carney games, rides, cotton candy, noise, etc.; entertaining!!! Saturday, July 21, we did have them come out to the RV and had a nice picnic. Greg and girls went swimming and then after a pizza dinner they headed home and we called it a day. 

Sunday there was a Semi Pro Womens soccer game at Toyota Park, in Chicago so we all went to the game. If we understood soccer better it might have been a little easier to follow. Charley got several days of unrestricted exercise with Greg and Lynns' two Softcoated Wheaton Terriers.

Brady, Charley & Maggie
(cousins?)

Monday another week gone by and we headed north to hopefully escape the heat. We back tracked a little at first, heading west on I-80 then north on I-39 into Wisconsin. Well we stopped for the night in cool.... Bruce Crossing, Michigan in Yuperland, the UP (Upper Peninsula to you non Michiganders)! Went out to dinner at Carla's Cafe and were pleasantly surprised by our menu and what great cooking it was. Tuesday found us up early and headed north to Houghton/Hancock, Michigan. We un-hooked the car at Wal-Mart and tried Houghton City Park, sorry full up. We headed across the bridge to Hancock City Recreation Area. Yup they had room.....let's pay for our spot and then go back and picked up the RV. This is really a great spot, but what is there to do????

DHH - Tom's dorm in 1962 and 1963

We are only staying 2 nights. Tuesday afternoon, we drove around the Michigan Tech Campus where Tom went to school, then out to McLain State Park and the lighthouse. 

Wednesday it was raining and cool. We made wonderful wild blueberry pancakes and then since it was clearing, it was off to the copper country, the Keweenaw peninsula. 

Eagle Harbor Lighthouse

Record snowfall marker
OVER 20' of snow in 1 Winter

 We headed north to Calumet toured the downtown area, then on to Eagle Harbor and ending up at Copper Harbor. The old dump was closed so no bear watching for us. After lunch we visited the state park before heading south to Hancock. Almost home and look an old copper mine was opened and so we stopped for a quick tour.

The Old Quincy Mine north of Hancock off US 41

Yellowstone

We left Glacier for Yellowstone early Friday July 6^th. The drive took most of the day and our campsite was still 35 miles from the north entrance, but we were going to be there for two full days. This is our 4^th trip to this National Park. It doesn't really change, but it is still, none the less, extremely beautiful. Saturday morning we started out early to arrive at the park before it got really full. The north entrance is something to see, the arch was erected in 1903 and is called The Roosevelt Entrance. We toured the west side of the park on Saturday. We drove all the way out to the West Glacier entrance to see it, too. We went all the way south and saw “Old Faithful” once again. Course if you have ever been there “Old Faithful” is not really faithfully on time. And for some reason it did not produce as spectular a show as we expected. Maybe it's because the west is sooo very dry.

You guessed it, "Old Faithful"
late as usual!!

 Sunday was our day to tour the east side of the park. Since we followed the normal beaten path we followed lots of others doing the same thing....wait what's that? an old dirt road, pitted and full of ruts. We took that road and saw amazing scenes. We drove up next to a buffalo so close Tom could have reached out and touched him.





 Nancy got out to take a few photos of wildflowers but when she stepped back she turned her ankle and stumbled, bruising her ego more than anything else. She had a few minor scrapes but she did get the photo of her wildflower. Our two days in the park were great but probably will be the last time we tour Yellowstone.

Nancy's twisted ankle flower

Field of "Twisted Ankle" flowers

Yellowstone Falls

A "mudpot" gyser

Wyoming & South Dakota

We left Yellowstone heading east. We thought a great stop would be Sheridan, WY for 2 nights. It really was a crummy RV park, crammed in like sardines, but it served its purpose. Full service, water, electric, sewer, cable and wi-fi. Nancy wanted to have a great steak dinner for her birthday on Tuesday the 10^th. And what better place than the heart of prime beef country. We found the “Wyoming Rib and Chop House”. Have never had a better steak dinner in our lives. It was melt in your mouth good. No photos here just a relaxing day and a half.

Next stop on our agenda was 3 nights in Sturgis, S.D. Yup, the heart of the badlands. We both love the drive thru Spearfish Canyon to Lead, Deadwood and back to Sturgis. 

Spearfish Canyon drive is beautiful

2 big boulders in Spearfish Creek

Gold mining was BIG in Leads

Downtown Deadwood has become
a major tourist tr

On Friday we drove to Wall Drugs, the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse and again back to Sturgis. We also drove through Nemo and a few other towns to small to mention. We did enjoy ourselves and found that we were ready to head out on Saturday the 14^th

They sell Everything at Wall Drug.

Saw a mile post (12,000 miles to Wall Drug)
 in Saigon, Viet Nam once!!

Traffic's still busy in Wall, SD

Badlands National Park

Mount Rushmore, SD

Needs no explanation.

As we left Sturgis we wanted to make tracks. We did stop in Mitchell, SD To see the Corn Palace. Originally we thought we might spend the night here, but we had made really good time and had plenty of daylight left so we kept driving making it to Adrian, MN, a small Minnesota farming community with a nice community park and RV camp. It was a long day, 409 miles.