Crossing Bridge to Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Yesterday, Monday, we planned to take the ferry to Mackinac Island, but the weather changed our minds.  It was cloudy when we got up and then began to rain around 9:00.  Breakfast and a board game inside Willie.  By 11:30, it began to clear and the sun appeared, so we packed our lunches and crossed the world's 3rd largest suspension bridge and headed to St. Ignace.  The bridge separates Lake Huron from Lake Michigan and once on the other side, you have entered the upper peninsula of Michigan.  We walked the boardwalk around the small town of St. Ignace and checked out the lighthouse.  You can sense that the town is having its struggles with these economic times.  One local worker said that the bridge has raised their fare from $1.50 to $3.50 in the last couple years and plans could raise it again to $5.00.  So, many of the tourists are not coming to the upper peninsula but choosing to stay in the Mackinaw City area.  Obviously the local businesses in St. Ignace and nearby are hurting!

From there we drove Route 2 along the coastline of Lake Michigan.  You can stop almost anywhere along the shore and swim and sit on the beach.  The water is really beautiful.  We walked along the beach at Hiawatha National Forest and picked up some unique rocks and stones.  Then we drove further west to the Cut River Bridge to see the gorge and unique bridge with a great wooden stairway leading all the way down to the gorge.  Amazing!!

On the way back we decided to stop for supper and try out the local specialty - pasties!  In Lancaster County would call it a chicken or beef pie.  We ordered them at Bessie's where the family has continued the tradition for several generations.  They were delicious and totally homemade.  The make the dough and peel and cut the potatoes, carrots, onions, and sweet corn, then bake it and serve it with homemade cole slaw and gravy.  Quite a treat!

Back to CG by 8:30 and it was still light outside.  We played 3 games of Kubb and Kathy and I won all of them.  Yeah!!!!   Called it a night at 10:30 after the mesquitoes decided they liked us!!!  Would you believe it only got dark when we went inside!  These long days are great!!!

We plan to head to Mackinac Island tomorrow!  (Just a little tidbit - Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island are both pronounced th

e same way - Mackinaw.  Has something to do with the Indian name and translation)

Ken loves taking pictures of sunsets.  This
was taken from our campsite overlooking
Lake Huron!