Now we are at Sault Ste. Marie in Upper Peninsula of Michigan

We had to leave our fantastic campsite at Mackinaw City today and head to the final leg of our journey - Sault Ste. Marie, MI.  We really had a great time on Mackinac Island and the area around Mackinaw City.  The view from our campsite was a site to behold!

We were on our way by 11 and crossed the suspension bridge into the upper peninsula of Michigan.  At the exit where we had to get off for our next campground there was lots of road construction, so of course, we had to be detoured.  Not good when hauling a 5th wheel.  So instead of taking us 1 hour to get here, it took us about 2, after 2 calls to the CG.  Fortunately, Laura was a sweetheart and said she has had to guide many people to the CG via the phone.  When we arrived Sam and Kathy were already there and concerned about our "wellbeing".  All was well.

This campground offers us another terrific view of the St Clair River and we get to see all the freighters passing by, some over 100 yards long!  They are unbelievable.

After lunch we headed into town to the local farmers market and then went to see the freighters pass through the Soo Locks which get the ships "lock through" from Lake Huron to Lake Superior.  We got there at such a good time - there were freighters coming from both directions, so we got to see them lower the water close to us and then raise the water on the next lock.  It really is unbelievable to watch.  Those freighters get raised about 21 feet - hard to imagine it is all done with water and that the lock can actually retain all that water when the freighter is raised and lowered.

Back to the CG to cook over the open fire and play some games.  After all, we have light until about 10:15.  Makes for a long day!!!

Lovely Day on Mackinac Island

Today was a positively beautiful day to take the ferry to Mackinac Island.  We rode our bikes 2 miles from the CG to Mackinaw City on the Rails to Trail to get on the 11:00 ferry.  It is only a 20 minute ride but so much fun.  We took our bikes along to the island and packed our lunches.  There are no motorized vehicles of any kind on the entire island and the majority of it is very nature and scenic.  The small downtown area is fairly commercial with lots of shops, restaurants, and hotels. There are gorgeous flowers everywhere in hanging pots, huge planters, window boxes, etc.  We rode the 8 1/2 mile trail around the outside of the island enjoying the views of the lake and the shorelines.  We stopped to hike up to the arch and then Sam and I decided we should create our own sculpture of the arch so that all the people who are riding on the trail could enjoy our handiwork.  Kathy and Ken just watched shaking their heads and laughing.  What's that about????  We were very pleased with our project.

We also did some bike riding in the center of the island enjoying the Grand Hotel - the largest seasonal hotel in the world.  The porch goes on forever and is edged by flower boxes filled with geraniums. Quite breathtaking.  We sat on the porch rocking and relaxing.  Returned on the 6:00 ferry and then rode the 2 miles back to the CG via our bikes. 

 The evening was extremely windy but that kept the pesty mesquitoes away.  Bocce was won by the women tonight - YES!!!! 

Our time here near Mackinaw City has flown by.  Can't believe we will be leaving tomorrow morning for Sault Ste. Marie.  Should be exciting!  One great adventure after another!

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!

1st Day in Mackinaw City Area

Today started out warm and partly sunny.  Much warmer than we anticipated for northern Michigan.  Sat outside drinking our tea overlooking Lake Huron.  Then ate breakfast enjoying the same view!  We decided to take it alittle easy today after so much driving yesterday and riding a lot of bike (at least for us older folks) the 2 days prior. 

So, Kathy, Ken and I rode our bikes on a Rails to Trail right across the street from our CG.  Sam stayed back with a little touch of a stomach "bug".  We had ridden ten miles when we got back to our campsite.  Not as scenic as it was in St. Clair and Ontario, but a nice wooded trail that was level. 

Sam was feeling better so we packed our lunches and drove along Route 23 toward Cheboygan.  Found a lovely marina and park along Lake Huron to eat our lunch and then sit on the sandy beach area.  Kathy and I waded in the waters of Lake Huron.  Amazing how warm and clear the water was.  You could see all the way to the bottom.  Ken enjoyed photographing the lighthouse!

On our way back we drove through Mackinaw City to see the downtown area and see where the ferry boat launch was for our trip to Mackinac Island tomorrow.  Walked along the water and checked out the local lighthouse and the view of the suspension bridge.  Back to our CG by 5:30 to relax for the evening.  We played 3 games of Kubb and the women won all of them quite convincingly!!  Yeah Women!!!!  It is amazing how long it stays light in this area.  It only got dark around 10 PM.  Love these looooong days!!!!!!

On to Mackinaw City

On Saturday we left the St. Clair area and made the journey to Mackinaw City and the Mackinaw Millcreek Camping.  On the way, we stopped to see the Bronners Christmas Store (like a city!) and then into the town of Frankenmuth, obviously it looked like a German village, offering many unique specialty shops.  The CHRISTmas store was unbelievable offering everything imaginable for the holiday.  I never saw so many lights and ornaments.  You could have a theme tree of any kind!  But the only thing we bought was fresh cut lettuce, local strawberries and a bunch of fresh basil at the local farmers market!

We arrived at the CG at 4:00 and had to "turn over" all the firewood we had brought along.  Fortunately, they gave us 5 bundles to replace some of our wood.  Unfortunately, their wood leaves a lot to be desired!  The CG is huge, but very nice.  As we drove and found our sites, we were amazed at the site we had reserved.  We are overlooking Lake Huron and the suspension bridge that goes into Mackinaw City, the 3rd largest suspension bridge in the world.  Our site was rather narrow, but Ken did a phenomenal job of backing into it.  We just love our setting with such a fantastic view and across the road is an open grassy area for sitting and playing games like bocce, kubb, and ladder golf.  What more could we ask for?

We are excited to start exploring the area, but plan to take it abit easy today.  Probably will do some bike riding and maybe take a drive to check out the nearby towns.  Life is good!!!!

Beautiful, Exciting Fantastic Day in Sombra Ontario!

Today we became international bikers!  Wow!!!  We actually spent a whole dollar per person to leave Marine City, MI USA on the ferry with our bikes and head to Sombra Ontario.   It took about 8 1/2 minutes (but whose counting) to cross the St.Clair River and go thru Canadian customs.  Why are the custom agents in Canada so much friendly then those in the USA?????  We rode north for about 13 miles (round trip) passing numerous parks and a very beautiful camping area.  The trail followed the St. Clair River with its gorgeous blue water, blue skies and perfect weather.

Then we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Aft Cabin Restaurant with extremely friendly and the men said attractive waitresses.  Then back on our bikes to head south again riding along the beautiful river.  The bike trails in Canada are wonderful!  We rode a total of 22 miles today before getting back on the international ferry to return to the USA.  We ended the day in Marine City with some homemade ice cream - Amaretto Cherry with Chocolate Chips - phenomenal.  Back to our CG by 6:00 to start a campfire for our chicken dinner.  What a fantastic day!!!!

So Exciting to Begin Our 2 Week Trip to Michigan!

Well, it is so exciting to be on the road for a longer summer trip with our good friends, Sam and Kathy.  2 years ago we traveled to Erie for 10 days, and last year we went to Acadia and Cape Cod for about 10 days too!  They are great traveling companions with very similar interests - bike riding is always a big part of our itinerary!

We left PA around 7 AM on Tuesday, July 5 with a 1 night stop near Streetsboro Ohio.  The Woodland RV Park was located right off of the Ohio turnpike and an easy place to spend 1 night.  We were greeted by one of the owners of this private campground and were amazed with his friendliness and genuine interest in our destinations for this trip.  He was originally from Michigan so gave us some places to check out during our trip. 

The four of us headed out on Wednesday morning around 9:30 for our next location, St. Clair, Michigan.  Kathy and Sam decided to take a slight "detour" and head to Cleveland to tour the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Ken was not interested in trying to drive our 5th wheel near Cleveland and try to park it to go to the Hall of Fame.  Not in our "comfort zone"!

We arrived at the Thousand Trail Campground right off of Interstate 94 near St. Clair around 3:30.  It is a very quiet park and we loved the shaded sites.  Only downfall when we arrived was that the park had been out of electric for 4 days following a strong electrical storm.  They said they hoped power would be restored by dark, but they couldn't be sure.  Fortunately we were in a shaded area, for it was a warm evening.  Sam and Kathy were set up by 6:45.  We had an easy supper of leftovers from home and then had s'mores over an open fire.  The mesquitos became a nuisance and we had to go in our rigs by 10:15 after getting bitten many times, especially Kathy.  For some reason, they seem to love her!!!!  But, the electric did come on at 9:00 and we had air-conditioning to cool down Willie for sleeping!  Yeah!!!!

This morning began another exciting day.  Ken and I were excited that there was no traveling planned for today.  Sounded good until we realized we did not have hot water when we got up!  We had to use gas for the water heater when we had arrived and then switched it over to electric when power was restored.  But, we could not get the water heater to light with gas or electric in the morning.  Fortunately, one of the "female rangers" at the CG's husband worked at the General RV dealership about 25 miles away and she put us in touch with him.  Imagine this - that dealership sells Open Range.  What are the odds????  They said we should bring it in and they would look at it right away. So much for no driving Willie today!  Instead of riding with Sam and Kathy into St. Clair to ride bike (the 4 bikes were already loaded on his Jeep) we went back to our site and got Willie ready for traveling.  We got to General at 12:00 and by 2:30 we were back at the CG with the repair completed!  Hallelujah!!!!  They were so helpful and friendly.  Best part - it was under warranty and didn't cost us a dime!!!!!  Life is good!!!

We got Willie back into the campground and met Kathy and Sam at St. Clair.  We rode our bikes from St. Clair to Marine City and back - 20 miles.  What a great ride and what great friends that just walked and drove around the area while we were getting repairs so that we could ride bike together later.  We really appreciated it!  We ate supper at Pepper Joe's right on the water in St. Clair and probably had some of the best onion rings ever!!!!  (At least that was Sam's opinion!)  Then we strolled the boardwalk and headed back to the CG by 9:30.  Decided to call it a night to avoid the mesquito population!

This is a nice area.  Tomorrow we plan to take the ferry from Marine City over to Canada - probably only a 10 to 15 minute ride.  We will take our bikes with us to enjoy riding around a quaint Canadian village on the other side.  It was recommended to us by "Rowdy", a local who is the captain of a 34' sailboat that will be in a major race that leaves Port Huron and sails to Mackinaw Island.  They leave in about 2 weeks and it will take about 44 hours to complete the voyage.  He won the race in 2008 that has participants from as far away as New Zealand.  Wish we could be here to see it!