Michigan, September 13 – 16, 2008.

We were thinking of going to Florida this weekend, but decided to visit the Michigan Upper Peninsula instead. Anne suggested it, I was happy to go along. It was hurricane season for Florida anyway; turns out Ike managed to put somewhat of a damper on our trip anyway.

9/13/08. EWR-GRR via ORD, on United. Tight connection at ORD. Heavy rain in ORD, and we had to walk on the tarmac to get to the commuter plane; soaked our clothes. Our luggage was left in the rain for quite a while, and we ended up with soggy clothes.

Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes. Sand from last several ice ages. Moving dunes (well, that's what the guide book says). There is a steep walk from a dune to Lake Michigan 450 below which we didn't attempt. It looks scary going down, impossible coming back up. Helped someone in a wheelchair on our way back to the parking lot.


It's a 450-foot drop to the lake.

Stayed at Traverse City Quality Inn. They didn't say “high” quality for good reasons.

9/14/08. Crossed the Mackinac Bridge, which looks very slender due to it's length. Can't imagine what it would be like during the cold and severe winters of the region.


The Mackinac Bridge from a distance.

Soo Locks. Pretty impressive set of locks across the St. Mary Rapids joining Lakes Superior and Huron. Our tour boat went up the commercial lock and returned via the pleasure boat lock on the Canadian side, passing by a steel mill in Canadian Sault Ste Marie. Anne wanted to buy a little model boat saying Soo Locks on it, but the gift shop was closed when we returned.


Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. It's a ship going into the lock.


Our tour boat going into the Canadian lock.

Drove to the InterVaristy Cedarville campus. Anne spent a couple of weeks attending a training session at this remote location when she was an undergraduate student. I am sure the place hasn't changed all these years, although the place remains well-kept.


The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship campsite outside Cedarville.

Stayed at Mackinaw City Best Western Dockside. The pier next to the hotel is under construction. We didn't spend enough time in the room to enjoy the view. The buffet breakfast was good.

9/15/08. Woke up early to drive the 3 hours to Munising to catch the 10 am boat tour of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Tour was canceled due to rough seas. We stuck around the area to catch the 1 pm tour. Drove around the area, and had a Cornish pasty lunch at a roadside shop. There were quite a few people on the tour boat; at over $30 per person, this must be a profitable operation. Basically we were taken along the shore for 15 miles and back, with some narration along the way. I wasn't particularly impressed with the “pictures” which looked like the water stains that they are.


The lighthouse guiding boats to Munising. No longer in use.


The root hanging in between is how the tree gets its nutrients.


We managed to get back to Mackinaw City in time to catch a ferry to Mackinac Island. The first impression one get is “horse riding arena” because of the odor. Walked to the Grand Hotel which is not exactly welcoming of unregistered tourists. Had dinner at a dockside restaurant. Someone on a gurney was on the ferry going back to the City. I imagine the medical services on the island are inadequate if one is seriously ill.


Ferry to Mackinac Island. It's still quite bright at 6:30 pm or so.


One of the two lighthouses leading to the Mackinac Island Harbor.


Reflection of moon in harbor, Mackinac Island.

9/16/08. Drive back to GRR was over 4 hours. Anne had to get on a conference call; unfortunately there were areas without coverage. Drove 1000 miles in 4 days; saw 3 of the 5 great lakes. Flights back to EWR were pleasant.