J & ML....on the Road: More Michigan

Ken frying fish he caught on the trip and fellow travelers enjoying the feast. In addition to nightly happy hours complete with goodies, we often enjoy pot luck dinners.

First stop on Monday's sightseeing was to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point with the oldest active Light on Lake Superior. Shipwreck legends come to life! It was a beautiful, mild, sunny day and the the lake was incredible shades of blue. I asked all in the group to climb the lighthouse so I could take their picture.....no takers. Our lunches are typically picnics at the sites, this time no picnic tables...Ann even brought a table cloth!

Next sightseeing op was at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, billed as the largest waterfall west of Niagara Falls. The park consists of Upper and Lower Falls, many hiking trails, interpreters to guide your visit, and the usual snack bars and the first state park I've been to with a Brewery and Pub.

There are 94 steps down to the viewing platform at the brink but well worth the climb back up to see the stunning beauty of the Upper Falls.....200 feet across with a 48 foot drop. In late spring as much as 50,000 gallons a second flow over.

The Lower Falls consist of five cascades surrounding an island...visitors can rent rowboats to get up close to the falls. The Tahquamenon River empties into Lake Superior.

Tuesday, Aug. 7th...We drove over the beautiful Mackinaw Bridge into Mackinaw City to visit the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum. Commissioned in 1944 to keep the Great Lakes shipping lanes open during WWII, The ship made it possible for the iron ore and copper from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to get to the wartime factories in the lower part of the state. The ship served for 62 years keeping shipping lanes open for commercial traffic. She was decommissioned in 2006 and converted into a floating museum.www.themackinaw.org