Mackinaw Bridge


September 25, 2006
Mackinaw City; walked around: main street and mall area around the old train station, now a restaurant. Good internet service. Some real down pours, but the sun won out a few times and provided us with some sunshine. Crossed the 7-mile mackinaw bridge that separates Lake Huron from Lake Michigan. It was a wind blowing and scary exerience. At one of the overlooks we saw they had ut up a sing that the bridge was windy and escort was in service. That means that smaller vehicles ride alongside big heavy trucks.

Saint Ignace is home of the gravesite of explorer Father Margette who traveled with his scout Louis Jollitt. They explored the upper great lakes bringing Christianity to the natives. Will remember studying about them in grade school. We found the national memorial a few miles away and walked down to the overlook reading all the little exhibits along the way. We had to run back because it started to rain.

We were on US2 established in 1926, which follows ancient Native American paths. This route follows along the northern coast of Lake Michigan. Part of the trip was along sand dunes with waves, whitecaps and green water roiling about. The sky was also roiling with dark clouds ready to spit on us.
We came to the northern most tip of Michigan on route2, which is significant because it was used as a boundary in 1812. We found a nice pull off and took a walk through the trees and back along the shore. It was so nice that we decided to stay the night.

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