Settled in Campground near Cleveland

We made it yesterday to this campground, Timber Ridge, which is the same one we were at 4 years ago when we came in for a visit.  Have it locked in for 1 month.  It is amazing what has changed in the 4 years, this morning we did running to replenish stock and in driving down Route 2 (yep, same one we were on in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wisconsin, Michigan) towards our old town of Vermilion, we did not recognize many buildings.  Progressive, I think.

In St. Ignace, we walked to Lake Michigan (right across from campground) 

And the view of Mackinac Bridge

Freighter Algonway out of St. Catherine's, Ontario (carries salt)

Huh.  Wonder what their story is.

Freighter Algonway on Lake Michigan

Don't hit the bridge!

Safely under, maybe on it's way up to Lake Superior or down to Lake Erie?

I loved doing this.

Our trip down Michigan from the Upper Peninsula was uneventful.  First stop (last blog entry) we were in St. Ignace which is just on the north side of the Mackinac Bridge.  We got to see a beautiful rainbow our last night there, a weird man and his shirt (could not figure out what we were seeing when we looked at him), and then got to see a freighter passing by on it's way out of Lake Michigan into Lake Huron, or possibly going up through the Locks into Lake Superior.  Pretty scenery.

From a distance we could not figure out the tiger's face. 

Leaving the Upper, going over the Mackinac Bridge

Lake Huron on our left, Lake Michigan on our right

Lake Michigan, no freighters today

The northern part of Michigan is still very pretty, lots and lots of trees

Driften down Interstate 75 to the city of Jackson and stayed at the biggest campground we have ever been in.  900 permanent sites, 200 transient, 100 overnight, 50 tent spaces, plus golf course, ball park, pool/sauna, a cafe and a restaurant, 2 clubhouses, on a private lake with a marina and also can do kayak/canoe rental.  Amazing, huge.  A big factory.  Not our kind of park, but it was on the way and convenient.  And of course, had rain.  Lots of it.  This has been the summer of rain.  And a summer of water, lakes and islands, and lots and lots of green trees.

Century home - wonder what it's history is

So much rain, feel bad for the farmers and their ruined crops

O  H  I  O!   Home for first time (together) in 4 years.

3 inches of rain fell day before we came through

Hello Route 20 (Euclid Avenue)

Lots of bridges out due to flooding 

Yes!  Vermilion in our sights.  On Ohio Turnpike, near Sandusky.

Got into the campground here in Amherst, Ohio (not far from our old home in Vermilion) yesterday afternoon.  No issues other than we are not used to the humidity.  So hot and sticky.  Welcome to summers in Ohio.  Buddy had to be drugged up the last 2 legs of the trip, I just could not let him get that sick again.  He did fine other than when I had to drug him up, he knew and started foaming at the mouth 5 minutes before I got him.  We think the trick I do now is to hold him in my lap for a couple of minutes after administering the drug, petting him, telling him he's a good boy.  He does not foam, does not throw up, it is like the drug immediately takes effect.  Thank goodness.

Not sure when I will update the blog again.  But, will alert you via email prior to taking off in August.  Still have more places to see when we leave here.

Moved to St. Ignace, Michigan

The drive yesterday was not bad, just lots of twisty roads, in and out of small towns, rarely being above 50 mph.  The GPS originally said 354 miles but checking our odometer, we traveled 309.  Sad to say goodbye to Copper Harbor, a nice place to visit.

Yep, follow Rte 41 and you can get to Miami!  Sign at  Copper Harbor

This is very narrow and twisty, trees rubbed the RV, Buddy got the sickest here.

Stone boat, wonder if it can float

After 1/2 stopped, crossed over into Houghton

With only 25 minutes of drive time, we came to a halt for over 1/2 hour in Hancock which is the city across the river from Houghton.  I do mean stopped, zilch.  Construction going on to redo the city streets but we haven't a clue why we were stopped for so long.  Once we started up, the barrels were placed so narrowly where they had not paved made for a harrowing drive for Dave.

Wondered what was going on?   

We got very nervous - so many children right along beside us

And - state trooper blocking oncoming traffic, made it!

Phew, got across the bridge and through Houghton and then picked up a tidge of speed.  Then got slowed to a crawl in Chassell.  They were celebrating the Strawberry Festival and thousands of people and their cars were lined up US Route 41.  Was again a scary ride for us, so many people walking on the road, you just think a kid is going to dart out.  And some folks just didn't care, would not move over.  We made it through Chassell with 1 minute to spare - the state police blocked off the road right behind us and once we made it through where the parade was going to be, they blocked the road again.  Luck.

Lake Superior

Lots of island lakes

Dropped into Marquette, Lake Superior in distance

Our last look at Lake Superior

For most of the ride we drove along Lake Superior, in and out of small towns, passing through Marquette, and on and on, seeing signs for smoked fish and for pasties just about everywhere.  We certainly know what that is all about.  No one could be better than Roy's.   Got into Munising, a town we camped in 7 years ago, passed through it without any problems and then continued on Route 41 heading south out of the Upper Peninsula.

Lonely roads, no homes, just raw land - beautiful

We think this was an old roadside motor hotel from 1930's

Riding along Lake Michigan's north shore

After a bit we dropped off Route 41 and picked up Route 28 just on the other side of Munising until we got into what I call the boonies - no small communities, no nothing.  Just raw land with lots of trees, small lakes, and I am assuming lots of wildlife although all we saw were dead deer on the roadside.

Nice

Nobody can do pasties like Roy's

Dropped down to the top of Lake Michigan and rode along US Route 2 (same one that runs through Cleveland) and followed the lakeshore for another 80 miles, then got to our campground that sits right on Lake Michigan.  We can see the Mackinac Bridge which was built in 1957, four miles long (no bridge existed before) from our site as well as look out to Lake Michigan.  This morning we saw a freighter going down (south) to either Chicago or to Gary, Indiana.  When we leave and cross over the Mackinac Bridge, we will get to see Lake Huron as well.  And of course, we will be by Lake Erie for our stay in Cleveland.  Lots of islands and lakes on this trip.

Mackinac Bridge to our left

Our view this morning - see freighter to right?

Poor Buddy was so sick - glad we are sitting for a day just to get him better.  Will drug him up for the next stage of the trip.  I don't like that but for his health so he isn't so sick, have to do it.

Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary

We did our last hurrah for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan - we took a walk along the Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary today.  We had wanted to walk the trails yesterday but we got torrential rains and lighting/thunder and high winds in the afternoon, so we hunkered down and just chilled.  The Pines trail is about 3 miles from our campground, sitting in the forest above Lake Fanny Hooe.  Pretty walk, lots of mosquitos but we were prepared.

We do have a small car but these UTVs beat us in smallness

Old fashioned forest toilet better known as outhouse

Have not started the walk, per se, about 1/4 mile in to start it.

Lots of fungus

We found the trail well maintained, many areas had wooden walk paths over the trail since it was in areas of running water or swampy.  We decided to walk both trails, one is rated a little bit more difficult but we did not find it so.  Continued on to view the old giant white pines dating back over 500 years.  Pictures did not do them justice, they are really tall. Of course, after seeing the sequoia trees in California where those are the Granddaddies - these are still tall and considering that the growth period is so short to those trees in California, quite impressive.

Decision time - we started out on the left trail - the Memorial Grove Trail

Sometimes we were walking on the roots of trees

And then we get to a boardwalk, huh.

And other times, had to pay attention - see the blue mark on the tree to left?

We felt that this trail and walking it was fitting for our last day in the Yooper.  We have thoroughly enjoyed our time learning about Lake Superior, as they say, the Lake is the Boss.

We think this happened yesterday during the storm, we think.

Trails were very well marked

Started to see the giant white pines

Did not do this trail - did not want to get wet.

They are biggums

A good storm will knock this one down for sure 

We did both trails, very impressive and well maintained

Passed a number of folks also walking the trails.  Nice to see.  On our way out there was a small pond with lily pads and lots of water, have no idea the name, but reminded us of the Boundary Waters in Minnesota.

Quite tall 

Minnesota?  Michigan?  They look alike.

On our way back down from the Pines we stopped at Manganese Falls, a bit overgrown.  Pretty day, sad to leave the Yooper, but time to get to Ohio.  We leave in the morning, heading to a campground just on the Yooper side of the Mackinac Bridge, the campground sits on Lake Michigan, about 300 miles for tomorrow.  Will rest there a day then head down Interstate 75 to get much closer to Ohio, then by Wednesday we should be settled at Timber Ridge Campground in Amherst, a far western suburb of Cleveland area.  Will be there for a month to do what needs to be done.