Our next stop was at the Pictured Rocks National Seashore, still on Lake Superior. This is an area that was established both for it's beauty and historical significance. Again we were hampered by rain but the cliffs of the seashore are very dramatic when viewed from the water (which we did not do) and the shoreline contains several shipwrecks, some from over a hundred years ago. We set up camp in the NFS CG but much too our dismay was just like camping on the beach. We were located high above the shoreline in the tress but essentially we were still in the sand dunes and there is nothing worse than wet sand to contend with! But we finally arrived in an area with a noteworthy event we could partake in. The Au Train Light House was commemorating it's 140th birthday and the park service held a special evening shoreline walk to view several shipwrecks then on to a tour of the lighthouse. This was a very interesting evening. The next day we spent in the small town of Gran Marais, another very small lakeside town, not much there but we met some interesting folks. This was another nice area to visit (except for the sand!) but it was time to move again.
View of shoreline
Shpiwreck debris
Same wreck but different perspective
In Gran Marias we toured a small musuem dedicated to the lighhouse keepers. One item of particular interest. This bike from the 1890s was ridden from Montana to this small town (actually a man and woman each rode their own bike)! Note the direct drive assembly, no chain! Pretty remarkable for the time and in most all other aspects looks like any bike today.
1890s bike
Direct drive
We have been told to try to visit Mackinac Island so we headed that direction. Our campground was in the town of St. Ignace, MI which is where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet separated only in part by the Mackinaw Bridge. Mackinac Island is a short boat ride out into Lake Huron but is quite unique in that no cars or motor powered vehicles are allowed, only bikes and horse drawn carriages! It is really great to see streets lined only with bikes; bikes, bikes everywhere! Also watching the UPS delivery man pull packages from the back of a horse drawn wagon was unique. We rented cruiser bikes and rode the 8.2 island loop, very easy and a good way to see the perimeter of the island. Unless you are staying on the island your time there is limited due to the ferry schedule, the last boat leaves at 7 p.m.
UPS delivery on the island
No cars!
Bellman picking up bags at the dock
Another interesting tour in this area is the USCG Icebreaker Mackinaw. This ship, located in Mackinaw City just across the bridge from our CG, was impressive. Built for use during WWII to keep the Great Lakes free of ice so iron ore could be moved to help the war effort, it was decommissioned on 2006 and now is a museum. We took the self guided tour with docents in strategic places and information videos and placards elsewhere. It is important to note that this vessel never once got stuck in the ice (the new replacement has) and served the Great Lakes for over 50 years.
USCG Icebreaker Mackinaw
Ship's mission embedded on deck
We knew that our route into Canada would take us through Sault Sainte Marie, MI and our WI camping neighbors provided us with great information on that area.
More to come....
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