CANADA AND THE NIAGARA FALLS

Mackinac Bridge

Old Mackinac lighthouse

Soo Locks

Pileated woodpeckers

Traversed north through Traverse City, along the eastern coast of Lake Michigan to Mackinaw City and across "the Mighty Mac", the 5 mile Mackinac Bridge leading into the Upper Peninsula and north to Sault St. Marie where we enjoyed seeing some of the world's largest locks - Soo Locks. We were lucky to watch a 618ft freighter go down the 21 ft lock from St. Marys River into Lake Huron.
We have not had any rain since we arrived, strange as we arrived here overlooking the bridge over to Canada it started to rain. Hope this is not an omen - rain and Canada and us seem to go hand in hand!
We drove into Ontario, Canada without hassle from Customs, continuing east then south east along the coast of Georgian Bay and Thirty Thousand Islands through pretty forested hills and numerous lakes. Canada remains much more expensive than the States, but the sun has shone each day so no sweat!
After a nightmare drive around Toronto we finally arrived at our next destination near Niagara Falls.

wreck at the top of the Horseshoe Falls, Niagara

Horseshoe Falls

Niagara Falls for the day - absolutely stunning! We both thought the Falls, Horseshoe on Canadian side and American Falls on USA side were breathtaking. As our Maid of the Mist boat cruised to the base of the American Falls then the basin of the commanding Horseshoe Falls we experienced the roar and got absolutely soaked - it was sensational!
We filled in the rest of the afternoon by driving north across the peninsula to Niagara on the Lake, a pretty town on Lake Ontario then back along the Niagara Parkway stopping at the Glen and seeing the whirlpool Aero car, arriving back after fish and chips for the nightly illumination of the Falls - an awesome show of ever-changing colours.
Today we have been to Fort Erie and seen our fourth Great Lake. We move further east tomorrow.

Both Falls and Maid of the Mist

Horseshoe Falls

Horseshoe Falls and Maid of the Mist

American Falls

Togged up for the Maid of the Mist

American Falls from The Maid of the Mist boat

Horseshoe Falls from the boat

American Falls from the boat

Rose between two Falls

American Falls

Horseshoe Falls

Maid of the Mist and Horseshoe Falls

Somewhere over the rainbow

Floral Clock

Whirlpool

a blue moon over Niagara

nightime in Niagara

showtime

stunning light show

PURE MICHIGAN

Indiana Amish

We drove north along the eastern side of Indiana, flat lands with fields of soya beans and field corn.
Moved into Michigan to the  Waterloo State Park and spent the weekend with a lovely couple we first met in 2009 at Lake Mead, we had always said we would visit them if we came to Michigan. They lived just 18 miles from the campsite but were spending the weekend there. We had a superb time, they took us to see their house and surrounding countryside, it was very secluded and set in 12 acres and built by Ron - just wonderful! We enjoyed a great meal with them, they gave us Pasties, a traditional Michigan dish, similar to our Cornish pasties but jam packed with a filling of ground chuck beef, potatoes and rutabaga - delicious. Then around the campfire we had S'mores - two crackers with a piece of Hersheys chocolate and a toasted marshmallow - yummy!

We moved on, promising to visit again next May and headed north to Grand Haven and our first view of the Great Lakes - Lake Michigan - 307 miles long and 118 miles wide, it looked just like the seaside with sandy beaches, pier and lighthouse. We camped further north at Muskegon State park and watched the big ships, yachts and ferry go through the canal into Muskegon Lake.

our good friends and their wonderful house

Grand Haven Lighthouse

Muskegon State Park

 

We then spent three days at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, a hilly region fringed with massive shoreline sand dunes and dotted with clear lakes. Offshore sit North and South Manitou Islands.
I loved the Anishinaabek Indian Legend - Long ago, in the land that is now Wisconsin, a mother bear and her two cubs were driven into Lake Michigan by a raging forest fire. They swam and swam, but soon the cubs tired and lagged far behind. Mother bear finally reached the opposite shore and climbed to the top of the bluff to watch and wait for her offspring. But the cubs drowned. Today "Sleeping Bear", a solitary dune in Michigan overlooking Lake Michigan, marks the spot where mother bear waited.

Arcadia scenic viewpoint of Lake Michigan

Point Betsie Lighthouse

Roy paddling in Lake Michigan - warm!

 

We did the Pierce Stocking scenic drive, a 7.5 mile loop road to the top of the dunes with fantastic 450ft high views of Lake Michigan, a hiking trail into the dunes and views of the now eroded Sleeping Bear Dune. They also had a Dune climb which we passed on, looked a lot of effort for a very short yomp down!
We've had daily nordic walks before breakfast, well I have the poles, Roy just walks fast and he also goes off on his bike. I have refused to go on mine until he fixes the gears!
We are now at Cheboygan, Norhtern Michigan,  about to move into Canada.

Weather up to now has been great, sunny with temperatures from 24oC to 34oC.

Cottonwood trail

Cottonwood trail

Lake Michigan Overlook - its a long way down to the beach

Lake Michigan overlook - can you spot Roy waving?

Sleeping Bear Dune - the small dark covered dune in the distance

Dune Overlook

Pyramid Point on Lake Michigan

Fishtown

Fishtown

Platte River campground