Leaving the Upper Peninsula, we were struck by the emptiness. Not just the lack of tourists that we had avoided by coming so early. But the lack of residents. Beautiful wilderness. Though some say the UP is dying. Just over 300,000 live in the UP, barely 3% of Michigan’s population. The UP population peaked in…
Month: April 2019
April 29th: Point Iroquois Light Station
Leaving Whitefish Point we retraced our path back south along Whitefish Bay then hugged the bay driving east. Several turn-offs along the way with close access to the shore. Hard to believe we were still gazing at Lake Superior. No wind, no waves. Slushy ice with ducks slowly searching for spots of open water. Silence,…
April 28th: Whitefish Point Lighthouse
Drives with my wife have evolved over the years. The one constant being I am almost always driving. I love to drive, and my Avalon has been the perfect automobile for the road. There were the days of the music blasting. Then came the carload of kids and all the noise you could ever ask…
April 26th: Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Our first lighthouse visit on our trip was the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, completed in 1892 and guarding the dangerous turning point for ships entering the Straits of Mackinac. This is where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron come together, tho technically it is all one lake with a narrows here. Rocky shoals, high ship traffic…
April 25th: Yoopers for a day
Residents of the Upper Peninsula call themselves “Yoopers”… we named ourselves “honorary yoopers for a day”. For the first time, we crossed the bridge, beating the triple threat of the upcoming invasion of tourists, biting black flies, and mosquitos. It was supposed to be partly cloudy with a shower or two, but we battled some…
April 24th: A bridge (not) too far
We drove up to Mackinaw City today. And there is the bridge… 26,372 foot of wonder (almost 5 miles). Tomorrow we cross and enter the Upper Peninsula. They say, “you’re not up north until you cross the Mackinac Bridge”. Tomorrow we cross. For the first time. It is the longest suspension bridge with two towers…
April 23rd: Freedom; the escape… and perspective
I have a whole category, “Freedom; the escape”. Blog entries on how I was able to quit my job, sell the house, and move to our simple life, living free on the beach of our choice. Melodramatic? Well, to me intensely real. I’m passionately blissful now, and have been for a year. But how much…
April 22nd: One week later
What a difference a week makes. Heavy snow to sunny and 75 F. Last frost has passed. Geraniums are appearing in the stores. Trees about to pop. All in a week. A nice thing about being able to go to the beach every day, is we also have the choice not to go. Today…
April 20th: Oh, the humanity!
A five-hour, $1 succulent plant sale at Hidden Creek Farm, thirty minutes north of here. Starting at 10:00am. Sounded like a fun little trip for a Saturday. They would have a large variety and 4,000 plants for sale. And fresh-cut tulips for Easter. Then I saw a Facebook post… 300 people “coming”, 2,500 likes, just…
April 17th: Waiting for our ship to come in
Well, actually more waiting for our fishing boat to return from dry dock. Along with all the other fishing boats. And not “our”, but the one we will be using for our fishing trip several weeks from now. Same boat and captain as last year’s trip… Danel Sportfishing. Last year our 40 can beer cooler…