YOOPERS!!

If you hale from the upper Michigan peninsula, you are known as YOOPERs - kind of like the difference from being from north Texas and south Texas - same language - just a different accent.   So we ended our day by  traveling from the upper most point of the upper peninsula to the lowest point.

STRAITS STATE PARK - right close to the Straits bridge that not only connects upper and lower Michigan but also divides Lake Michigan from Lake Huron.  Again, this is a nice place.   Took a long walk down to campgrounds close to the water and it was full of tent campers and kids!   They are having so much fun but boy is it crowded.   Don't know how they survive in the heat in those tents!   We took the dogs with us on our hike and decided to cut through the woods.   Longer than expected, I wanted to turn back but glad we didn't.   We came to a clearing and looked to our left to have a fantastic view of the Mackinaw Bridge.

Left the dogs the next day with a dog kennel and caught the boat to go over to Mackinaw Island.   Since there are no vehicles on the island, we rented bicycles and took a personal tour.  Absolutely gorgeous homes, a state park fort, church, main street of town and of course, the Grand Hotel.   Paid an extra $10 to be able to enter and tour hotel but it was worth it.   We have had many a rain on our trip but so far we have lucked out when it was time to really see some scenery.   This day was beautiful and pictures will be posted here!

 View from Arch Rock on Macknaw Island.   Can you see the road below?

 Alone in the copula of the Grand Hotel taking pic in mirror

 Our next house on Mackinaw Island.  LOL

 Natural Arch Rock on Mackinaw island with beach and lake in background

 Can you picture Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve on the balcony?

 Looking from copula down into the gardens of Grand Hotel.  Road to town on left.

 Another view and note how they get you and your luggage to and from the pier.

 Our first glance of Grand from the old ferry boat that only runs in the summer.

 Looking back onto the upper peninsula of Michigan

 US Customs boat in the lock at Sault Saint Marie, Michigan.  This is on the border with Canada.

 Returning boat from Mackinaw Island to St. Ignance, Mich.

 On the main street of Mackinaw Island

 Mackinaw Island - church

 On the ferry to the island with Mackinaw Bridge behind us.

1000 ft barge going through the lock at Sault St. Marie.   You can only see the top - it rose 21 feet and exited to your left.   Bridge to Canada in the background.

The  pictures of the barge and Customs boat in the lock will be of Johnnie's "had to do list".   We traveled up to the Sault St Marie, Mich where the locks are located that allow ships to go from Lake Superior to Lake Huron where there is a 21 ft difference.   Fascinating to see a 1000' barge go through as well as a pleasure boat and a US Customs boat as  well.