One of the challenges that I faced was wanting to see as much as I could while also spending enough time in each place to really get to know it. I planned for a full eight days in the U.P. as an opportunity to relax, catch-up on life (aka laundry, bills, and emails), and also serve as contingency catch-up days if anything had happened along the way.
Before I could settle in and relax I had one obstacle in my way, the Mighty Mac. A couple days before heading there a couple of women on the Female RVers Facebook group began to discuss how crossing the Mackinac Bridge was one of the most terrifying experiences. It is the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. It was all that I could think about as I set out for the day. I am very happy to say that it was not the most terrifying experience of my life and thanks to no wind issues, it wasn’t a big deal (Louisiana bridges more than prepared me for that). I had arrived and settled into the most beautiful RV park that I have stayed at, located on the shore of Lake Michigan, Manistique Lakeshore Campground. All that I could hear was the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline, and thanks to a very strong wind it somewhat kept the swarms of midges at bay. The view never got old.
Kitch-iti-kipi (aka Big Cold Spring): Nicknamed the Mirror of Heaven, Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan’s largest freshwater spring. The clearest and calmest water that I have ever seen. Over 10,000 gallons of spring water escape from fissures in the limestone each minute keeping the pool constantly fed with water and maintaining a year round temperature of 45 degrees. I stood for so long watching the water bubble up as well as all of the trout swimming around.
Upper and Lower Tahquamenon Falls: The Upper Falls is one the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. A maximum flow of more than 50,000 gallons of water per second has been recorded cascading over these falls. While it is extremely clear, it has a unique brown color caused by tannins from cedar swamps up river. I decided to take the four mile hike to the Lower Falls. As I approached the trailhead I was greeted with a sign that did not encourage you to take the hike. It stated that it was four miles, it was extremely muddy and you would get dirty, there are swarms of flies that will annoy you to no end, there are multiple staircases with hundred of steps that you will have to climb, and worst of all there is no cell service. Despite the warnings I proceeded on. I am happy to say that they had not received rain in several weeks so no mud and it wasn’t yet the height of fly season so no issues. My only issue was that silly me read it as a four mile loop versus four miles there and four miles back. Two miles into to the hike I realized my mistake and turned back as it was getting late and didn’t have the time or energy for an eight mile hike.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. I had spent so much time on the Lake Michigan shore that it was finally time to see Lake Superior. The museum is located at the Whitefish Pointe Lighthouse, which must not be an effective lighthouse as it is known as the graveyard of Lake Superior.
Fayette Historic Townsite: A chance to step back in time and explore what life was life in the industrial community of Fayette. It existed from 1867 to 1891 and focused on iron smelting. After operations were shutdown to became the ghost town that it is today, frozen in time.
Covering Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Mackinac Island in separate posts. Regarding suggestions on where to eat, I enjoyed most of my meals at the camper and didn’t get a chance to try the local dish of pasties. I did enjoy a beer at Tap21 which has a huge selection of local brews.
