land cruise 2015: Two Great Lakes in two days: Lakes Huron and Michigan

April 27-28, 2016

Incredibly, this is Blogpost number 100! I cannot believe that we have been away long enough to visit 100 places!

From Kentucky, we drove North through Ohio and arrived in Ypsilanti, Michigan on April 26 where we visited with Sam and Cheryl and their beautiful Shar-Pei puppies (see blogpost dated April 26).
We are now beginning what will be a circumnavigation of sorts of Lake Superior, driving along the Northern Michigan coastline, then The Wisconsin and Minnesota coastlines to arrive in Thunder Bay Ontario. Then we will go along the North Shore of Lake Superior and into the Toronto area where we will spend about a week visiting family. Then, it is on to Nova Scotia and home!

First though, more Great Lakes: Lakes Huron and Michigan. And after some beautifully warm days, we are now back in the land of wearing parkas! The contrast in the progress of Spring is also really noticeable. It seemed that, as soon as we crossed the Michigan State line, the trees had no leaves, and there were fewer flowers to be seen!

Our first Great lake, lake Huron, almost looking like the ocean!

We camped at Bay City State Park, where I went for a lovely walk and saw active little critters.

The park's flooded conditions made for a case of "Be careful of what you wish for" as Dave especially was longing for water and trees after the weeks in the desert....

This would make for a rather wet picnic...

We found a nice dry campsite and were among the only five or six campers in a campground that could accommodate hundreds!

Today, we drove North and crossed the famous Mackinac Bridge, the world's 16th longest suspension bridge, and just around 5 miles in total length!

On our right, Lake Huron:

On our left, Lake Michigan:

We emerged from the bridge into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan State, in a town called St.Ignace, where a very kind barrista at the local Starbucks agreed to make me a latte even though the coffee shop was closed. How very sweet of her!
We are camped at the Straits State Park which has not yet opened for the season, which means no services other than electricity but free camping! We had a walk on some of the park trails before settling down for the evening.