Cedar, MI - Cheyboygan, MI

 June 27 - 29, 2025

On Friday, June 27 we arrived at Waterways Campground in Cheboygan, MI for three nights.  We have 30 amp electric and water, and it's $41.00 per night.

It's right next to an old railroad bed that has been converted into a hiking and biking trail.  We were going to go on it but yesterday we were gone sightseeing and today it's raining (again).  But we did walk a little on it.

I thought the sunset view was pretty.  God's creation is so beautiful!

On Saturday we went to Historic Mill Creek. Around 1790 Robert Campbell constructed a sawmill on the site to provide lumber for nearby Mackinac Island (much of it built the Grand Hotel).  He also operated a farm with hay fields, cattle and an orchard.  A gristmill was added, and in 1819 the mill and farm were purchased by wealthy Mackinac Island merchant Michael Dousman.  Abandoned in the 1830s, Mill Creek was rediscovered in 1972.  After extensive archaeological work, the site opened in 1984 and features reconstructions of the sawmill and other structures.  The site covers 625 acres.  Originally the land was cleared all the way down to Lake Huron.  I imagine it must have been a beautiful view, but it's all grown back now.

This is the pond that feeds the dam.

The waterfall has a sound almost like a steam engine.  I've never heard water going over a dam that sounds like this.

The mill.

The water gets diverted to run the paddle wheel on the left, which powers the saw.  The wheel on the right makes the log goes backward.

With the turn of the wheel and a lever the saw blade goes up and down and cuts the lumber.  It was quite interesting how they used the knowledge they had and did things we take for granted today.  Before the mill they had to cut boards by using a sawpit (15 boards a day).  With the mill they could cut ten times the lumber as using the sawpit.

Then we went to the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.

The lighthouse was established in 1889.  The fog signal went into operation in 1890, and the dwelling and tower were completed in 1892.  For over 60 years, four generations of lighthouse keepers and their families lived at this station.  The newly completed Mackinac Bridge made the lighthouse unnecessary and it was closed in 1957.

The view of the keeper's quarters and lighthouse from the south looking north.

They had two lighthouse keepers and lodging for both of them.  They were fortunate that they were in a town.  Many lighthouses were isolated on rock islands in the water, or points where there wasn't anyone near.  

The sitting room.

The dining room.

Left side of the kitchen.

Right side of the kitchen.

It all looked very comfortable.

The fresnel lens.

I knew there were different 'orders' of fresnel lenses, but I didn't know how they were rated.

The lighthouse keepers through the years.  They were held to high standards and had to keep the lens and windows clean, which in the early days could take several hours.  They had to keep records, keep the grounds clean, keep the buildings in good repair, and welcome visitors when they had time.  It took two of them with help from their families to get it all done.  If they failed they could be discharged.

There were other buildings on the property: the fog signal building (entrance and gift shop), the warehouse (Straits of Mackinac shipwreck museum), barn (shipwreck movie and movie about the lighthouse), and the oil house (for when the light used oil).

A tour to the top of the lighthouse is available but we chose not to do that.  They did a demonstration of the foghorn and that was interesting.  The young man doing the demonstration said people on Mackinac Island can hear it.  (See video on Roving Walkers Facebook page.)

View from the north side porch of the keeper's house.  Of course the bridge wasn't there back then.  I could get used to that view every day.  I love the different colors of the water.

View from the north looking south.

We were there!

We were there too!

View of the Mackinac Bridge.  We'll be driving across it in a few days.

We stopped at a fish market on the way home and bought some fresh whitefish.  John put it on the smoker and we had it for dinner.  It was very mild and delicious. 

This trip has had more rainy days than sunny days.  Everyone I ask about it, no matter where we've been, has said that this year has been very rainy.  But we are thankful to the Lord, and grateful that we can take these trips.

Soon we'll be...

Roving on...

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3