St. Ignace, MI - Sault Ste. Marie, MI - Brimley, MI - Paradise, MI - Christmas, MI - Munising, MI

 July 10 - 16, 2025

On Thursday, July 10 we left St. Ignace and drove about an hour north to our Harvest Host site at Original Soo Locks Boat Tours.  Of course it was no hookups but with the sun shining the solar provided all the electricity we needed.  We quickly parked and were able to get on the tour that was leaving 10 minutes later.

This was our tour boat.

We sat in the shade when we could but of course the best views were in the sun.  In our hurry John forgot his hat.

The American side of the locks were busy so we went to the Canadian side.  This was at the bottom of the lock and it made you feel kind of small.

This was after the water came into the lock and raised us.

As we went out of the lock.

The orange bridge can be used in an emergency, and the brown one can swing over the lock for trains.

The American locks were still busy so we got an extended tour.  This is a steel mill in Canada.

These are rolls of steel produced by the factory.  A single semi-truck trailer can haul two of the rolls.  A barge can hold many more.

This was the Burns Harbor barge.  It was moving so slowly that it looked like it wasn't moving.  It was built in 1980 and is 1,000' long.

Approaching the American lock.  The gate is a safety gate that will stop, or at least slow down, a ship that is going too fast.

In the American lock.  There's another lock next to it that the Burns Harbor used.  This one wasn't nearly long enough.

Back to the dock.  It was a great tour and I would recommend it!  Make sure you remember your hat and sunscreen.

We had errands to run and saw the Burns Harbor going down the river but left before it really came into view and I could get a picture.  The next morning this barge went by.

On Friday we drove to Brimley, MI and stayed at Sunrise RV Park for one night.  We had full hookups and it was $49.05 per night.  There really wasn't anything to see so we just stayed in.  It was a nice site but close to the road so a little noisy.

On Saturday we drove to Tahquamenon Falls State Park near Paradise, MI for three nights.  We stayed at the Portage Campground near Lower Falls.  It was 50 amp electric only for $42.66 per night.  A little pricey for electric only but I knew Michigan State Parks raised their rates this year.  It was a nice site, although because of the trees Starlink was a little spotty. 

On Sunday we went to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.  They have several buildings such as the US Navy Radio Building, the Lighthouse Keeper's Quarters, the Surfboat House, and the Motor Life-Boat House that you can go in.  They showed a short movie, and had interesting exhibits in the buildings.  The lighthouse was not open to the public.

The keeper's house, lighthouse, and the foghorn building.

This was the biggest lens I've seen.  Click on the picture to read about it.

It was nine feet in diameter and weighs 3,500 pounds.

Many people have heard about the Edmund Fitzgerald.  It's popular because of the song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", and because in 1978 it was the last ship that sunk on the Great Lakes.  If you don't know the story check out this link:  https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Superior-lake-North-America

In 1995 they brought the bell from the ship and it is now displayed in this museum.

To get down to the ship and recover the bell they used this Newtsuit.  You can click on the picture and read more about it.

We walked down to the beach overlook.

Looking back to the lighthouse from the beach.

A surfboat that they used to rescue people on the lake.

This explains how they used the cannon/gun below, and much better than I can.

They would shoot this Lyle Gun...

that was connected to these ropes.  They would shoot over the bow and anchor the rope then the people could be pulled to safety.

It was a very interesting museum and I would recommend it.

On Monday we went to the Upper and Lower Falls. 

John went to the bottom and back up.  I waited for him at the top.

Bridge to the island at the Lower Falls.

So many pretty waterfalls!  It was in the 80s, muggy, and the mosquitos were everywhere.  I put some No Bite Me on and didn't get bit; John slathered it on and the mosquitos still got him.  We got over 7,000 steps that day.

On Tuesday, July 15 we drove to Christmas, MI and stayed for one night at the Pictured Rocks RV Park & Campground.  It was full hookups for $56.18. Not really worth that much but it's all about location.

Wednesday we moved to Munising Tourist Park and Campground for three nights.  I couldn't get four nights here and that's why we stayed at the previous campground the night before.  It's full hookups for $51.66 per night, but we have a nice view of Lake Superior.  Right now it's 54 degrees, feels like 51 and is cloudy and cold.  But it's 89 degrees at home and feels like 99, so I'll take the cloudy and cold.

We have another activity before 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

Alanson, MI - St. Ignace, MI

 June 30 - July 9, 2025

On Monday, June 30 we arrived at a Boondockers Welcome location in Alanson, MI.  I didn't plan ahead very well for the 4th of July week and there were no campground sites anywhere.  The host was very accommodating letting us stay five nights, and the Lord provided.  This was our first site for the first 4 nights.  We had 30 amp and water, and he let us dump our grey water into the woods.  Because we had hookups it was $25 per night.

We had to move the last night because he had a motorhome that needed the 30 amp electric coming in, so this was our site for the last night.  We had electric but John wasn't sure if it was 15 or 30 amp.  We were able to run one air conditioner and everything else so it was good.  It was not level at all and I was afraid I was going to crash into the TV or the shower doors.

While we were there we rode on the North Central State Trail.  It's dirt and stone but easy to ride.  John got some stabilizing wheels for me that seem to be working.  Looking forward to the next time we can ride.

On Saturday, July 5 we drove over the Mackinac Bridge to St. Ignace, MI.

We couldn't get all five nights in one site so the first night was in the site next to us and this is the one we're at now.  It's 30 amp full hookups for $51.30 per night.  It's a large site and quiet.

On Monday we took the ferry to Mackinac Island.  The Lord gave us a beautiful day to go.  We left around 8:00 and the ferry shuttle picked us up at the campground.  We got to the ferry terminal and got our tickets.  When we got to the island we went directly to the carriage tours booth and got our tickets.

The first stop was the carriage museum.

At the same stop was the butterfly house.

The blue is on the inside of the wings.  On the outside it's brown to hide itself from things that want to eat it.

Our first carriage was smaller and had two horses.  At this stop we got on a different carriage with three horses.  They are big horses too.  One of the guides explained that they are draft horses, and the are matched by their leg length so the gait is the same.  So while the horse on the right looks like it's smaller it's leg length is the same as the other two.

Our next stop was Arch Rock.

View from the upper platform.

Another view of Arch Rock from the upper platform.  You can see the trail below.

Then we went to Fort Mackinac.  This sentry looks familiar.  They must have been shorter back then.

Fort Mackinac was founded by the British during the American Revolution.  Believing Fort Michilimackinac at what is now Mackinaw City was too vulnerable to American attack, the British moved the fort to Mackinac Island in 1780.  Americans took control in 1796.  In July 1812, the the first land engagement of the War of 1812 in the United States, the British captured the fort.  In a bloody battle in 1814 the Americans attempted but failed to retake the fort.  It was returned to the United States after the war.  The fort remained active until 1895.  During these years Mackinac Island was transformed from a center of the fur trade into a major summer resort.  In 1875 Mackinac National Park was established.  In 1895 the fort was closed and became Mackinac Island State Park.

The stone ramparts, the south sally port and the Officer's Stone Quarters are all part of the original fort built over 225 years ago.  The other buildings in the fort are of more recent origin, dating from the late 1790s to 1885.  The buildings have been restored to how they looked during the final years of the fort's occupation.  They have done a wonderful job of restoring and maintaining all the buildings.

View from the fort.

The building on the left was the fort hospital.  I'm glad I didn't live back in 1828!  If what was wrong with you didn't kill you their treatments would have!

View of the town.

Also a view of the town.  It was getting about lunch time so we went to the Tea Room at the fort by the Officers' Stone Quarters (1780).  A patio ran the length of the quarters and they had outside seating under the yellow and white umbrellas.  We both had hamburgers and they were pretty good.  It was such a beautiful day!

The lighthouse that was in Somewhere in Time, and a ferry coming in, taken from the Tea Room.

Officers' Hill Quarters (1835)

Soldiers' Barracks (1859)

We got back on the carriage and got off near The Grand Hotel.  I have wanted to go there since I saw Somewhere in Time, 45 years ago.  We watched the movie again the night before we went to the island.

Pretty flowers.

It was a little windy.

I don't remember seeing this fountain in the movie but that's not to say it wasn't there.

The staircase in front of the hotel.

View from the front porch.

Of course we had to sit in the rocking chairs on the world's longest front porch.

Sitting area on the right as you come into the hotel from the porch.

Sitting area on the left.  It was all beautifully maintained.

Poster from the movie.

It don't know what they did with the picture from the movie but it was better than this painting.

Pictures from the movie.

More pictures.

They had to get special permits to have cars on the island as motorized vehicles are prohibited.  They do have firetrucks, police cars, and ambulances, but they are hidden away in a garage.

View of the Grand Hotel from the ferry on the way back.

My thoughts after visiting:

1. Take the carriage ride, but unless you want to go to the fort and butterfly house just get the basic ticket. We had been to forts and butterfly houses before so could have done without.  Although the Tea Room is at the fort and they charge admission, so it worked out.  There were a couple of other places included with our ticket we could have seen but didn't realize it until we got back.  

2.  The place smells.  With all the horses around it can't help but smell.  The Tea Room where we had lunch was above the town and there was a nice breeze.  Would recommend there for lunch.

3.  We used Shepler's Ferry.  There is another one but it didn't have good reviews.  If you are staying in St. Ignace at a hotel or campground call Shepler's and their shuttle will pick you up and take you back.  They were at the campground before we could walk to the office, and we didn't have to wait at all for the ride back to the campground.

4.  They do allow electric bikes on the island, which I had read they didn't.  However, there are a lot of hills and I don't think either one of us was up for an 8+ mile ride around the island and inland.

Check Mackinac Island off on the bucket list!

Yesterday was laundry and cleaning day, including washing the rugs.  We could still smell horse.

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