Big Mack

Most of today is about the Mackinac Bridge and environs. We start out from last night's campsite.

 Leaving Little Lake Brevort, we headed south to get our first glimpse of Lake Michigan. We were searching for a canyon on Hwy 2 where it crosses the Cut River. Unfortunately, the area was under construction, so we were routed around the scenic area.

We did find another campground down the hill from Highway 2, right on the shore of Lake Huron that we will note for another trip. Epoufette Bay Campground was completely empty on this Sunday morning. A county park, it is a large field right on the lake with picnic tables and fire rings. His and her outhouses are the only services, but the water view is great.

For information, or to pay, contact the Cut River Store up on Highway 2 in Naubinway.

While we were checking out the campground, a fishing boat emerged from the fog towing their dinghy. A boat basin and launch is just across the small bay.

Climbing back up the bluff, we headed west to a highway scenic turn-out at a point that was once the western  boundary of Michigan. Looking at the weather forecast, we turned around and headed east with a plan to explore around the Mackinac area and avoid heavy rain by crossing back over to the lower peninsula.

The big landmark in this area is the Mackinac Bridge.

Getting closer, we took the last right before I-75 for a great view from the hill. Parking on the street, we noticed signs for a powwow. The Father Marquette Memorial park was hosting a Native American gathering.  Following the sound of drums we watched the dancers for a bit before moving on. Out of respect for the ceremony, we didn't capture any photographs.

At the bottom of the hill lies Bridge View Park. This is well worth a stop as the free visitor center has the history of this engineering marvel.

Some of the facts and figures are amazing, at least to us. The five mile long bridge uses 42,000 miles of wire in the main cables to support the 6,600 tons of main roadway. A mere 4.8 million rivets and over a million bolts hold it all together. For more figures, follow the link to the Bridge History.

This photo from the Visitor's Center shows the cables and towers during construction in the 1950's before the bridge deck was suspended.

The park also has picnic tables and gardens that attract migrating butterflies like this monarch.

Before crossing back, we explored a little of St. Ignace. Between the fudge shops and ferry docks, the Museum of Ojibwa Culture provided an interesting glimpse into life before European influence.

Northern Michigan students only have to memorize the Ojibwa clan. This map recalled my northern New York schooling with eight competing groups dividing that state.

A creative way of illustrating the various clans and responsibilities within the Ojibway, trees with models of the clan animals and explanations like this for the Mahng line a walkway outside the museum.

A full-size longhouse was erected on the grounds. It is used for ceremonies, but visitors are welcome to enter.

Leaving the Ojibway Museum, we splurged on ice cream at a shop next door. Crossing the street to a Kiwanis Park, we enjoyed our treats while watching ferries head out to Mackinac Island. It was the first time we'd seen a free sunscreen dispenser.

After paying our $4 toll to cross the bridge, we crossed, then circled around and parked almost underneath it to explore the Mackinac City side of the straits.

There are lots of great places to view the bridge from this side. Mackinac City has lots of "pocket parks" all along the waterfront. Each one offered a little different perspective.

Some of the homes along the shoreline looked like small hotels.

The unique lighthouse is undergoing renovation.

Statues are placed in most of the small parks. This one is a tribute to all the iron workers that helped build the bridge.

The easternmost park on our walk surprised us with a Coast Guard Icebreaker. It is open for tours, but not at 4:45 on Sunday.

The Ugly Annie leaves from this park for tours that take you under the bridge so you can sail on two of the Great Lakes on one voyage. Paragliders were out behind the boat getting another perspective on the area.

I promise this will be the last photo of the bridge. You can spot Ugly Annie heading west toward the sunset.

The Coast Guard also had a bouy tender docked nearby. The big crane on the bow lifts navigation buoys onto the low deck for repair and refurbishment.

Cheboygan State Park welcomed us with a spot where we could see Lake Huron through the trees.

 

The beach was in a shallow bay that came close to the level of the campsite. Lake levels are some of the highest in recent history this summer.

A leopard frog blended in with the reeds washed up on the shoreline.

This is a full State Park Campground, so they have campground hosts, water, electricity, and a dump station. There are even two showers for each gender. This sign posted in the shower room made me chuckle.

We enjoyed hot showers and settled in for a quiet night.