Cheboygan to Ocequeoc

Only six miles from Cheboygan State Park, downtown Cheboygan has ample parking right on the riverfront.

We parked with the upper range marker behind us. These are used by ships entering the channel. You line up an upper and lower range in the distance and know you are in the center of the channel. See this article for an in-depth explanation.

The riverfront has docks for visiting boats right in front of the parking for visiting vans. A pedestrian bridge crosses the river. The drawbridge is in the distance.

Viewed from the bridge, visiting boats line the riverfront. A boardwalk allows access to the river.

A block up from the river is where you will find downtown shops. An actual camera shop brought back lots of memories. They were even using some vintage Kodak logos.

The town park had fun sculptures with lots of mosaic work. Student paintings were also on display.

Driving east from Cheboygan we spotted the 1929 Poe Reef light sitting about three miles offshore. Poe Reef was established in 1929, and is still active today. The 500mm lens comes brings it closer.

Today's major destination was the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse. Although the buildings are closed on Mondays, the grounds are open for visitors. Parking was easy and close on a "closed" day.

Walking to the beach, we found the  130' remains of the S.S. Joseph S. Fay which wrecked here on October 19, 1905.

The 1896 lighthouse and windmill viewed from Lake Huron.

This building was built to house the crew that kept the steam engines ready to power the nearby fog horn and is now a gift shop.

These two big foghorns point out from the steam powered boiler building towards Lake Huron.

The Michigan shoreline of Lake Huron has lighthouses spaced so that ships can always have one in sight. No wonder lighthouse fans flock to the state.

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Michigan does a good job with historical signs. We plan to learn more about shipwrecks tomorrow.

A Lighthouse Keeper Program here is aimed at volunteer RVers. Four, full service RV sites are available for two week, or longer, stays. Light duties include greeting visitors, giving tours, managing the gift shop and minor sweeping and dusting as needed. Click on the link below for more information www.40milepointlighthouse.org

Moving southeast, we stopped at another Michigan State Harbor of Refuge.

Under cloudy skies, very few boats were docked. This traditional lake fishing boat illustrates the enclosed design ideal for cold weather and steep waves.

Today's last stop was at "the only waterfall in Michigan's lower peninsula." Ocqueoc Falls was a disappointment, especially after visiting so many beautiful waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula last summer. A video link is at the bottom of today's post.

A redeeming feature is a state forest campground within walking distance. With only four other sites occupied, it was another bargain at $15.

The campground road is hard packed gravel.

Our site backed up to the Ocqueoc River above the falls. Rain and thunderstorms finally caught up with us around 0200 providing a two hour fireworks display complete with surround sound.