Oh Canada!

We got up bright and early this morning, full of excitement and headed for Canada.

We planned to cross at Port Huron, Michigan and go to Niagara Falls, Ontario.

After 3 days in Niagara Falls we'd go back into the United States and travel through New York; continuing on our way to Nova Scotia.

Of course I was taking photos all along the trip.

Our first snag occurred as soon as we crossed the bridge to Canada.

The woman at the entry booth was not at all happy about the camera. She stated that this was not a time for photos and asked what I was taking a picture of.

"You" I replied.

Wrong answer.

She asked if I'd taken her picture and I answered "No." She then asked for the camera and checked to make sure I'd told her the truth. When there was no picture of her she gave the camera back.

She was looking at our passports when she asked what our license plate number was.

Neither of us had a clue.

She then wanted to see our registration for the truck and trailer. We still have temporary ones because of our recent move to Texas, and that didn't improve her mood.

She then asked if we had any firearms and we answered truthfully "Yes, a shotgun."

"You know you have to have a permit for that?"

Well, no we didn't. We knew we couldn't bring in any handguns and had left them in storage in Kansas.

We were directed to pull over so the shotgun could be inspected.

The customs agents went through the RV and got the gun, searching the bedroom dressers and closet.

When the numbers on the gun checked out they warned us it couldn't be used for protection and sent us in to get the permit.

That ended the most pleasant part of the experience.

Inside a young woman took our passports and asked if we'd ever been arrested.

We both answered "No".

BIG mistake!

When the computer kicked out John's 1983 DUI arrest she was outraged!

John explained he'd gone through diversion and really hadn't thought of it.

Didn't count.

She'd asked about "arrests, not convictions! Why'd you lie!"

She found an arrest for "illegal discharge of a firearm" (also dismissed) when he was twenty-five and the gig was up!

Bear in mind that John has a concealed carry permit. He was fingerprinted and cleared by the FBI before the permit was approved. The end result?

We were denied entry to Canada!

They don't want us in there!

We had to turn around and limp back to the U S

(who wanted to know why we'd been rejected)
feeling completely mortified.

We cannot claim racial profiling, as we are neither black nor
mid-eastern looking; but we can feel their pain.

We spent the next two hours muttering about our tenth-grade English teachers who'd warned us about our permanent records.

We thought we'd be spending this evening listening to the roar of Niagara Falls, but we are in an over-priced KOA in Sandusky Ohio; licking our wounds and slamming down the fourth round, trying to find the romance of being roving desperadoes.

John has vowed to never eat Canadian bacon again.

Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island

After a week of torrential rains and gloomy weather, the sun came out again in Mackinaw City, Michigan. This was the longest stretch of bad weather we've had since we began traveling 15 months ago, and I'm sure glad it ended here so we could really appreciate this beautiful area. Mackinac Bridge is 5 miles long, the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was built in 1957. It kept the title until 1998, and is now third.

Mackinaw City from our campground.

Mackinac Island from the campground. For the first two days we were here the fog was so thick
you couldn't see 50 yards out. You could sure hear the foghorns though.

There are several ferry lines going to Mackinac Island, but of course we had to go on the line that has "Hydro-Jet" engines. They advertise a 14 minute trip --- ooooh!

Meeting another boat from the same company, you can just see how impressive those fast motors are!

As we neared the island the Grand Hotel really was that impressive. It dominates the view. It was built in 1888 by a group of investors that included Vanderbilt and Astor.

If you're staying at the Grand, they'll send this coach to pick you up at the dock. If you double click on the photo you may be able to see the elaborate harness.

No automobiles are allowed on Mackinac, except an ambulance. All other traffic is horse-drawn or bicycles.

The U S Post Office on Mackinac is the only one in the United States that doesn't deliver mail. The 520 full time residents here have to go in and pick it up.

The "Little Stone Church."

The stained glass windows were made by Tiffany.

The summer residence of the Governor of Michigan. He reportedly spends most weekends here, and is home in this photo as shown by the flag at full staff.

This home was originally built for $15,000. When the owner fell on hard times he sold it to the state for the cost of $15000, with the stipulation that if and when they ever sold the house it was to go to one of his descendants - for $15000.

The carriage museum was filled with amazing things. This is such an fabulous sleigh, and you can see the fire wagon behind it.

The hearse on the left side of the picture is still in use today. When it's needed for a burial
they simply take it out of the museum and use it. To be buried here you must have been born on the island on be a tax paying land owner.

Joe, our guide on the horse drawn tour.

He was a former Marine (Five years in Iraq) going to college to become a teacher.

He was also hilarious. If you ever go, ask for him!

The natural arch.

See the bicyclists below?
The tiny rectangle in the top right of the photo is part of a sign that says "Keep off'', like they have to tell you?

One view from the arch and
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Looking the other direction.

It's an 8 mile ride around the island.

(This photo's for you, Candy)

I'd never seen a spotted draft horse.

The stable buys their horses from the Amish for $300 - $600.

This horse, Chance, and his brother on the other side have a Belgian in the middle to help them get along.

The main street on Mackinac.

This was reportedly a slow day for tourism.
It would sound like no cars would make for easy traffic, but not necessarily.

One of the two horse hitches waiting their turn for a tour. The wagons line up for a block.

There are two main businesses on Mackinac Island; horse drawn tours and fudge.

There must be more fudge shops here than any place else on Earth.

And I'm on a diet!!!!

Leaving the island we got on the top of a triple decker.

A view of the harbor with one of the competing boat lines in the background.

Of course THEY don't have "Hydro-Jet" motors.

John had to have the window seat on the trip back.

He had a great view of the other boat kicking our butt on the race home.

By the shores of Gitchi Gumee

Boy Howdee, has it rained here! I thought yesterday was bad!

We were at a laundromat in town when the sky opened up like I've never seen before. The locals act like it's an everyday thing. Two teenage girls went by on roller blades in the worst of it, waving and laughing.

Last night it began to rain again, and it didn't stop completely until 8 o'clock this morning.

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We got over 4 inches of rain last night, and I'm so glad we have a water-tight

camper! The people camped here in tents really entertained John.

The drive north to Lake Superior was still our best option so off we went. The highway is bordered by woods so thick in some places you can't see in at all. The spruce and pines are a dark lush green broken up by white slashes of birch trees. Occasionally you shoot by a driveway decorated with flags or reflectors. You couldn't see them otherwise!

I didn't realize there would be such a difference in the two Great Lakes we've seen so far.

Lake Superior has waves you could surf on!
O K maybe not, but still....

This is it; Gitchi Gumee - what Longfellow called the Big-Sea Waters.

The beaches are very nice, but surely no one swims here?

Tourism is a big draw in the area. Fishing and hunting pull in lots of people as do snow sports in the winter.

Mining iron ore and copper is big business, and trees are a 20-year crop for paper mills.

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We drove to Marquette expecting another sleepy little town but were surprised to find a beautiful city. Northern Michigan University is here, and there are beautiful "Painted Lady" Victorian homes on the hill overlooking the bay. The downtown business district was booming.

When we first arrived at the edge of town we were astonished to find the following.

What in the world.............

I didn't have a clue!

John wouldn't even guess!

Give up?
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It's an ore dock.

Trains loaded with iron ore once pulled on to the top and off-loaded pellets of ore in bins that dumped into ship's holds.

I had to stop in the visitor's center to find out what it was, or it would have driven me nuts.

There are lots of sail boats in the lakes, and from the winds we've enjoyed so far I can understand why!

The temperatures have been cool, but the news just announced that on this day in 1992, they had a freeze.

I'm sorry I complained.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula

We have left Wisconsin, and did we have a good time there?

Oh, you betcha!

We're in Gladstone, Michigan; a small town in the Upper Peninsula or U.P.

People who live here refer to themselves as "Yoopers".

Since we will live here three days I suppose we are "Yoopettes."

The lighthouse is a short distance from our campground via a bike path running along Lake Michigan. The campground's in a beautiful setting, but the weather is not cooperating with me.

Check out the overcast sky and wind. It's in the low 60's with a mighty brisk breeze. This was a day better suited to riding around in the truck.




This is in the next little town, Escanaba. It's named for the Escanaba River, mentioned in the poem "Song of Hiawatha" by Longfellow.


The above lighthouse has a flagpole made from a tree trunk.

Another angle of the Sand Point Lighthouse.

What was so charming only a few weeks ago has now become mundane, so few lighthouse photos will be taken from now on.

Click on the above photo and you may be able to read that this once belonged the the Chicago Fire department. It's sitting in a field way off the beaten path in Escanaba, Michigan with no signs or information of any kind.

Whaaaat?

The Fish Boil

Joe and Barb, friends we met in Texas last winter, came to spend the weekend with us in Door. They live in Wisconsin but go south when cold weather sets in, and we'll see them again in January. This evening we four enjoyed a Door County tradition - a fish boil.

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Yes, a fish boil.
I know it sounds awful.
White fish, red potatoes and small onions are boiled in salt water over a wood fire.



When the fish is done, the cook throws kerosene on the wood fire, making the pot boil over in a tremendous steaming finish with black smoke rolling and water spilling over the rim, dousing the flames. At the same time your camera tells you the battery is dead, therefore missing a fabulous photo opportunity.
Boiled fish doesn't look all that promising and I've always thought boiled onions were pitiful, but it was really, really good. I should add that they poured melted butter all over the plate of food. Hey, how bad could it be?

Baileys Harbor

On the far shore you can see some of the homes and condos.

At the far end of the peninsula near Northport the highway does some weird maneuvering.

It looks in the photograph as though the road "washboards" with a series of dips, but it's flat. There is no obvious reason for the curves in the road. This is further proof that lots and lots of beer is consumed in this state, some of it by surveyors.

One of the many lighthouses here, this is in Peninsula State Park near Fish Creek.

The lighthouse was built in 1868, but there is something new added at the top.

That's a solar panel.

Think it powers the light?

The view from the lighthouse showing the Strawberry Islands in the Distance.

I love this mailbox at a gallery in (where else?) Egg Harbor.

We also visited Stones Throw Winery.

Barb and I checked the bouquet and decided a tasting would be a great idea.

Note the happy faces of everyone holding a wine glass.

John is a beer drinker.

More Door

The lilacs here are still amazing me.

I had no idea lilacs came in so many different colors.

These are a deep pink.
I've no idea what this is. It looks like a tiny chapel, but it certainly hasn't been used for a while. The building is in an overgrown lot next to an antique shop we visited.


Kayaks for rent in Sister Bay.

This was a picture perfect day to drive across the peninsula. We are staying in Baileys Harbor on the quieter eastern/lake side. This is on the western/bay, more developed side.

The Yacht Club at Ephraim.

Note that the parking spots are all marked with the owners name to keep the riffraff out.

More Yacht Club

This scene is repeated down the coast through Fish Creek and on down to Egg Harbor.

Sister Bay is home to Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant. It's famous in the area for it's delicious food (and I can certainly recommend the grilled pork chops) and generous portions (we each brought half our food home).
It's also famous for the grass growing on the roof.

This photo shows one side of the roof,

and the next photo shows-

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The side with all the goats!

They put 'em up there in the morning and take 'em down in the evening.



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You're not going to see this just anywhere.

I have questions.

Lots of questions.

What about the goats' love life?

Who gets up there to clean up the goat debris?

How does OSHA feel about the hazards of the cleanup job?

Some things are best left unknown.