Mackinac Bridge and Michigan's Upper Peninsula

On our quest to retrieve water from all 5 Great Lakes we started our way up to Lake Superior.  To get there we would have to cross The Mackinac Bridge.  This frighted me a little bit.
When I was 17 my boyfriend, his friend and I were headed out to the lake and missed our turn.  We drove off the road into a creek full of water.  We knew we were looking for a gravel road so when we saw two reflectors we thought that was marking the road.  We were 17 and in the country reflectors mark driveway's, roads and all sorts of things.  I never thought that it would mark a creed bed.  It was about a 15ft drop off and we landed upside down in the water.  I was stuck upside down in my seat belt under water for what seemed like forever.  The life flashing thing?  Yeah, that happened.
I had never fully gotten over the fear of bridges over water.  Until now!!!
My dad is a History Channel junkie, so when he saw a show on the bridge he thought it would be a great thing to show me and the kids.  I was a little freaked out after that.  I know that the shows play up all the bad stuff but come on.  You really want me to drive on grates that I can see through???   I don't think so!   While in Saginaw my Cousin Sharon told me everything would be just fine, and if I stayed in the right lane I wouldn't have to hear the humming of the grates.  Oh, and the lady that was in the car that blew off the bridge and drown was in a Yugo and I have an Expedition so I would be fine.  Wow, Thanks!

On our way to The Mackinac Bridge.

 Everything was going great so far.  My hands were gripping the steering wheel so tight just in case there was a wind gust I would be prepared.  (It wasn't windy, it was all in my head)

 THEN LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!!!  THEY CLOSED THE RIGHT LANE! WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO NOW???  HOW COULD THEY, I WASN'T PREPARED FOR THIS!

 

The video camera was recording at the time and there were a few choice words for the road crew but it all worked out and I felt great.  It wasn't as bad as I had envisioned it in my head.  I have learned to live in the moment and just be.  The ride back across was so much better.  I actually let my Dad drive so I could enjoy it fully.  I even let my kids stick their heads out the window a little bit so they could look down through the grates at the water.  (I did it too!)

 

Sault Ste. Marie is at the northern most point of I75.  This is the closest place we could get to Lake Superior.

 I have found that The Great Lakes are not as easy to get to as you think.  For Lake Superior we found a neighborhood that we could see the lake, pulled over and asked a man walking how we could get to it.  He pointed to an alley that we could walk down.

 

...and told us we could park anywhere along the street.  He was so nice!

The colors were so brilliant!

 

This is me collecting the water!  OMG that was the coldest water ever!

Kaia

Lake Superior

 It was super cold, especially standing in that alley.  The wind was crazy cold!  It is a saying to never say never.  Well, I can say I will NEVER live that far north!

 On our way back across the bridge!

 Holding onto my camera super tight so I could get the shot!

 This was in a gift shop in Mackinaw City.  I love my kids!

 This is where we stayed the night.  This hotel is super nice and if you ever decide to take a trip up to this area I highly recommend this hotel!

 The kids taking a dip in the indoor pool!

...next post will be Mackinac Island

Around Saginaw, MI

Our home base while in Michigan was at my cousin Sharon's house in Saginaw.  It was just outside the city and right in their back yard was a tree farm the kids loved wondering through.  The funny thing was on the way they had to stop off at the raspberry patch and get their stomach's full.

Sharon decided to make up some Apple Cider Jelly and Kaia was all over that!  She loves to help in the kitchen.  I am sure she wished her mom (me) did more cooking.

About a mile down the road from their house was this farm that had this great selection of fruits and vegetables.  I love me some butternut squash and was so excited when these were $1each!  We bought 8 and they made it all the way home to Texas with us. (Once you see everywhere we were after this that will mean more)

 

Kaia and her gourd

Seth and his gourd

One night we went over and visited with our cousin's.

Kids playing in the "pool"

Jim, Linda(my Mom), Dennis, Tom and Sharon

 The kids got a ride from Bob!

 

 Kaia rode with her Grandma to visit all her relatives in the cemetery.

Holland, MI and Lake Michigan

When I was a kid we visited Holland, MI and I still remember how beautiful everything was. I knew that I wanted my kids to see it too so we planned a day trip to see Holland and Lake Michigan!  It wasn't the way I remembered it but we still had fun.  Before we left Texas we knew that we wanted to see and collect water from all 5 Great Lakes and Lake Michigan would be our first one!

My mom watches "Diner, Drive-ins and Dives" on The Food Network and wanted to stop by Rosie's Diner on the way to Holland.

The kids love sitting at the counter!

After breakfast we drove to Holland! 

Here he is explaining how wooden shoes are made.

 Beside the wooden shoe factory they sell bison meat and told us that we could walk back and see the live ones if we wanted too.

After seeing the Bison and buying some bulbs from the other side of the shoe factory we drove to find Lake Michigan.  Note...just because it says park on the gps doesn't mean it is a public park.  

Being the rebels that we are, we drove right past the sign and found the lake.  The Park reminded me a lot of the summer resort in Dirty Dancing but a lot smaller and since it was off season nobody was there! 

Seth, Me and Kaia

Dad

Mom

Lake Michigan   Great Lake #1