The end of the trip

And just like that, we are crossing the Mackinac Bridge back to the upper Mitt, or the lower peninsula. A day latter Yishai found a very interesting article about the designer and builder of said bridge, Lawrence Rubin. A Jewish man who lived his whole adult life in St. Ignaces. He belonged to the Jewish community in Petoskey, his wife is buried there. For some reason, he was never buried beside her. 15 years after his death the funeral home that had his remains was disbanding – so the Jewish community of Petoskey banded together and arrange for him to be buried beside his wife – which should have happened long ago. Tells you something about the Jewish community.

Petoskey is an adorable town, this used to be a movie theater.

Love how this coffee shop is decorated.

The synagogue in Petosky, we did see the one in Canadian Soo, but didn’t get pictures. This community is very small in the winter and swells in the summer when the snowbirds come back.

Then it was back to Traverse City.

A house there had this sign in the yard, along with a big rainbow flag. So I had to get a picture of my gay son and his not gay husband. Yoch can’t stand all the postering of the whole alphabet people. We got such a Hugh laugh out of this sign!

An old home becomes a flower shop.

Yarn in a cafe. I did find the quilt store, lovely, they were having their summer quilt run, 128 stores throughout the whole state of Michigan. I didn’t buy anything, although when I got home I went to my local LQS and bought fabric for my nieces baby. Just waiting for the pattern to arrive.

cool buildings in downtown Traverse, they simply don’t make them like this anymore.

The last day we went to a local playground.

Although the ride was only 5 minutes long, the kids got a boat ride.

And because they are too short, the Abas had to join them for the bumper cars.

The travel Gods got us on our way home. A Very late flight out to Chicago, which meant staying in the airport, because going to a hotel made no sense whatsoever. I was very lucky to snag a wheelchair, we loaded these two on it, and they slept there for a couple of hours. Then it turned out we had a 15 minute walk to our gate, this was a huge help.

That is that, another wonderful vacation in the books.

Leah

The Soo locks

One of the best things we did was go through the Soo locks.

This is the boat we took, or one like it.

The height differential between St Mary River (which is basically Lake Huron) and Lake Superior is 21 ft. So only one lock is necessary. They were built a long time ago, and on the American side they are perfect for the large freighters. Right now America is building an even larger lock for large ships.

As we enter the lock, you can see the large gate, up against the wall, it fits into the wall, no inch can be wasted.

Another boat comes in after us.

The gate is closing and it’s done, water starts rising.

It is almost at the same level as Lake Superior. Ahead is the bridge to Canada.

And the gate opens. because it isn’t that high a difference in elevation, it took less than 20 minutes to fix the lock.

There is a freight train that runs at night, right under the bridge, there are three types of bridges for the railroad section, since at the moment there are 2 locks on the American side and one on the Canadian. First we see the vertical lift bridge, it is up most of the time, only goes down at night for the few trains.

Then we have the most popular type, the Bascule bridge, counter balance, opens in the middle. you can see all the work being done to prepare the new lock

Going under the bridges!

Don’t tell the Greenies in Canada, they have an ironworks plant – which is why the Soo on the Canadian side is so much larger – this must be the biggest employer there. Thank you President Trump – Ironworks are returning to Pennsylvania as well.

Our return to Lake Huron was on the Canadian side.

Here we have the third type of bridge, the swing bridge, You can see the round concrete block in the center, that is what allows the bridge to swing over the lock. the red structure is an emergency lock, if something happens to the main gate, it somehow also swings out and can lower a temporary gate.

The Canadian Lock headquarters. We were hoping the rest of Canadian Soo would be this nice.

We are in, the lock is closed, people who took a walk on the small island are now returning to mainland Canada.

Best image, here you can really see the difference in height! I didn’t get a picture of the middle of this confluence, it is an area with a lot of rapids.

same level, gates opening and we went back to the American side.

Then, we got in our car, drove to Canada -yes we had our passports. Very unimpressed with the downtown area of Canadian Soo, I’m sure there are nice neighborhoods but not where we were. We did to a Syrian restaurant for an early dinner – OMG was it good! Then back across the bridge. On the American side border patrol asked us how long we had been in Canada – two hours. Really, you went to see Soo ghetto. Yeah, I guess so.

Leah

The Soo

Our final stop was Sault Ste Marie, known locally as the Soo, it is always interesting to see how a French word is pronounced by the unwashed natives of north America

We stayed in a very meh part of town and were told – there is nothing to see here, it’s all meh. Guess what, we saw a lot, more than that local at the hotel has probably ever seen. Here we have the kids chasing Canada geese under the bridge that goes to Canada.

I’m glad the goose didn’t turn around and attack Eyal, they are known to do that.

They have an absolutely gorgeous courthouse in town.

They had war memorials by the courthouse.

A very nice WWII memorial.

Korea and Vietnam share a memorial.

Who is missing? The civil war and WWI. Maybe no one from here served there. I don’t know.

We climbed the tower of History. when I say we, I mean some of us took the elevator and some climbed 250 steps. This ugly tower was built by the Catholic Church 9n 1968. I contend that if it hasn’t been built in the Brutalist style, the church would still own it. they don’t, the city does and it ‘honors’ the local population as well as the first missionaries to arrive.

Looking form the tower down on the Valley Camp Freighter, which is now a museum. We were very pleasantly surprised when we visited there. You can see Canadian Soo right across the river. This is the St. Marie river that connects Lake Huron to Lake Superior.

The courthouse from up above.

The vehicle bridge, underneath it, the railroad, a lot more about the railroad later.

The bridge going into Canada, we did drive it both ways

This isn’t the Catholic Church, but much more pleasing then the tower.

Two sides of Valley Camp. there is a long area that held the cargo in between these.

Here we have Einav standing in that area, these large holds would be opened to fill with the ore or the wheat. Most of the freighter was dedicated to the cargo

A small dining room, if the Edmund Fitzgerald had a crew of 29, this boat might have had an even smaller crew.

Offer kids a chance to climb up a big Adirondack chair and they will take it!

Leah

The UP and the Edmond Fitzgerald

we are now in the UP, and it looks very different from the top of the Mitt. Less farms, more trees and it turns out a lot of mosquitoes

This is the lower falls of the Tahquamenon falls. Not as big a drop as we see in the Sierras, but that is a lot of water.

It was a little chilly.

The mosquitoes were vicious, which is why I am covered like a muslim. With only my eyes showing.

We stopped for lunch at a traditional UP bar and diner.

Here is one explanation for the name of the saloon, which btw, had grizzly old men with long white beards in there at lunch time. they probably were having lunch with their alcohol.

To reinforce the name, they had a couple of goats out in the yard.

As well as this old boat which was perfect for the kids to climb on.

Then it was on to White Fish Point, to see the maritime museum and learn some more about the Edmund Fitzgerald. Go listen to this ballad, maybe after reading this post. I first heard this when it came out in the 70s. It took me a while to understand it – although after this visit, suddenly every word made sense to me.

Of course there is lighthouse here. Lake Superior is the largest and deepest of the Great Lakes. Many many boats have been lost on the lakes, the most in Superior. The Edmund Fitzgerald sunk in 1975, the song was written a year latter, although many boats have sunk since then, Big Fitz was the last large freighter to sink.

Remains of the boat are in Canadian waters, they have brought up some of the lifeboats. 20 years later they brought up the bell, which is in the museum, but I didn’t get a picture. The bodies are in the remains of the freighter. and Canada, at the request of the families does not allow diving.

Sorry about the glare. I was gobsmacked while reading this label, Joel worked for many many years for NorthWestern Mutual. Insurance companies need to invest the money so they have what to disperse if needed. They commissioned this freighter and it was names for their president at the time. What a small world!

Looking down at the beach.

Which is full of driftwood. A lot of trees grow all around Lake Superior so it’s not surprising that when they die many simply get washed up on the beaches.

This is an early Fresnel lens used in lighthouses. It refracts the light and sends it much further. These days lighthouses don’t use light, it’s is all electronic GPS. But maybe they shouldn’t just become museums. Too long of a history.

Leah

Mackinac Island, pronounced Mackinaw

Here is a hot tip. Most ferries leave from Mackinac City, we paid $8.80 in tolls (two way trip), to cross the almost 5 mile long bridge to St. Ignaces. A much smaller and quieter Ferry terminal. Yes, after the Island we stayed in the UP, but even if not – was well worth going that route. On our ferry we not only saw the bridge, we even went under it. A week later I read an article about the builder of the bridge – a Jewish Man, Lawrence Rubin.

The Ferry dock and the lighthouse.

As soon as we stepped out, we were greeted by the famous horses and the accompanying smell….

A very cute downtown tourist area. This island has a long history, a military fort and beautiful buildings. The whole no car thing started back in the early 20th century. A few residents bought cars and all their neighbors complained about the noise and the pollution – so the banned them.

Many of the beautiful Victorian houses are now hotels and guesthouses..

Lovely porch, but nothing like the Grand Hotel.

Here it is as seen from the Ferry.

We splurged, spent the night here, had to dress up for dinner which was quite and experience!

It was full bloom lilac season! They had a festival, who needs a festival, I just walked around and inhaled every different type of lilac.

The little princess enjoying the luxury room. I’ll be honest, our room was large and somewhat luxurious, the boys – had a lessor room. Also, this was the only hotel on the whole trip where I had issues with taking a nice shower- at first it was way too cold then way too hot. I know, it’s an old hotel, but still.

Dapper Eyal, he really loves dressing up.

One half of the longest porch in America.

We all clean up very nicely.

The dinner was an over the top 5 course affair. Our waiter was also the entertainment. The kids were great, they had a buffet to go to and they did eat dinner as well as at least 5 desserts. It was a long event – and they were real troopers.

Leaving the next day.

So proud of Yoch, he wore his kippah and these kinds of shirts daily!

Our first day was gorgeous, our second, it rained – and we all got sweatshirts.

The famous Pink Pony bar and restaurant, no we didn’t eat there because the line was too long. Apparently Roan Chappel, some singer has a song with the same name, but it isn’t about this place.

Good advice, always.

Leah

On to Charlesvoix

First a stop at a castle

Castle Farms. Built over 100 years ago, as a castle and as a model farm, not sure about the farm part, since this part of Michigan is all farms. Today it is still a castle used as event venues and all kinds of areas to explore

It was really good to have the kids, for adults its’ not that exciting, but the kids did a scavenger hunt and seeing their excitement was worth the price of admission.

There is a multiple track model train running, as well as a hideaway for small people.

A lot of beautiful flowers! Which is what you get with all the rain. I did notice some flowers that were annuals here that we grow as perennials. There was an alphabet garden, a plant for every letter. This twisted grass intrigued me!

There was a lot of kitsch, which is fine. Then on to Charlesvoix itself

The town is a cute tourist area, although latter I saw the industry.

A cute downtown, these people were actually playing chess.

LOVE the textures, not much color, but the combination of textures is amazing.

They don’t build or paint buildings like this anymore.

Yoch stuck his phone in the water and captured an image of this carp! I tried, I just got dirty water.

Eyal couldn’t get enough of this splash pad! Einav lost interest pretty quickly.

There are interesting houses here called Mushroom houses, this one really looks like mushrooms. Others, not so much. Designed by Earl Young, a disciple of FL Wright. Like Wright he never completed architecture studies, but was self taught – so the Architectural societies don’t recognize him, but lets be honest, he did an incredible job.

This is the case where if we didn’t have kids with us we would have taken the official tour of the houses – I would have loved to learn more.

What a cute lighthouse!

Here is the towns industry, a cement factory. Industry is important to our survival, it’s not in the center of town, but it is very very necessary.

Leah

second day in Traverse city

in 1987 Traverse City got recognition from Guinness World records, the their pan is bigger than the neighboring Charlesvoix. We stopped and got pictures in Traverse city, we just drove by the one in Charlesvoix. Yes the argument continues about who actually made a pie, since the Traverse City one didn’t have a bottom crust.

Then it was up to the tip of Old Mission lighthouse. Not open on that day, but very cute from the outside.

The Great Lakes have a lot of lighthouses as well as shipwrecks, more on that latter.

they did have a lovely beach, way too cold for me, but Yoch loved it!

Two other guys who weren’t brave enough to go in.

Its nice they had swings on the beach.

One of the original settlers log cabin, moved here because there is room.

A quick look inside through a glass window. A woven coverlet, a quilt and a rag rug. also, that bed does not look comfortable.

A skunk and a chipmunk, we saw the skunk from the car – so no danger of being sprayed. we also saw a dead deer along the roadside…

Barn quilt! This is supposed to be an antique shop, was closed, sorry, I would have loved to check it out.

barn quilts on real barns.

A decrepit barn. Most of this area is very well maintained farm land. A lot of cherry trees, grapes – because wineries are becoming popular. Also Asparagus, Which was supposedly ripe, but we didn’t see much of it at restaurants.

A walk along the river.

Real Cherry Pie, probably made from canned cherries, we were a little too early for the fresh ones. Yummy non the less!

Leah

Northern Michigan

Every year we take one son and his family on a vacation. Thank you Yoch for not choosing another beach, well tropical beach. We went to northern Michigan, so here I am looking out towards Lake Michigan, I was born at the southern Tip – Chicago, this is the northern part, right by the sand dunes. We started in Traverse city, and drove all the way up to the border with Canada on the UP. (Upper peninsula)

With this warning. We met someone who had run down and up again. and others who told us it used to just cost $350. It was not worth it for most to incur this fine.

the weather most of the time we were there was pretty chilly, with rain, luckily not too much rain.

If you are in CA, go to the central coast near a town called Guadalupe, they have some dunes that actually move all the time, these here seemed pretty stable.

Eyal is running down a much gentler slope.

There are a number of small peninsulas near Travese city, here we are at what we thought was a nice Jewish Deli.

It wasn’t, I don’t support ‘both sides’, so we left nd actually found a much better place for lunch.

A place called Fish Town in Leeland. An area where the fisherman had their boats. It is now an adorable tourist trap.

Like all siblings, sometime they love each other, sometimes they fight. They were very lucky to get some candy from the Dam good Candy store.

We finished the day right next door to our hotel, at the miniature golf course, right after a cloudburst of rain.

Leah

Ceramics!!!

They make incredible ceramics here, I only bought a mug and a bell

I use the mug daily and the bell every so often.

I wanted to get some Granite here, it is supposed to be the best, it is a sit-down restaurant! So I skipped it.

I LOVE the bright happy ceramics

another sign. We had Arancini here, stuffed fried rice balls.

These two heads are everywhere. The story is about a Moor who seduces a lady, she finds out he is already married and cuts off his head. So now, their two heads show up everywhere.

People put them up on their balconies.

They are parts of lamps

Or they hold lemons!

I don’t know why I didn’t get more images of the pinecone – it was another popular ceramic item.

In Savoca, someone mended their wall with broken tiles.

Pot as advertising.

More pots going up a street.

Chickens! Not made out of ceramic!

And that is it, our Sicily trip is over. Now on to the upper Peninsula of Michigan with Yish, Yoch and the kids.

Leah

Mt. Etna

No worries, we can go up Mt. Etna, we would get early warning if it were about to blow. Well, that was true for us, but one week later, without warning, it blew.

Late May, snow on the peak of Mt Etna, very unusual, maybe that was the warning that it would blow.

Getting closer!

In one of the five calderas. Yes, it was a little chilly, we were 9000 ft. up.

Walking along the rim.

Looking down at a lower caldera.

As I said, one week later, ash, smoke and even a little lava flow. Our timing was perfect.

Leah