Waterfall and Electricity

Location: Bay Mills Casino Campground; Brimley, Michigan
Click pictures to enlarge

Thru stop #9

Today is number seven at this campground. It has been a really good campground and would stay here again if I'm in the area. I've stayed longer at the last couple of campgrounds than I normally stay. Sometimes it feels as if it is too long and I should be moving or doing something. To take a lazy day and do nothing seems like I'm wasting time. Oh well, I'll either get used to it or start moving more often. Today was supposed to be moving day but when the weather forecast showed a low front with storms passing through this area, I extended my stay until tomorrow. It was important to not be traveling in stormy weather today since crossing the Mackinaw Bridge is on my route. The bridge crosses the connection of Lakes Michigan and Huron and is subject to strong crosswinds. Freedom and Liberty has handled strong crosswinds before and I have confidence in them to do it again, but why risk it when I can just stay another day.

Some of the road to the falls has trees on all sides.

Other parts run along the shore of Lake Superior.

I drove up to Tahquamenon Falls the other day. I had considered taking a railroad/riverboat to the falls but decided against it. Too many of the reviews said the trip was boring with the exception of the falls and an occasional wildlife sighting. So, not wanting to be trapped on a 6 hour tour, I decided to just make the 100 mile round trip drive to the falls. The falls are in a Michigan State Park so I had to either pay a $9.00 day use fee or buy a $32.00 annual permit. The term "annual", related to this pass, is really incorrect and deceitful. The state should change it to "calendar year" pass since it is only good for the calendar year in which you buy it. If you buy it on January 1st, it's good for 365 days. If you buy it on December 30th, it's good for only 1 day. Obviously, no one would buy one on the last day of the year and I'm just mentioning it to make a point. I bought one in late July of 2017 so I thought it would be good until the end of this month. Nope, it expired December 31, 2017. This is completely opposite of the way Texas does their permit. Theirs is good for one year from the date of purchase. Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now. Looking ahead on my travels, I don't think I'll be staying at or visiting any Michigan state parks, so I just went with the "day use" fee. 

To get to the falls, you have to walk about 1/2 mile from the parking lot then go down a staircase of 94 steps to a observation platform near the falls. It is worth the hike and cost. The falls are pretty good. Not the best I've seen in my travels, but the best I've seen lately. 

A sneak peak at the fall from the trail

A look at the falls from the viewing platform

The falls and the river downstream

My other reason for coming to this area was to see a hydroelectric plant in Sault St Marie. I saw it the last time I visited this area but at that time it was on a boat tour of the Soo Locks. I won't make a link to those posts, but if you use the archives on the right hand side, look for the date range of 8/15/14 to 8/18/14 or thereabouts. 

The power plant as been operating for 116 years. It provides 1/5 of the power needs of the eastern Upper Peninsula. This is truly renewable energy. It is the largest low head hydro plant in the U.S. Low head means the water doesn't fall very far (think of the height of Hoover Dam). The water height for this plant is only around 22 feet which is the height difference between Lake Superior and its outfall. With a few upgrades over the years, the power plant is expected to continue producing power for decades to come.

One of the freighters on the St. Mary's River as it approaches the Soo Locks from the south

That is the powerhouse on the left. It houses 74 turbines used to produce electricity.

A lot of the stone blocks came from the canal that was excavated to channel the water to the power plant. Those are fishing boats in front of the water outlets. Apparently it is a good fishing location.

Tomorrow is moving day and I think I'll be going about 150 miles south to a county campground at Alpena, Michigan. The town is on the shores of Lake Huron. I'm curious to see if the lake is as blue in color as I remember. I haven't made reservations yet and I don't even know if they take reservations so my plans may change. I'm sort of anxious to head on south, but really don't want to get into the real hot weather yet.

Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.    

Iroquois Lighthouse, Lake Superior and Golf

Location: Bay Mills Casino Campground; Brimley, Michigan (el. 615 ft)

click pictures to enlarge 

Route thru stop #9

As I said in the last post, I moved farther north. I'm camped in another Indian Casino Campground. I was pleasantly surprised to find out they give a 25% discount to veterans. I was not aware of that until the clerk was completing the check-in process and he asked if I was a veteran. I sure am glad I got the veteran tag on my Louisiana Drivers License since it is official proof and makes proving it extra easy. 

Water/Electric site with Lake Superior in the background.

After getting Liberty set up, I went in search of the Reuben Sandwich I had heard about at the Sacy's Restaurant attached to the casino. It was very good and came with onion rings fried very crisp. Since I've tried Reubens from many places around the country, I consider myself a semi-expert. This one is made with the conventional Russian dressing instead of the all too often used, Thousand Island dressing. Overall, it is an 8 out of 10 ranking. All for $10.00. As my father would have said, "Good deal, Lucille". 

The casino also gives you $5.00 on their players card. I used it on their quarter slots. I lost, lost, lost until the very last quarter and then bingo, I won $2.50. Uhmmm,,,, I wonder if that was rigged? I cashed out and took that $2.50 to another machine. In total, I guess I played about 45 minutes on the casino's $5.00 before losing. Since I never touched my own money, it was free entertainment. Of course, people watching, is always a good time too. 

The travel day towing was about 170 miles and the campground is on the shore of Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior right at the entry to the Saint Mary's River. The river leads to the Soo Locks at Sault (pronounced Sue) St. Marie, Michigan. Those are the locks used to pass boat traffic from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. We will get up close and personal with those locks during our next stop.

Travel day picture. That is Lake Michigan on the right and I think that is wild rice growing.

The woods changed a little bit and seemed to be more pines. The 18 wheeler had Ontario plates

This field looks a little like the mustard seed fields I've seen out west, but I'm not sure. 

There was something special about this tree but there wasn't any sign or people to ask, so it will stay a mystery.

After eating, I drove north a little bit to the Point Iroquois Light Station. The name raised my curiosity because I had been taught the Iroquois people were located over in the Northeastern part of the U.S. around Lake Ontario and the state of New York. Why would a place in the U.P. of Michigan be named after the Iroquois tribe since the current Indian tribe of the U.P. is the Ojibwa (Chippewa). The history and reason for that is interesting. Apparently, the Iroquois attempted an invasion of the Ojibwa in 1662. The Ojibwa won the battle and the Iroquois retreated back to their home territory. The place of the battle, called "Place of Iroquois Bones", is the location of the lighthouse today. It is often forgotten or overlooked that most of the Indian tribes invaded, fought, killed and/or captured other tribes. The best example I can think of are the Comanche. They are usually thought of as being in the west Texas, New Mexico area. However, that is just where they were when the "whites" showed up. They originated in the Wyoming/Idaho area as part of the Shoshone Tribe. A group broke off and migrated south pushing the other tribes ahead of them until they ended up in their current location. Some tribes were wiped out entirely or absorbed by the more powerful Comanche. This is what the Iroquois was attempting to do to the Ojibwa. But it should also be noted that the Ojibwa came into this area from the east centuries before the attempted Iroquois invasion. It is unknown which tribes if any were pushed out or absorbed by the Ojibwa. 

The need of the lighthouse came about after cooper and iron ore was discovered in the U.P., Wisconsin and Minnesota back in the mid 1840's. That discovery rapidly increased boat traffic on Lake Superior. The lighthouse was first lit in 1857 and protected the area for 107 years until it was replaced with an automatic light located near the shipping channel. 

Point Iroquois Light Station with Lake Superior in the background.

Looking at the lake from the back of the light station. That freighter is headed towards the Soo Locks.

A bench along the trail leading from the lighthouse to the beach.

Lake Superior

Lake Superior with one of many freighters.

A better bench to watch the lake since this one is in the shade.

NOAA has a weather station on the grounds.

Yesterday was a decision day. I could either take a railroad train and riverboat to see some waterfalls or I could play golf. Things to consider in the decision were the next available train/boat trip would not be until Saturday, rain was predicted for today (which it is), and I could drive to the waterfalls on my own later, after the rain. I chose golf and I'm glad I did. The golf course is part of the casino and is a great course spread out over a very large area. There were places where it must have been 1/4 mile between the green and the next tee box. That trip takes you through heavily wooded areas of the course. There aren't any "flat-bellys" walking this course, carts only. And lucky me, I had the entire course to myself. There were holes where I would hit two balls because no one was behind me or in front of me. The temperature was in the mid 70's with low humidity and a cool breeze blowing in off the lake. It was a great way to spend a few hours. I didn't record my score for several of the holes so I would have to just estimate what I shot over the 18 holes. Rough estimate would be somewhere between 50 and 120. That is plus/minus of course.

Nice cart with GPS in the cart. You can see part of the lake in the distance.

Typical looking hole. I think I may have gotten an eagle on this hole or maybe a double bogey. But does it really matter? 

Another green

When I walked up to this green and saw the lake in the distance, I just dropped my clubs and took a picture. That is what is great about my cell phone camera, it is always in my pocket for things just like this.

Looking down on their driving range. The sand traps are in the shape of the suits of cards (clubs, spades, etc)

A great finishing hole. That is the lake and club house in the background. I took my time on this tee box just letting it all soak in. It was a good day.

Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.   

Moving Farther North Tomorrow

Location: Island Resort Casino and RV Park; Harris, Michigan (el 750 ft)

Thru Campground #8

This stop has been a very lazy and rest-up type of stop. When I picked this campground, I did so without doing a lot of research about the area. Had I have even done a modest amount, I would have only stopped here for 3 days. Five days is way too much. I know, I should have signed up for 3 and extended if I liked it. But I also didn't stay for seven like I thought about doing. Luckily they didn't have a good weekly rate. 

This is something you don't see much anymore.
A VW camper.

Anyway, I'll hit the road tomorrow after emptying tanks on the way out. There is also a nice BP gas station in the parking lot of the casino with a high capacity air compressor for public use. Believe it or not, those things aren't easy to find anymore. I carry two air pumps with me and they are pretty good up to about 65 pounds of air. The new tires on Liberty and the rear tires on Freedom take 80 psi max. I don't need the full 80 psi in Liberty since 65 psi will carry her weight but the Goodyear guy recommended at least 75 psi so the tires would run cooler. Apparently, the lower the psi the hotter the tires run. That wasn't an issue for me until these I bought these new tires because the older ones maxed out at 65 psi. I'll take advantage of the high capacity air and easy access to the hose to top off the tires.

And wouldn't you know it, I got lucky and found a Tanning/Laudromat combination again. Sadly, the tanning place wasn't busy at all. Oh well, maybe the next one will be better. 

The tow tomorrow is about 170 miles and it will be to another Indian Casino. I called for reservations and will stay there for six nights. I have done enough checking to know there are at least two day trips available from this location. One of those will be backtracking on a place I visited four years ago. The casino restaurant is suppose to have a really good Reuben Sandwich. I've heard that before but cannot resist trying it. I've been looking for the best Reuben for a long time.  

I'm sorry for such a boring post, but that's way it goes. I almost completed that old Navy saying. It went, "that's the way it goes, first your money then your clothes." It's funny how things like that stick with you for a lifetime. 

I think I'll go wash Freedoms windshield in case I have a chance for some travel pictures tomorrow. Of all the things I take pictures of, the travel pictures through the windshield of Freedom are always my favorites. They remind me more of places I've been than anything else. I can see a travel picture from a couple of years ago and it will take me directly back to that road and that sense of freedom while traveling down it. Ya'll can skip over those if you want, but they are mostly my favorites.  

I took a selfie today so the grandkids will know what I looked like back in July of 2018. My razor slipped today. 

I thought it would be interesting to compare a selfie from December of 2014. I took this one in San Antonio after buying the hat. Looks just like twins, hardly a hair out of place between the two pictures. 

Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road. 

I Went East

Location: Island Resort Casino and RV Park; Harris, Michigan (el 750 ft)

Thru Stop #8

I went east. Yeah, it surprised me too. I know that sounds strange but when traveling freely, there are many things that can change your direction of travel. This change was a combination of things, but the number one reason was "a feeling". I just felt that going east was the right thing to do and going west meant problems. I learned a long time ago to trust these feelings/vibs. So, as I've said before, I set a destination point then head in that general direction with stops along the way. Going to a destination by way of some journeys. My destination is Louisiana and the time of arrival will be sometime in the first week of September to welcome a new grandson into this world. It will be number four, 3 boys and one girl. Olivia is going to be a big sister. 

So, I have about eight weeks before arrival back in Louisiana. My plan is to spend about four of five of those in Michigan. I've been here twice in the past and it is one of my top five states since I've been RV'ing. I've refreshed my memory by re-reading my old posts from here as well as some old posts from fellow blogger and RV'er, Malia Lane. I was reading her blog "Malia's Miles" for a couple of years before I hit the road. Her Michigan blog posts from 2011 are still relevant today and full of useful information. Unfortunately, she is currently in Oregon dealing with a terminal illness but for well over a decade she traveled the highways of America with the smell of Freedom filling her motorhome. May you have safe and peaceful travels. Take care of yourself Malia.  

I stumbled onto this Michigan welcome center. It surprised me since it was along a U.S. Highway instead of Interstate. There was a nice lady working there that helped me gather information. There was also, what I took as a sign, that I made the right decision to head east. There was another traveling in the welcome center who had come from the west and specifically mentioned Fargo, North Dakota. Strangely, that would have been my first stop if I headed west. I told him I had planned to go that direction, but changed my mind. He mentioned the lack of trees for days and there were more around here. Yeah, that was a reinforcing sign of my decision. Thanks to whomever sent him in there. 

I made quite a haul of information. After I culled through it some more, I threw away about 1/4 of it. 

I left the Duluth area with 260 miles of mostly two lane highway ahead of me. Most of it had decent shoulders in case something happened like the blow out in Oklahoma. It was good travel weather as I fell in behind a low pressure front that was headed in the same direction. It is the one that brought heavy rains all the way from the Dakotas to Duluth. It was about 20 hours ahead of me and as usual after the passing of such a front, the sky was a bright blue with wispy clouds. I've seen this many times over the years as the low pressure fronts will clean the air after first causing some bad storms. The temperature was in the upper 60's, humidity low, smooth road that I had never driven and a pretty sky. It doesn't get much better than that on a Moving Day.

Perfect traveling weather

Even a short stop at a construction site, no problem. By the way, the work looked good. 

The clouds are beginning to disperse.

When I hear the word, "wisp" or "wispy", this is what I think of.

The blue color was getting deeper as the day wore on. It was a very good travel day.

Since most of my planning was for going west, I'm playing catch up with campgrounds and places to see in the east. I quickly found an Indian Casino Campground that didn't accept reservations. That meant I needed to get here before 2 or 3 o'clock in case they filled up quickly in the evening. There isn't anything special about this casino or this area except that it was in the eastern direction. It is about 15 miles from Escanaba, Michigan which sits on one of the bays of Lake Michigan. I signed up for five days which in hindsight may be a couple of days too long. But the campground is nice with paved sites, electric/water and 24 hour security. I will use these days to explore the area and do some travel planning. One of the things I have discovered during this trip is that most of the state parks are full up on weekends. Apparently, there has been an RV boom and locals have started reserving Fridays and Saturdays 90 days in advance. This makes it hard for travelers to do planning. But the good news is that I have found the Indian casinos are pretty good, mostly available and not expensive. Where I used to look first for state parks near the places I wanted to see, now I look for an Indian Casino.

Kind of unusual curves to the sites but still overall, OK.

There isn't anything here in Harris, Michigan except this casino and a BP gas station. Escanaba is the nearest big city. A sign along the road near the casino advertised Pasties and Yooper bars at a place in Escanaba. I remembered from my last visit to Michigan that the Pasties (pronounced past-t) were just meat pies with different fillings. The one I got was the classic which is meat and potatoes. In Louisiana we have the Natchitoches meat pies which are sold just about everywhere in the state. Well, the meat filling is better in the Natchitoches pie but the crust is better on the pastie. I probably won't get another classic, but may try another flavor. The Yooper bar is nothing more than a chocolate bar. The name is a play on words from, Upper Peninsula, UP, Yoo Pee, Yooper. Apparently, the people who live in the UP call themselves Yoopers while calling the people who live in the "mitten" (the rest of the state) "trolls". They call them trolls because they live below the bridge, The Mackinaw Bridge. I guess you have to be familiar with the layout of the state to follow all of this, but the important thing is the chocolate bar was pretty danged good and made in Michigan.

Pastie and Yooper bar. The pastie, so-so, the chocolate bar, very good. 

I saw a few billboards and read TripAdvisor about a restaurant in Escanaba that I figured would be worth a visit. The name of the place was the Swedish Pantry. I thought well maybe, just maybe, the official Swedish ski team may be working there during the off season. No such luck. There were plenty of things on the menu that I had no idea about. The swedish pancakes looked good and the Swedish, maybe Finnish, waitress said they were similar to crepes or what I call 'thin pancakes'. I ordered them with potato sausage and imported lingonberries. The berries were tasty, the potato sausage I could take or leave. Overall, it was worth the visit, even without the ski team.

Wouldn't a normal person thing the Swedish Ski Team worked in there during the off-season?

Swedish pancakes, lingonberries, syrup, butter and potato sausage. All good except the sausage was only so-so. 

I also found time to visit the Historical Society Museum, climbed an old lighthouse and drive around the town. Not bad for only two days. 

The Historical Society Museum on the right and the old lighthouse in the background.

Interesting skates from a hundred plus years ago for skating when the lake froze over.

This is the most interesting thing I've seen in a long time. At first I thought it was a bronze casting, but it is a wood carving. The entire piece is carved from a single piece of wood. It was a privilege to see it. The next picture tells the story of it.

Story of the dog carving. The museum guide was an older fella and he remember the carving being in the window of the insurance office when he was younger.

Typical narrow spiral staircase in the lighthouse. The size and shape of the stairs sometimes makes it hard for heavyset, chunky, overweight, hefty, husky,,,tall people like me to get up and down them. 

The view from the top of the lighthouse

I found a bench looking out towards the lake. I guess in Minnesota this bench would be turned backwards??

I figure the passing low pressure front was causing some of this wave action. That structure in the middle is what replaced the lighthouse.

I caught this picture as I was driving away. 

I need to do some boring stuff like laundry too. Maybe I'll get lucky and find one with a tanning salon attached again. Oh well, west is best and east is least. Wait a minute, scratch that, I went east didn't I??? 

Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.