To view the pictures from this trip, please visit my web albums: Album 1 Album 2
There are A LOT of pictures! They are not labeled, but if you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me.
Day 1 July 4, 2009 We were all so excited to leave today. Emmaline hasn’t been on the Badger since she was 11 months old. We enjoyed the warmth of the sun as we relaxed on deck. Emmaline played in the playroom a bit. We also ate on board. As we came into Ludington, we could see Big Sable in the distance and, of course, the wonderful sand dunes. We then traveled across the state to Bay City. Our hotel was really nice. After we got checked in, we went looking for a good place to watch the fireworks. This was the last night of their four-day Fireworks Festival. It apparently is huge. We didn’t want to get caught up in that, so we found a back road. The fireworks were amazing—45 minutes long! Poor Emmaline was so tired. She got to bed at 11:30 EDT. Day 2 July 5, 2009 We booked a sailing on the Appledore to see the Saginaw River Lighthouse. It was so much fun to be on a schooner! We first sailed down the Saginaw River and under two draw bridges. We were able to view the lighthouse across the river—very desolate. Out on Saginaw Bay, they hoisted the sails. There was very little wind, but it still was neat. We were able to go down below and see the accommodations—very neat. After the sail we biked along the Saginaw River and out on to the Rail Trail. Once we got away from the river, the trail was pretty much just a sidewalk through a not-so-nice part of town. But once we got back by the river, we stopped and had ice cream and played in a park. Then, while Jon put the bikes up, Emmaline and I walked out on the very big and long pier walk. Day 3 July 6, 2009 We had a great day of lighthousing! When we left Bay City, it was warm and sunny. By the time we got to the Alpena light, it was cloudy, cold and windy (like 57 degrees). Our first stop was the Tawas Point Lighthouse. It was beautifully restored and we were able to climb the tower for a beautiful view of the bay and the ever-changing sand spit. Emmaline even played in the park a bit. East Tawas looked like a great town with a wonderful bike trail that went all the way out to the state park. We wished we could have stayed there instead of Bay City. From there we went to Sturgeon point where we weren’t able to climb the tower, but we got some nice family pictures and Emmaline’s six-year portrait. From there we discovered the Alpena Pier Light by walking along the pretty river walk. And finally on to Presque Isle. The Old light was so quaint—stone stairs and a cottage that was refurbished using timbers from a shipwreck. Then we went to the New light. It was closed, but really tall! We also saw the range lights, which are just like the ones in Bailey’s Harbor, WI. Finally, we arrived in Mackinaw City and saw both of the Mackinaw ice breakers near each other. Day 4 July 7, 2009 This morning we woke up to a cloudy and cold morning overlooking the Mackinac Bridge and the Straits. We started off with a swim and then went down to the Shepler’s dock for our Eastbound lighthouse cruise. As we did last year, we had Terry Pepper and Capt. Bill Shepler (who did his “drunken” entrance again). We also had Dick Moehl, the president of GLLKA. We went under the bridge and then between the Round Island Lighthouse and the Round Island Passage Light. We got very close. Then we went out to Spectacle Reef, which is part of the extended tour we were on –the first time they went out there. From Spectacle, we went to the Poe Reef Light. This light had the 2nd Order Fresnel that used to be at Matinicus Rock where Abby Burgess had been keeper. We also had the chance to see the Fourteen Foot Shoal light enroute to Cheboygan. In Cheboygan we saw the lights we saw last year—the crib light as well as the range light. What was really fun was seeing the new Mackinaw ice breaker as we went down the river. We reminisced about seeing it launched in Marinette four years ago. The whole cruise was a lot of fun. The waves were a rollin’ and we kep getting hit with big sprays of water! I was soaked! After the cruise, we went back to the room to, us, fix my hair. Then we headed to McGulpin Point, which used to be a private residence and was very recently turned over the Emmet County. GLLKA is restoring it and just had a replica lantern room and lens made, raised, and installed. There was a special lighting ceremony on May 30. When we got there, Dick Moehl just happened to be there, so we got a tour! We also found the nearby geocache. After McGulpin, we went to dinner at Legs Inn for their yummy Polish food and great décor. We had a great table with a view of the lake. That evening we had ice cream at Petoskey Stone to try and warm up (the high was only in the 50’s). Then we went down by the bridge and lighthouse for pictures and a beautiful sunset. Then we headed to Mackinaw Crossings for the laser light show. Day 5 July 8, 2009 Today was a long day of driving through a lot of pretty harbor towns. First we went to Petoskey to find the pier light, but all we found were workers fixing the breakwater. Apparently, they took the light down to fix the wall! Then it was on to Charlevoix to find the pier light. It is at the mouth of the river with a park on the beach. Emmaline and I looked for stones. I found a Petoskey stone! These are stones found only in northern Michigan on the Lake Michigan side. Coral was fossilized in them forming hexagonal sunburst patterns. I assumed I wouldn’t find one (like the agates on Lake Superior), but I did! After Charlevoix, we went to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula to see the Grand Traverse Lighthouse and deliver Daniel Williamson’s research paper and children’s book that he wrote on this light. The lighthouse is nicely restored and offered beautiful views of the surrounding islands from the tower. After that, we drove up Old Mission Peninsula to see the cute Old Mission Lighthouse at the tip. While there we found a geocache. Then back to the hotel for fun swimming! Day 6 July 9, 2009 WE boarded the Mishe Mokwa at 10:00 A.M. and went out to South Manitou Island. The entire 1 ½ hour trip was beautiful! We had Sleeping Bear Dunes on one side and eventually had North Manitou Island on the other. Enroute we passed the North Manitou Shoal Light and eventually the South Manitou Lighthouse came into view. Once on the island, we had our lunch and then hiked to the lighthouse. We were able to climb the 100-foot tower. At the top we had an exquisite view of the North Manitou Island and the mainland. The water was turquoise blue. I don’t think any lighthouses I’ve climbed could touch this view. After the tour we played on the beach for 1 ½ hours. If I’d had my suit, I would have gone in! Very peaceful and beautiful. At 2:00 we took an open-vehicle tour around the island and saw old farms, the cemetery, and an inland lake. It was really beautiful. At the end of the day Emmaline said, “I don’t think this day could get any better.” I agree! Day 7 July 10, 2009 We started the day out by driving south of the national lakeshore to Frankfort to see the pier light. It was a very pretty walk on the breakwater with the dunes behind us. We even took some time to play in the park on the beach. From there we drove to Point Betsie. I have wanted to see this light for a long time. After taking a number and waiting forever to climb to the tower, we finally had our chance. From there we went to Empire and saw the Manning Memorial Light. It’s not a real light, but rather on e that a man had built. After eating lunch there, Emmaline played in the park. Once this stop was over, we drove the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive where we were able to go out on boardwalks and platforms to see the amazing dunes against Lake Michigan’s background. We even saw the mother bear dune and the baby bears (the Manitou islands). The wind was very strong! Later Emmaline and I climbed a big dune. Our last stop was the maritime museum where we toured the life saving station. Very neat! Day 8 July 11, 2009 Today was our last day. We started the morning by driving up the Leelanau to a farmers’ market to get cherries. We got some yummy ones! Then we drove down to Manistee to walk out to the pier light. Then we drove down to Ludington State Park where we biked among the sand dunes to get to Big Sable Point. The last time we were there was when Emmaline was 11 months old. We hiked in that time. This time we were able to climb the tower. It is 112 feet tall and quite magnificent! From there we drove down to Little Sable, but we were five minutes too late, so they wouldn’t let us climb the tower. That was the only reason we went—we’d already seen it. So we drove back up to Ludington and played in the park by the marina with the Badger behind us. When it was time, we boarded the ship and enjoyed a beautiful sunset, freighters in the distance, and lighthouses on the horizon.
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