Monday, May 13 2024, Fisherman's Island, Charlevoix, Cross in the Woods, More Lighthouses

 Monday, May 13

Looks like the Casino actually closes, because early this morning we are about the only vehicle in the huge parking lot! 

 We stop at a McDonalds for some breakfast and this tree outside is just gorgeous!

Continuing north, we seek out Fisherman's Island State Park, again thankful for GPS.  The fisherman we spoke with in Grand Haven said this was a good place to find Petoskey stones.  The park is pretty isolated but the roads are not too bad.  We see only a few other people, some ducks and several large deer that were on the rocky beach - didn't know deer did the beach!

We stop to check out rocks,  but Greg is overwhelmed by those pesky little bugs so we don't stay very long.   The campgrounds here look pretty nice - if it weren't for the bugs.  Oh well, at least they don't bite and it doesn't take too long to get rid of the hitchhikers inside the Trek. 

We go by Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse and then take a detour inland towards a Catholic Shrine known as The Cross in the Woods.   En route we stop for a shot of this flower-filled area.  These are wildflowers that grow in wet or boggy areas.

The Cross in the Woods features a large crucifix and amphitheater with beautiful gardens and walkways. Interesting that the redwood tree used to make the cross was a sapling in Oregon at the time of Christ. 

One path traces the Stations of the Cross. 

 Another is dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. 

 There are several small chapels dedicated to Saint Peregrine - patron saint of cancer patients,  Saint Sebastian - patron saint of athletes, Our Lady of the Highway, the Holy Family and several others. 

There are quite a few people here on this beautiful day, including what looks like several school groups.  And there is a large, more modern Church where a service is in progress.

 I particularly liked this prayer about family.

The Holy Family

The patron saint of the shrine is Saint Kateri Tekakwitha  who lived in the 1600's, a daughter of a Mohawk chief.  I had never heard of her till we saw a church in one of the towns we came through that was named Saint Kateri.

 There is a modern take on the votive candles that people light when praying. (Perhaps this is commonplace now?)   Here you simply press a button to "light" the candle.  I'm sure it is much safer than those open flames, but seems a little sad to me. 

We are headed for the Mackinac Bridge which will take us to the Upper Peninsula, but first we stop at one more lighthouse called McGulpin Point.  Very nicely set up, with lots of signage, cut-outs of people who lived or worked in this area and nicely restored grounds.  Unfortunately, the lighthouse itself hasn't opened for the season yet.  A huge yellow forsythia bush gets my attention - haven't seen much of them but grew up with them in Pennsylvania.

There are signs that tell the stories of some of the shipwrecks in the area, and some of the people, including Native Americans who lived here.  The light (now LED) was restored and is maintained by the people of Emmet County after sitting dark for many years.  

You can see the Mackinac Bridge from a nearby trail and there is signage about its building.  It opened in 1957, replacing various ferries that operated over the years.  Including the approaches, it is 5 miles long and was, at the time, the world's longest suspension bridge.  (It is now #5.) We have taken the ferry to Mackinac Island before, so opt to continue on, but it is a neat place to visit.

Lots of construction going on on the bridge as we cross today.

After the bridge, we take a quick left onto Route 2, heading towards our turn-around spot - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - where we have reserved a boat ride for Tuesday afternoon.  Could easily spend another week or two, but we've got places to be.

We are now in the land of the Yoopers  (Upper Peninsula = UP), having left the land of the Trolls (who live under the bridge)😀.

On Route 2 we drive through several areas near the shore where swarms of those midges look almost like smoke.  We do our share to obliterate a few, as evidenced by the front of the Trek, but it is a challenge to keep the windshield clean!

Pretty countryside as we are skirting along the top of Lake Michigan.  We take a break at Seul Choix Point Lighthouse which was established in 1895.  It's a pretty one, kind of off the beaten path.

We decide to spend the night at Indian Lake State Park, which has just opened for the season. ($22 a night with electric since we already have the Michigan State Park Passport) It is cold and windy, so we don't do much exploring, just a short walk to the lake.  

We FaceTime with Ruby for a bit and make salmon cakes for dinner.  Reading and photos, then a good night's sleep with the furnace kicking on occasionally.