Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore!

July 14, 2021 / Ed Armstrong

I really enjoy seeing our national parks. Today I was able to discover beautiful sections of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Two spectacular aspects are beautiful waterfalls and beautiful coastline. I went on a hike and thought the colors were amazing! The upper peninsula of Michigan is rugged and beautiful. I would like to spend a longer time here on a future trip.

This is Munising Falls. I loved all the waterfalls in the upper peninsula!

I love listening to the sound of the water.

All the rain produces rivers and streams flowing everywhere in the upper peninsula.

The intense green throughout the forests is awesome!

Never, in my entire life, have I been on a hike and encountered a sign about snowmobiles!

I have been captivated by the green foliage.

Gorgeous forests throughout the upper peninsula!

The Mighty Mackinac Bridge!

July 14, 2021 / Ed Armstrong

The Mackinac Bridge is an amazing engineering accomplishment!

Today I drove over the Mackinac Bridge in the motorhome during a rainstorm! Everything was fine, but I was very careful to stay in my line going uphill and then downhill. The Mackinac Bridge is truly an engineering marvel. It is huge and awesome and commands attention. It is amazing that it opened in 1957.

This monument was dedicated to the union workers who built the bridge and died during its construction.

The massive bridge is visible in the midst of the rain storm!

This is a clear spring called Kitch-iti-Kipi (“Big Spring”). The wind is slightly rippling the surface of the spring, but it is crystal clear! You can see 40 feet down to the bottom of the spring. Over 10,000 gallons per minute of water gush from the spring!

All of these logs are under water, but the water is so clear, it almost seems like they are on the surface.

“UP” is how people often refer to Michigan’s upper peninsula. A person living in the UP is commonly called a “yooper.” This Yooper bar is a candy bar made in the UP. It is a requirement for anyone visiting the UP buy a Yooper bar!

This is the famous red lighthouse at Manistique, Michigan in the upper peninsula facing south.

Traverse City, Michigan – the “Cherry Capital of the World!”

July 12, 2021 / Ed Armstrong

This company has fantastic cherry products!

Today was a milestone for me in my RV travels. With our previous diesel pusher and our current motorhome, I have had the opportunity to sleep in our motorhome in all 48 lower states. Michigan was my final state to complete all 48 states!

It is fun that I was able to arrive in Traverse City as my first tourist stop in Michigan. Traverse City is known as the “Cherry Capital of the World” because of all cherries grown in the area and the wide variety of cherry products that are available for purchase. I had a wonderful time going from store to store tasting various cherry products. The obvious cherry jams and syrups were wonderful. The cherry trail mix was great, and the chocolate covered cherries were outstanding. I tasted 6 different cherry wines (more were available, but a tasting event was limited to 6 wines). It was a difficult decision, but I decided to buy bottles of two different cherry wines. Cherry fudge was bursting with flavor too. The cherry salsas were great. There were also unusual items. Cherry flavored barbeque sauce? Cherry bacon spread? Cherry queso?