Short stop at Niagara Falls

   Returning from our Michigan trip we spent most of the morning in Canada.  Jim suggested that while we were close by, we should make a quick trip to see the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.  No problem parking, and after eating lunch in the car, we took a quick look at the Falls.

Horseshoe Falls with the Maid of the Mist boats passing each other.

American Falls

Tour of the Great Lakes June, 2013

What began as a reunion of Jim's siblings in Lewiston, Michigan for his brother's 50th wedding anniversary became a tour of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and a close-up look at each of the Great Lakes.  The trip began with all of us together for the reunion festivities:

We took 2 days to get to Lewiston, stopping at Streetsboro, Ohio the first night.  The first day was rainy on and off and after that the weather cooperated beautifully.

Sister-in-law JoAnn's sister Marilynne hosted us here in her summer home.  It is beautiful and we were very comfortable in large bedrooms with comfy beds and pillows, a beautiful kitchen and large deck where we spent most of the time lazing around and catching up.

View of the East Twin Lake from the deck.

"Toys" to play with included a pontoon boat and 2 jet skies......the speed boat was not in the water yet.

On our way to Munising we saw many large and fragrant lilac bushes.

Stopping along the way, we encountered water falls...some close to the roadside required no hiking.

Alger Falls

Horseshoe Falls

Munising Falls

Wagner Falls

Our first stop was at White Pine Lodge in Christmas, MI.  We ate at Foggy's and gambled at the local casino where Jim won $77!

The next morning dawned at 38 degrees and it was not much warmer when we boarded the ferry to view the Painted Rocks on LAKE SUPERIOR.

The beautiful colors are made by water seeping through layers of copper (green), limestone (white) and iron ore (reddish brown).

Pockets in the rock are caused by moving water against soft rock.

Arches are formed.

And large amounts of rock have fallen away.

Paddle boaters

and kayakers provide comparison of size (the rocks are over 200 feet tall in some places.)

East Channel Lighthouse is nestled in the scenery here.

Sable Falls on our way to Grand Marais.

We saw the beginnings of sand dunes here.

Following a picturesque ride, we arrived in Mackinac City (pronounced Mackinaw) where our hotel overlooked the harbor where ferry boats were waiting to take us to the Island where for over a century no motorized vehicles are allowed.  Horses and bicycles provide the transportation.

Mackinac Bridge crosses the union of LAKES MICHIGAN and HURON.

Our private carriage and horses Joyce and Heather leads us to the Grand Hotel where for ten dollars one can tour the hotel where no two rooms are decorated the same and sit on the longest porch in the world.

View from across the road from the Grand Hotel.

UPS carriage

Back on the road, our travels took us to Frankenmuth, a Bavarian style town where chicken is the favorite dish.

And this is what we ate at Zehnder's

Port Huron, the Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes,  looks across to Canada where we head on our way home.

This is Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, Michigan's oldest lighthouse, circa 1829.

EATING LOCAL

A Pasty  (short "a" sound) is a delicious meat, turkey or bison filled pie, stuffed also with potatoes, onions and veggies.  The crust is flaky and delish.  Sometimes served with gravy.  Restaurants and roadside diners feature these.

Whitefish is local and we ate it every day.

Cobblers filled with fresh rhubarb, cherries and strawberries and served warm.

Photo exhibit at Nassau Valley Winery

During the month of June, Jim's camera club is exhibiting their photos at Nassau Valley Winery, a beautiful venue where weddings are often held.

Rows of growing grapes, each headed by a blooming rose bush.

To the right is the gift shop and tasting room.

Heavy wooden door which opens to the photo display.

Jim's three photos

A sunset over snow geese, a misty Lewes harbor, and a snowy cemetery gate.

Holly hocks

A local rose wine