Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge is about 5 miles long, longest in the Western Hemisphere and 5th longest in the world. My research states: the bridge does not sway with wind, but there is a gradual shift … up to 35 feet at the center span! That strikes me as amazing! I really need to look further for a better understanding.
Cross the bridge from Mackinaw City to Saint Ignace and you are on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan! Here Lake Michigan meets Lake Huron … exactly under this bridge!
A memory:
Two years ago I was birding at a wooded rest area in Virginia. A guy and I got talking. He mentioned he and his wife live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I said, some day I will get there. When I returned to my van and put my camera away, I discovered a piece of paper tucked in the window of the driver’s door. He left their names and phone number. Of course, I filed it in my phone.
Now I am here on the Upper Peninsula (UP), known as “Yooperland”. I called their phone number and left a message thanking them for their note. When I met him, he had recommended Seney National Wildlife Refuge, thinking I may be interested in visiting there, having seen my interest in birds at the VA rest area. I put that in my notes too. Amazingly I received a phone call from them! With their input, I created a more specific plan for my days on the UP. They were surprised to have heard from me two years later, and I was happy their phone had a recorder for messages!
Day 1: After buying groceries and gas for the van, I headed off to Whitefish Point. Great place to walk the sandy shore, collect stones, see the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior, and visit the Shipwreck Museum. Next stop was at Lower, (1/2 mile hike) and then Upper (3/4 mile hike) Falls at Tahquamenon State Park. Beautiful scenery and not many people on the trails. Mosquitoes and black flies were out, but in the woods not a problem. First impression of the Upper Peninsula, it is beautiful!
I drove the 7 mile scenic dirt road at Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Loons, sandhill cranes and many trumpeter swans were seen. I’ll return in a couple of days again to spend more time.
Day 2: Relaxed morning until I saw my weather app indicating rain in 10 minutes. I flew out of bed and made my coffee and tea just before the rain. Enjoyed breakfast then in the comfort of my van!
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is best seen from a boat, so I boarded the Spray Falls catamaran for a 2 hour cruise. We’re on the northern shore of the Upper Peninsula on Lake Superior. Our view is looking back on the sandy beaches, wind and water-carved cliffs with the various colored rocks. The first part of the journey is basically calm in the harbor. On the lake however, waves started to kick up with our catamaran rocking side to side. I’m not sure if I am enjoying this at the moment!
Halfway through the tour, the captain turned the catamaran around to return to our starting point. We’ll receive a half price refund. The captain doubted the next cruise would go out since 7 foot swells were expected. Correct, that cruise did not go out. I’m glad I saw what I did and dressed appropriately! The temperature is 20 degrees colder on the water and with the wind it was about 35 degrees when on the cruise. I was freezing! Also appreciated the boat being turned around as it felt dicey to me.
There are so many waterfalls on the Upper Peninsula to see and some are just off the road, such as Alger Falls! You can pick up a map of waterfalls in the area. Some waterfall trails are closed due to damage to the area after this winter. I used my AllTrails app and discovered a nice hike to Miners Falls. Beautiful trail amongst the trees! Definitely walk to the lower observation point to see the entire falls!
Day 3: This was my Marquette day to visit their Saturday downtown farmer’s market. Locals all seemed to be buying plants, especially tomato plants. I grabbed a breakfast burrito and eventually found Dead River Coffee Roasters, a few blocks away. There I bought Brazilian and Nicaraguan coffee beans ground for my French press which I use on the road. While walking the downtown area, I bought a blueberry muffin at Babycakes. Next door was the store and gallery, I heard about on a CBS Sunday Morning program a year or so ago. The photographer had taken a sunrise photo each day since 2019. The “Sunrise Gallery” was amazing and he continues to take a daily photo. I bought one photo taken on my birthdate in 2021.
Onward to Presque Isle Park. I loved this park! Free parking, 6 miles of hiking trails and if it was not so cold, a place for a bicycle ride. A dedicated bike path hugs the shoreline for miles and through Marquette area. It was 35 degrees this morning and now just barely above 50 degrees … and who really knows the temperature with the wind blowing … so I was not bicycling! I did also visit Little Presque Isle where you need a recreation pass to park. No need to stay, I was happy to have already hiked enough at Presque Isle.
Day 4: Seney National Wildlife Refuge is huge on the Upper Peninsula. The chances of me photographing a loon with a tag on it or seeing the oldest male, aged 38 this summer, are slim to none. However, I heard about ABJ, the male loon having been banded as a chick. The bird returned again this year, late April. Plus a female loon, Fe, pronounced “Fay”, banded as an adult will turn at least 39 this year. They are an international couple and have birders wondering if ABJ will meet up with his longtime mate Fe. My eyes are peeled looking for a common loon with an upper broken bill … that could be ABJ … and believed his beak was broken in a territorial fight at some point! ABJ has returned here for decades, this wildlife refuge is huge, and yet I will spend hours observing any and all birds here!
Amazingly, I saw a few loons and I think I have a photo of a loon with an orange band on its leg. Now to find out where to send my photo and the details they need. I loved being at the refuge.
