Last September, during my year-long break from blogging, Doug and I and our friend, Pat, traveled to and through Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP) to spend a week at Gitche Gumee Bible Camp, located in Eagle River, Michigan, in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
The Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan are connected by the Mackinac (pronounced MAK-in-aw) Bridge, a suspension bridge of approximately five miles (8 km) in length.
Entering the Mackinac Bridge
The bridge from a viewing point on the UP side
A look at the fall colors that were beginning to pop out in the UP
Tahquamenon Falls wasn't too far from where we stayed that first night of travel. So we took advantage of the remaining daylight and went to see the falls.
Upper Tahquamenon Falls
Our route the next day took us through the city of Munising, Michigan. We knew there were several sightseeing opportunities in that area, so we stopped at a visitor center for advice on what we could see in the short amount of time we could spare. A ranger there told us about Wagner Falls, which she said was her personal favorite of multiple waterfalls in the vicinity and which was very near.
Wagner Falls
Then we drove a short distance to an overlook with a view of the rock formation called Miner's Castle. It's part of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which is best viewed in the late afternoon, from a boat out on the water.
Miner's Castle
For comparison, I'm including another picture that I took of Miner's Castle back in 2004, from the same overlook, but with late-day lighting. You might also notice that there are two two turrets in the earlier image. One of those turrets broke off in 2006.
Miner's Castle in 2004, with two turrets
By the way, for those who may be wondering, Gitche Gumee is a Native American name for Lake Superior and means "Big Water."
Back with more soon.
