Michigan Road Trip 2017: eclipse of the sun.

Mackinaw Bridge

Photos.

We were even more out of the total eclipse path that we would have been in the Twin Cities, but I was still looking forward to the day as we drove on Hwy 2 to the Mackinaw Bridge. The morning mist on Lake Michigan was still enveloping the bridge when we arrived at Bridge View Park around 11:00 a.m.

We checked into the Hamilton Beach Select Beachfront around noon but since our room wouldn't be ready for another hour, we had a beer and Wisconsin cheese curds at the Dixie Saloon. I was looking forward to being well settled in our room for the eclipse, as broadcast on by NASA. I think the sky make have changed a little, but not much. I tried a trick I read about to photograph the sun, a kind of selfie but I seem to be a little dim and I didn't get much. During the afternoon, I felt a little envious of the enraptured eclipse viewers on TV.

This very big heron is elegant and bossy

A few kids were swimming in the lake but I felt reluctant to dip into these "unknown waters" with five different species of lamprey, which Bob assured me were mostly a product of my imagination. Instead, I opted for a swim in the large hotel pool, full of light from the large doors and windows to the outside. I really hate to admit that I prefer a pool to natural water, but I really do.

We  had a light supper (soup for Bob, chili and side salad for me) at the Historic Depot Restaurant in the Mackinaw Crossings complex. Just the right choice in this interesting space, where a little train circled the restaurant on a track high on the wall. Our server revealed far too much information about herself and by the time we left the restaurant, I was mortified for her. After dinner, we sat in the little commons area listening to the two-man band (actually, a man and a woman). Pretty good, with a recorded back-up and percussion, heavy on James Taylor.

Soon after we got back to our room, the sky was punctuated with bolts of lightening and the sound of thunder rolled across the water.

Michigan Road Trip 2017: pleasant late summer drive

St Paul, Minnesota to Manistique, Michigan

Photos.

We were on the road before eight Sunday morning, The day was warm -- and later hot -- but overcast for most of our ride, so we never had to drive into the bright sun as we so often do on our road trips. Not much road construction either, and the ride was uneventful.

Outdoor arrangements are lush and in full bloom

The day may have been uneventful, but not without enjoyment. We rolled through Wisconsin farm country, with rich cornfields on either side of us, so high that I had trouble with my drive-by red barn photos. We missed the Michigan state line, but the countryside changed gradually from farmland to northern forest, much like the beautiful landscape where I grew up in Temiscaming, Québec.

The lighthouse across from our hotel

We have been this way several times in the past, and had the usual discussion about the route to Lake Michigan. The GPS wanted us to take Hwy 64 (grey two-way highway on the paper map) but Bob had previously decided on Hwy 8 (red two-way highway on the paper map, somewhat farther north and more circuitous). The legend identified "red" as a primary route so I preferred to defy the GPS rather than argue with my husband. When we'd made our decision, I remembered that on our last trip we'd gone with the GPS route and ended up in Marinette. It was a fairly straight hop east, followed by a quick drive north to Escanaba. No matter.

After some time on the road, we started looking for a good rest stop. The best I could find on the paper map around Wausau was a red square, indicating a county facility. The GPS was less optimistic, with rest stops marked 70 miles to our north (roughly the direction headed) and 71 miles south. Not useful, under the circumstances. We decided to stop at a "wayside rest" nested in the pines off the side of the road. At one time, I would have declined to use the facilities, but after at least four hours of travel, I was in no position to be fussy. In fact, the location was quite nice and we decided we might as well have lunch. I really enjoyed the Jimmy John's tuna sandwich provided by future daughter-in-law Melissa.

We decided to go on to Manistique rather than stay in Escanaba. We arrived in later afternoon and checked into the Comfort Inn across from the lighthouse, just in time for cocktail hour. Clean and basic in a great location. Dinner (grilled cod) at Big Boy Restaurant next door would have been surprisingly good, except that part of mine wasn't cooked through, thereby rendering it disgusting.

We went to bed early and work up to mist on this day of the total eclipse.