Sault Ste. Marie & Tahquamonon Falls

 

Soo Locks

 

We stayed our third night in Sault Ste. Marie.  On Sunday morning we found a small branch to go to for church.  It took us awhile to find the building because it shared with other organizations.  There were twenty people there.  They were bummed that we weren't moving into the area.  Blake said that we should move there because they wanted us too.

 

After church we went to see the Soo Locks.  This is where big boats drop between Lake Superior and Lake Huron everyday.  The water is higher between these Lakes so they built different locks to help lower the boat and send it on its way. 

 

One fun fact I read in their visitors center was that if you took all the water from the five great lakes and spread it across the United States, the U.S. would be covered in almost 10 feet of water. 

 

 

 

 

Upper and Lower Tahquamonon Falls

 

I have decided that I love waterfalls.  I remember feeling this way when we went to Niagra Falls.  Something about them is magical.  There were two parts to these falls and we walked along trails to see them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pasties from Muldoons in Munising

 

We had heard that we had to try pasties (pah-stees) while we were in the upper peninsula.  Someone said they are like chicken pot pies without the pot.  I guess a long time ago people would take them to work and put them in their coats to keep themselves warm as well as the food.

 

 

 

 

They tasted fine but I wasn't wowed with them.  At the end of the trip Janie informed me that the worst part of the whole vacation was when we stopped to eat these.  She wasn't a fan.

Mackinac Island

On Saturday morning we took a ferry over to Mackinac Island.  The perimeter of the island is 8 miles and there are not any cars on it--just horse drawn carriages and bikes.  We decided to rent bikes so we could see all around the island.  We had one bike with the tag along for Blake to ride on, and another bike with the carrier to pull Janie and Ty.  Even though it was heavier to pull the younger two, that seat was more comfortable so that is what I rode.  Any time there was a slight incline I couldn't pull it and had to get off and walk it up.  Eric and I would switch occasionally.  I would just sit on the uncomfortable seat and Blake would pedal and push both of us.  We had the bikes for four hours.  It was fun but kind of a lot of work.  Ty finally fell asleep which was helpful (because then he wasn't pulling Janie's hair.)  Janie sang Frozen to everyone as we rode by.

 

 

 

 

 

Behind them is the bridge that connects Michigan to the upper peninsula.  We crossed it later that night.

 

 

 

 Here is the Grand Hotel.  I wanted to go inside but you have to pay ten dollars to go in.  I stopped on a somewhat steep slope to take a quick picture.  Eric and Blake were already down the hill.  A nice man came over to take the picture, and then my bike fell down and broke off the carrier.  It was so embarrasing--I'm big pregnant pulling these kids, trying to take a picture and not doing a good job of it.  Then a couple of his friends came over and helped hook the bike back to the carrier.  Eric walked up the hill laughing.

 

 

 Fudge is a famous treat made on the island.  There is a little downtown area and every other store was making/selling fudge.  We tried some samples and then bought some--German chocolate, chocolate cookies, and turtle flavored.

 

Hotel in Mackinaw City

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second night we stayed in Macinaw City so that we could go to the island the next day.  When we got there we had dinner and then headed to a popcorn place with tons of different flavors we had heard about.  One of their top five flavors was dill pickle.  It tasted like it and was interesting.  We sampled a bunch--apple pie, fruit salad, caramel...  We ended up buying caramel apple, oreo, and reesus peanut butter popcorn.  They were pretty good.  Not as good as Chicago's Garretts Popcorn though.

 

The kids were so excited to swim in the pool and go in the water toy area.  There was a big bucket at the top that filled with water and would tip once it became too heavy.  I wish could've taken a picture of Janie after the first dump.  Poor girl--I've never seen her face like that.  She was so terrified and didn't ever go back down any slides.  But she did love the pool (with a life vest and an inner tube).  And Ty liked swimming with Eric.  And Blake was in heaven all around.  I just watched and took pictures but it was so hot in that room I could barely stand it.  So when Ty was done I took him back to bathe him.  And then he ate his popcorn while watching a show.

Sleepy Bear Dunes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Bug.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eric and I agreed that this was the favorite spot on our trip.  It was just a huge hill of sand to hike but it was so beautiful that day.  The sky was so blue.  It was fun to watch Blake go up and down over and over again.  There were bugs here and there in the sand.  Most were on their backs and unable to get up so they couldn't move.  But once Janie saw them she couldn't handle the dunes anymore. 

 

After we climbed the first hill, there was another hill.  We were told that you would have to climb six hills until you were able to see the water.  So we drove through a scenic tour instead and that is wherewe took pictures by Lake Michigan.  And that was amazing to see such blue water everywhere.