Yes, Michigan?...Oh Yeah! Part 2

Yes, Michigan?...Oh Yeah!

Part 2

By John W. Vander Velden

 

            I don’t know what you think of Michigan.  But when we think of Michigan, we think of mile upon mile of forestland, hundreds of lakes, endless stretches of Great Lake shorelines, and lighthouses.  Michigan has more light houses than any state in the union…well over a hundred.  However there was one thing we had over looked in the Great Lake State, waterfalls…until this year.  On our list of “to do’s” for this trip, that natural spender became a required part. 

The lower Tanquanenon Falls

There are many waterfalls of various sizes in the state most found in the Upper Peninsula.  Distance from our base camp, Best Western Harbor Point, St. Ignace, eliminated many.  However near the top of the ten best…who made up that list I have no idea…was Tanquanenon Falls.  Try saying that ten times quickly…or even once for that matter.  I asked the woman at the gift store how it was pronounced.  I practiced saying the word for twenty minutes.  Jackie laughed at me as I walked with the syllables rolling off my lips again and again.  I told her that by the time we reached the car the word would be lost…and it was.  So please do not ask me how to say “T-quan…er…something, something something…rhymes with phenomenon I am told.

Jackie took my picture as we walked the island

Masses of ferns lined the roadside. 
As we walked the trail, I loved
 how the light played on this one

Tanquanenon Falls State Park was a bit down the road…more than an hour and half’s drive.  The park covers a substantial area.  The entrance to the lower and upper falls are separated by four miles.  We reached the lower falls first.  Though the park was not crowded, we certainly were not the first to arrive.  We found the fall remarkable and we walked the trail to the main falls…breathtaking.  To reach the other falls…other lower falls that is…required a boat to reach the island in the river’s middle .  We rented the flat bottom row boat and I used all the skills I had…hmmm…I am not the best mariner…and reached the island quite directly, the distance greater than it appeared from the shore.  Once safely…and dry…yes, we arrived dry…upon the island that separated the two portions  of the lower falls, we walked the trail while watching others wade in the rapids.  Returning to our worthy craft, I rowed the river for a time and arrived at our point of beginning, yet dry.  Now it shouldn’t be that surprising.

As you can clearly see, Jackie remained dry...

After a light lunch we made our way to the upper falls.  There things became interesting.  After three circuits around the overfull parking lot, I grew bold enough to park on the grass.  Best way I can describe the place was crowded…I mean all those cars didn’t drive themselves.  We joined the throng on the trail that led us…all of us…through the forest, offering views of the falls and the river below.  The route led to a pair of platforms built for spectators, which hung from the canyon wall near the thundering waters.  The grandness of the lower falls was overshadowed by spectacular upper falls.  I can see why Tanquanenon Falls are considered a “must see”…even if I can’t pronounce the word.

Our first glimpse of the upper falls...wow!

It was not a long drive from the Tanquanenon Falls to another state park…Whitefish Point Light Station.  I don’t need to point out the pattern here do I?  The light house at Whitefish Point had never been on my “need to visit” list.  The pictures I had seen…well it just doesn’t look like a light house.  But we were near and thought the view of Lake Superior alone would make the drive worthwhile.  On arriving it became apparent that the pictures did the place an injustice.  We spent our time moving about the Shipwreck Museum, saw the beautiful 2^nd order Fresnel lens, climbed the light house and walked the beach on a magnificent late afternoon.  Closed the place down.

The first thing that caught our eyes
inside the Whitefish Point Shipwreck
Museum was this magnificent
2nd order Fresnel Lens.

It had nearly become seven when the two of us in our trusty Chevy left for the long drive back to St. Ignace.  It was a pleasant drive following the two lane highway that cut through the forests of pine and hardwoods.  However when we had gone most of the way, a policeman stopped us as we approached the only railroad crossing of the route.  He kindly told us that the train had struck a semi and it would be three hours…minimum…until the crossing could be cleared.  “You’ll need to go back to highway 28”, he said.  “Only eleven miles,” he told us.  “28 will take you to the interstate.”  He didn’t tell us that it would very nearly take us all the way to Sauté Saint Marie to reach I 75…more than an hour out of our way.  Life is an adventure, so we began off in the direction we had just come. 

Whitefish Point Light Station.
Though the tower might appear modern,
It was built in 1860.

We received a guided tour to the top of  this
light house.  From there we had a wonderful view
of Lake Superior.

After a quick Wendy’s stop in Sauté Saint Marie, the light was fading as we began our southbound trek, confident that the forty some odd miles would pass quickly on the interstate.  Surprise!  Just began “book’n” when we came to a detour.  I mean they closed down the whole Interstate.  Sent us two miles west, then south on the Mackinac Trail…the road that the interstate replaced…for eleven miles, jogged back east to I 75, and homeward again.  

With each stop we saw Sea Gulls.
Here posts have been placed to weaken the waves
on Whitefish Point

 

We arrived at our room well after nine and that ended our Tuesday…at least I think it was Tuesday, another restful day…well maybe not restful, but a fantastic day all the same.

The adventure continues next week

(926 Words)

  

From the top of the light house we saw this freighter,
"The Burns Harbor".
Thought it was cool that the ship carried its name
from an Indiana port.