Leaving Mackinaw City this morning, we headed north across 8mile long Mackinaw Bridge. "Big Mac" is the third longest suspension bridge in the world, spanning the Straits of Mackinac; Lake Michigan on our left and Lake Huron on our right. As we crossed the Straits we could make out the massive Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island about 10 miles away.
Near St. Ignace, we took Highway 2 West and enjoyed a quiet drive along Lake Michigan. The temperature hung around 42 degrees, dropping steadily to 36 as we drove west. Ice build-up along the shoreline varied in thickness. The winter in this part of the country was one of the toughest winters they have had in terms of snowfall and single digit temperatures.
We decided that breakfast would be in order and began watching for a place to eat. After a while we spied the White Tail Resort in Brevort, population about 650, with attached, inviting Cafe, serving home style cooking and breakfast all day!
We struck up a good conversation with the man and woman running the place and learned much about the area. This is a big recreation area for both winter and summer sports; lots of ice fishing and snow mobiles around. The waitress talked about how the citizens of Mackinaw Island and workers on the north peninsula would drive snow mobiles, or walk across the frozen Strait, a distance of 5 miles, during the cold winter. They would string out Christmas trees in a line between the two shores to give them a trail to follow. The shifting ice would cause a vehicle to be lost on occasion. It was a very dangerous crossing. She said you must drive at top speed in case there was a big crack.
We continued our drive across Michigan, passing though small towns, and into Wisconsin. Tonight we are staying outside La Crosse in Sparta. Most of the La Crosse hotels are booked up with a Blue Cross Blue Shield conference there.
Tomorrow we explore!
No comments:
Post a Comment