• Monday-What'sUP June 30 - 02:45 pm

When traveling from lower Michigan to the U.P., a few rest stops are always in order. One of the more popular stops is either before you cross the Big Mac or right after. And of course, the inevitable photo op usually comes into play then, also. Thanks to Bobb Farrell and Beth Collins for supplying us with shots of just what I'm talking about. I can't think of a better place to let the kids get out and stretch their legs and get all the "are we almost there's" out of them. They might not be in awe of the Mackinac Bridge yet, but you'll certainly appreciate the break and enjoy the view of this man-made wonder connecting the two land masses that make up our great state of Michigan.

The Pasty Cam was published a little late today, due to widespread power outages in the Keweenaw Peninsula. But we have a bonus for today. The photo below is of Central Mine and was taken back in May before the leaves came out. It is just a sampling of the 240 photos you'll find in E. Neil Harri's newest Aerial Tour, called: "Copper Mining History- An Historic Aerial Tour Of Keweenaw's Copper Ridge". This DVD Aerial photo tour runs from Rockland to the Keweenaw Point. All you mining buffs out there will want to add this to your collection and you can do so by heading over to Neil's webpage, with a click of your mouse RIGHT HERE!

OK, I will post a message so there will be one before the day is done.

What a great lookin Bridge! Wish I was on it right now, I'd be almost 1/2 way to the Keweenaw! Soon, counting the days!

Two great photos with an excellent backdrop. I feel so fortunate to have been born north of that bridge....an to actually still reside there.

I have to get my pictures developed. We were on top of Brockway Mountain and there were clouds just floating over the water and the town. It was like looking at fog. Took some interesting pictures. We had a good time in the U.P. Right before we decided to leave we went over to Calumet and got a pasty fest t-shirt. Had great weather while we were there. Driving around Houghton was not bad at all. We just took our time and enjoyed everything. ;O)

Then we spent the day and night in Mackinaw City and went over to the Soo and took some pictures there and went to St. Ignace and found some things to take pictures of. The next day we decided to leave Mackinaw City and head for home, all it did was rain and got cool. The hole trip, it seemed like we were always a step ahead of the rain and the cooler weather.

Had a good time.;O) very relaxing for the both of us.

Oh Yeah! as we were traveling towards Munising, at night, something flew across the front of our truck. When we stopped in Munising to get gas we checked the front of the truck and there was a bat in the grill. Of course I took pictures before Bill took it out. It was missing one of its wings and it was not under the hood or the grill. I also took pictures of it when he took it out of the grill. It was a nice size bat. Poor thing.;o(. I have to get over to the Cranbrook Institute and see the bat exhibit they have. We also had one of those black crows hit the grill. He hopped away when Bill got it out.

I really should be sleeping.

A rainy foggy night and sopping dawn here near Harbor Springs. I need some dry weather to mow the lawn, but it looks like three more days of mist. It feels like England.

I was always afraid to drive across the bridge -- white knuckled and shaking -- until I walked it one Labor Day in the 1990s. I made myself walk on the grill with waters visible far below my feet, and found that the wind blowing under the bridge deck does NOT create a vacuum that will suck my car through the grill. By the way, driving through the center span is like driving through a great piano board, or a harp, with the strings vibrating.

LOVE that bridge! A month from tomorrow we'll be there also. I can't wait. We're taking our 10 year old granddaughter for her very first visit of the bridge. Wanted to take our grandson too, but his dad is also making a trip to Lake Linden at the very same time so he couldn't come. Maybe next year. I get excited just thinking about it.

Today at 4:30 I'll be heading U.P. to see that bridge....I'm so EXCITED to get my vacation started!!

We're heading up across the bridge this evening. Can't wait!!!

My 7 year old daughter always gets so excited every time we make that curve on I-75 where you can see the top of the bridge's towers. She's loved the Big Mac since she was about 2.

I remember when I was a kid we were going camping with my parents. My brother and I were behaving in the car (a rare occurence according to my mother) and fell asleep. My parents decided to just keep going north. They woke us up just as the bridge came into view. We still talk about that trip. :)

I meant Thurs. evening, not this evening (wish it was this evening).