We wake up to a red sky, but it is from smoke. The orange glow as the sun rose was the giveaway and we had that sight all morning long. We again start early, about 6:30, as we have a long day to get through the upper peninsula of Michigan and cross the bridge to Mackinaw City.
Our ride in the morning took us through Duluth Minnesota first then into Wisconsin before we entered Michigan. During that ride the sun was orange and the sky stayed smoky. Before leaving Wisconsin we picked up some wild rice grown in the area that we saw for sale. Rick reminisced on how good the rice was, so we picked some up for dinners we would have at my sisters house in two days.
While crossing the upper peninsula, we cut across the center of it. I never knew how so thick it was in the woods up here. It is pretty remote and every time I looked into the woods I was amazed how dark and wooded it was. We continued throughout the day crossing the upper peninsula, with only one hiccup – had to deal with a speed trap but we got out of it without a ticket.
Later in the day we were along the Lake Michigan shore line as we approached our final checkpoint. We could see the bridge as we got close and pulled off just before crossing the bridge at the view point park to get our pictures.
I have only crossed the bridge once in 1984, when I left the state to move to California. At that time I went through the upper peninsula because I had never been here. Looking forward to cross it again on this lovely day.
The Mackinaw Bridge is a 5 mile bridge, connecting the Upper peninsula with the lower peninsula. Started in 1954 and completed in 1957, the total cost was roughly $96 million, with the cost broken down as roughly $3.5 million to design, $26 million for the foundations, and $45 million for the superstructure. The balance was servicing the bond debt while construction until the bridge open for tolls.
It was a beautiful day to cross, sunny without much wind. The bridge is a 4 land bridge for I-75. We stayed in the outside lanes which were paved as the center lanes are a grate.
We crossed, found our hotel in Mackinaw City, and then congratulated each for finishing the Great Lakes/Cabot Trail tour. It was bitter sweet. Sweet that we finished it, bitter that the adventure came to an end.
Great report!
Congrats to both of you!!
Loved the description of the UP area …the woods sound other worldly
Tremendous adventure!!!
That’s great you picked up some wild rice! There’s some great wild rice hot dish recipes, with slivered almonds and cranberries.
This is my territory you’re riding in, northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. I see you stopped in Ashland, and it’s true how wooded this area is. Usually I see bears,… you saw Smokey bear (a speed trap cop), ha! Glad you didn’t get a ticket!
You’ve inspired me to cross the Mackinaw Bridge and cross over, I’ve never done that! Glad they had the sides of the bridge paved, those grates are terrible on a motorcycle!
CONGRATULATIONS 🎉🎊🎈 on COMPLETING THE GREAT LAKES/CABOT TRAIL TOUR!! 😀👏🏼
Congratulations on completing this tour! I do enjoy the extra details about the history of the bridge and cost. (You can take the boy out of cost accounting but you can’t take cost accounting out of the boy. Lol! Still working, JV.) Details about the surface of the bridge is interesting. True the excitement of the journey is over, but what an accomplishment! After this summer of adventure, you guys will forever long to wander. Hope you are enjoying some R&R with your sister and family.