We timed our trip to coincide with the marriage of a favorite nephew, Bennie Schwegler to his fabulous bride Kate. This entailed converting a rented Chrysler Pacifica and partying with the Norfolk crowd in Ohio for the wedding. Then we headed west and took a long loop up the east coast of Michigan to the beautiful Upper Peninsula.
Outfitting the van
Staging the stuffing of the vanMarida’s homemade platform goes in the vanPacking 3 cubic yards of stuff into 2 cubic yards of spaceThe platform goes inThe platform packed and assembledMike and Susan stopped by Washington Grove on the way up and we caravanned to the weddingOn the way!
A Schwegler Wedding
We timed our road trip to kick off in Geneva, Ohio where young Bennie Schwegler was marrying his fabulous Kate in a local park. Kate and Bennie met at college on the rowing team, and both are avid hikers and rock climbers. Family came from around the country and we were honored to be included.
Haircutting at the hotelHaircutting at the hotelEveryone tested – negative thank goodnessKate and her father walk to the altarEric and a bridesmaid announce the newlywedsBenny and Kate, now marriedKate and Bennie, now marriedSchwegler brothers doing what they doNance and Stan
Thunder Bay, Michigan
Our first campout in our newly outfitted van was in Alpena, near Thunder Bay on the east coast Michigan’s Lake Huron. It’s name is indicative of one of the main attractions, which is hundreds of ships wrecked due to the ferocious weather. There is a NOAA station there with a nice museum, and we took a fun glass-bottom boat tour of some of the shallow wrecks. Outside of town is an abandoned quarry where you can legally hunt for fossils.
Thunder BayOur first experience van campingOur first experience van campingWe loved it!Our campsiteOur campsiteOur campsiteNOAA station on Thunder BayWreck tourWreck tourWreck tourFossil hunting in the quarryFossil hunting in the quarryFossil hunting in the quarryAbandoned hoist in the quarry
Makinac Island
The bridge to the island. Cars are not allowed so we took a ferry.Ferry to Mackinac IslandMackinac from the ferryThe famous Grand Hotel from the ferry. The islandNatural arch, MackinacWith cars banned, horses are everywhereNatural arch, MackinacCarriage tourCemetery at the crest of the islandCemetery at the crest of the islandWe rented bikes and spent the day browsing the shore road and the upper areasMackinac shoreAcross from the Grand HotelGrand Hotel veranda – the longest colonade in the world (?)Grand Hotel verandaGrand Hotel verandaGrand Hotel porchView from the ferryPlaque where a famous scene from “Somewhere in Time” was filmedTerri, somewhere in timeMarida, somewhere in time
