Leaving Carp Lake, Michigan, Earlier Than Planned

Saturday, May 30, 2009
Knowing we had to cross the Mackinaw Bridge and that high winds were expected over the weekend, we decided to leave Carp Lake today. Yesterday and today we worked all day getting ready to leave...saying goodbyes, cleaning house and cabins, storing machinery and outside items, closing down water heaters, washing clothes and transferring 'stuff' to Molly II.

We crossed Bridge doing 20 mph at 1 pm under high wind warnings and stopped at Lakeshore RV Park for the night so tomorrow we could get an early start.
Later, Helen will add to this post and will fill you in on details of the above. See her later comments below the photos of Lake Michigan and Wycamp Road.
Last Thursday we drove out Wycamp Road, and then on to the small village of Bliss and stopped at the old Bliss general store for ice cream. On Wycamp Road, deep in the forest, you expect to see a bear at every turn. We often see campers' pitched tents on the shore of the lake on Wycamp Road.

Texas Molly II stands sentry, looking over Lake Michigan

Last evening we visited my only living aunt. Aunt Ruth was married to my Mother's youngest brother. Aunt Ruth is 87 yrs. young. She lives alone in a lovely warm apartment overlooking the Straits of Mackinaw. What a view she has. My Mom would love it. Her children, my cousins, are looking after her.

The Straits are the point where the Great Lakes - Michigan, Huron, and Superior converge. The lakes are carribean blue with white caps and white sand dunes.

Up here in the Upper Peninsula you really start getting the "Up North" scenery and feelings that the Indians and French Canadian trappers were here yesterday. Mackinaw Island has a large museum with the history of the Astor Fur Trading Company. How did these Indians roam these enormous lakes in birch bark canoes? How did they survive the winters? My relatives, great grandparents, navigated the Great Lakes from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, by Lake Champlain and Erie to Michigan by boat to settle here as pioneers. My grandfather owned timberland and was a lumberjack.

Now we are transitioning into a new generation and I find that Larry and I will be the oldest ones vacationing up here! What a revelation - aren't I just 17 yrs young???

It is really hard economically for this younger generation no matter which part of the country they have settled. They are all hanging tight,tho, to the heritage up here in the north country. They are going to do things differently but are maintaining the strong family ties. Mom can be proud even tho she cannot come up here again.

We are headed west.