Northern Michigan

We're parked in Carp Lake, Michigan, a small hamlet where Helen's mother grew up and where Helen and her siblings and many kids have spent their summers for decades. We're opening up the family compound (big house and three cabins) and getting the place ready for all the family coming for Helen's mom's graveside service. Carp Lake is about 5 miles south of Machinaw City which is the community on the south end of the Mackinac Bridge...a mamouth structure connecting southern Michigan with the northern peninsula.

Many truly special memories are treasured by the entire clan. Great fish tales, many 'first time up' on skiis, evening wiener roast around a warming fire, visits to Sturgeon Bay (Lake Michigan) and the huge sanddunes, strolling the boardwalk in Machinaw City, feeding the gulls, ferry rides to Machinaw Island (where the movie 'Somewhere in Time' was made), magnificent sunsets, pontoon rides across Paradise Lake to see the Bald Eagles, painting rocks, dinner at Goldie's Cafe, building sand castles, and waking to cinnamon toast and rasberry preserves, among countless memories. Even this kid from the Mississipp Bayous loves it here. It's a lot like 'On Golden Pond', the movie.

Here's a few scenes from the past:



Here's a view of the compound from across the street:

Here is Texas Molly II parked at the motel, across the street from the compound: