Michigan and Beyond 2016: ..AND THE RAIN GIVES WAY TO A SPECTACULAR DAY!

We woke yesterday morning to torrential rain and winds but with a promise of better weather to come. "Rain before seven, clear before 11" was the rule of the day as we were able to depart Bay City and head north by late morning. Other than a brief shower in the first hour, the day was warm and partly cloudy, perfect riding weather. All told we did 280 miles and made it around the "hand" or "mitt" of Michigan and arrived at Charlevoix by early evening. We started on Saginaw Bay, rode the eastern shore of Lake Huron and then the upper west shore of Lake Michigan. Along the way we saw mile upon mile of camps and resorts that fill the shoreline, lots of little resort towns and magnificent views of the water.

We were greeted by a lot of rain when we got up!

The rain gave way to a beautiful day and some really spectacular views of the water.

No trip on the water is complete without visiting some lighthouses. In the 1800's there were a series of lighthouses built along the shores of Lake Huron so that the ships had a continuous gauge of the shoreline. Today we visited the one at 40 mile point which was built in 1886.

Kim and Cherif actually got me to climb the 53 stairs to the top pf the lighthouse. We had a guide that explained all there was to know about the lamp and the history of the lighthouse. The view did not disappoint.

An added bonus to visiting the lighthouse was the leavings of a shipwreck from 1905 that remains on the beach. The timbers and the pinning that held it together are still very evident.

The best part of our day was traveling along the "Tunnel of Trees. This section of rte 119 in northern Michigan is 15 miles of twisty, windy road that is almost completely covered by the canopy of trees lining the road. Because it was late afternoon, the sun was brilliant coming at us from our side through the trees.