Day 11

This was a bridge we saw on the way this morning.

Looks like fun huh. Pig Wrestling.

Got the pig by the tail. Hang on.

The winners of the 6-10 yr old Pig Wrestling, don't that look like fun.

Demolition Derby at the Turkey Trot Fesitval in Indiana

:( Well we are home, but guess it has to end somewhere. We had a great time. Not much today. We did go to another Amish community, but since it was Sunday couldn't see a lot. We did drive down a road around noon and I guess they were coming home from their church meeting. They don't have churches but the families take turn opening their houses and about 35-40 meet at one house. They rotate the meetings. There are about 650 Amish families that live in the area. Then at the same place we were at they were having a Turkey Trot Festival. We missed the turkey races but saw the Pig Wrestling (kids were in groups of 4 and would wrestle the pig) and Demolition Derby. Not sure that was the highlight of our trip but it was quite humorous. There were lots of Amish young people there too. So hope you have enjoyed the blog of our trip.

Day 10

This a pic of people canoeing. You could go on the creeks and go under the bridges.

Wilkins Mill Bridge

West Union Bridge 312 ft long.

This is a wheel at a Grist Mill.

Mansfield Bridge

Well today was not a good day. We went to Parke County, IN that had the 30 covered bridges but the weather didn't cooperate. Most of the bridges are on gravely dirt roads and not good when it is raining. We saw probably 11 of them before we called it quits. The good thing is that it is close enough that we can make it back there for a weekend trip. So may do that this fall sometime. And if we hadn't had the GPS there is no way we would have found some of them. But sure can't complain about the weather other than today because it has been perfect. We are now in Bloomington, IN Hoosier Country. There is another Amish community just south of here that we are going to but don't think much will be open since it is Sunday. We will be home sometime Sunday afternoon.

Day 9

White River Lighthouse

This is Lake Michigan, she was rolling.

This is Clarence our buggy driver and tour guide.

This is some of their work horses. They are bigger horses than what they use to pull the buggies. These horses pull the hay bailers and other farm equipment.

This is in the barn where the cows were getting milked.

This was the guy that drove us. He had a very strong Amish dialect and was hard to understand at times. He is hooking the horse back up. He had let it rest in the barn and eat.

This is the farm we went to.

Today we went to one more lighthouse. Lake Michigan was kicking up pretty good. Looked like an ocean. After that we went toward Northern Central Indiana to the Amish Country. We ate lunch at http://www.essenhaus.com/ Oh boy was is good. Home cooked meals by the Amish. We then went to Shipshewana. It was like a little Gatlinburg. Gift shops and just loved watching the Amish riding in their buggies. We took a buggy to a real Amish working farm. Got to see the husband and wife milking their cows and their daughter getting the milk bottles ready to feed the calves. We didn't get many pics because it came a pretty hard rain shower. I admire those people how they live. No electricity. Although now they do use propane in their house. So they have a way of getting hot water, can cook on a propane stove and heat their house. We are now in Rochester, IN and are headed to more covered bridges tomorrow.

Day 8

Charlevoix Light

Manning Memorial Light

Point Betsie Light

Manistee Light

This is the one we walked to. Big Sable Point Light.

Skip the pic below. Ludington Light

Sorry forgot to flip this one. Turn your head sideways. Ludington Lighthouse

This is the Ferry that goes across Lake Michigan.

Today we left Mackinaw City and drove down Hwy 31. It is a very scenic Rte. We saw Charlevoix Light. Then down to Traverse City. A really neat city with water all around it. Ate lunch there and then we went to Empire. There is a lighthouse there that is a memorial to a local fisherman. He fished everyday and told his family that if there was a light there he could find his way home easier. He died in 1989 and they built the light in 1991. Then we went to Point Betsie Light, Frankfort Light, Manistee Light, Big Sable Light (this light was a little over a 3 mile round trip walk but worth it) then we saw Ludington Light and while there the ferry had just come in which you will see a pic of. It is a 4 hr ferry ride across Lake Michigan one way. There are other lighthouses that we have already seen on our other trip here in the RV so we skipped going back to those. We are now at Whitehall, MI There is a lighthouse here that we will see in the morning then we are headed to Indiana Amish Country.

Day 7

Gun demonstration at Fort Michilimackinac.

Old Mackinac Point Light

organ in light keepers house

Mackinac Bridge

Inside of church. Absolutely beautiful.

St. Anne's Church on the island

Taxi on the island

Round Island Light on Mackinac Island

Today we left Sault Ste. Marie and went to Mackinaw City, just a short drive today. We got some good walking in today. We got to our hotel at 10:00 this morning but couldn't check in yet so we walked to the lighthouse and to Fort Michilimackinac. We toured that and they were doing some demonstrations of shooting the cannons and Muskets. Walked up into the lighthouse and went through the lightkeepers house. Then we went to Mackinac Island. We have been there before, but we were on the adventure tour then and were on our bikes. That time we rode our bikes around the island. This time we just walked through the city. We were in a restaurant and there was some people talking about a wreck (so to speak) A girl crashed her horse buggy! Now go figure. How do you have a wreck with nothing but horses and buggies on the island. So now it is on down the western Michigan coast.

Day 6

This is the mouth of the ferry

Left this morning at 9:00 on the ferry. It took about and hour and 45 minutes to cross. Saw a lighthouse on the way. Me and Buddy played Phase 10 on the way. Then not much to see in that part of Canada, but that was the only way out. It was drizzly and cool all day. Had to wear our sweatshirts. And what a great day for that to happen, cause all we did was drive today. The weather until today has been unbelieveably nice. Nothing but blue skies and in the low 70's. What a welcome from that 100 degree heat. So the only pics for today is of the mouth of the ferry and the lighthouse we saw on the way. We are now at Sault Ste. Marie back in the good ole USA. Tomorrow we go to Mackinac Island. Should have more pics then.

Day 5

We left Niagara Falls and headed on up into Canada. We were going to Toronto but decided not to. (it's just another big city and we would rather see country) So to our suprise we ran into a huge Mennonite area. There was farm after farm. If any of you know anything about them, their wash day is always on Monday. So every house had their laundry hanging out. And they hang it from their top story window. It was really neat to see. Only saw a couple of them out working. After that we were on the coast of Lake Huron and saw Point Clark Light then Kinkinard Light. We ate lunch at a restaurant outside, just behind the Kinkinard Light. Then we went on into Tobermory which is where we stayed the night. We stayed at a hotel right on the harbor and their was the Big Tub Light there. It also is right at the point where we will take the ferry across the Georgian Bay to get to the other side of Canada. www.ontarioferries.com click on the one on the right. Today was our 31st anniversary and what a great place to spend it.

Day 4

Today we left out and went to see 2 lighthouses, the first was 30 Mile Point Light and the 2nd was Old Fort Niagara Light. They were on the USA side, then we went back into Canada and rode up the Niagara Parkway to Niagara-On-The-Lake. We were going to ride the jet boats but it was so crowded we couldn't find anywhere to park, the meter maid was giving tickets left and right for people parking in the grass. Go to www.whirlpooljet.com Looked like it would have been fun. So we left and came back to the hotel and then walked to the falls. Took pics. Then we went to the Skylon Tower. Go to www.skylon.com Sorry I forgot how Kristin showed me how to add a link. Anyway we went to the top of it and took pics. Then went and ate. After that there was a fireworks show at the falls. Now that was spectacular, So that was our day and we are headed on up into Canada tomorrow.

Part 2 of Day 3

We walked down to a restaurant that we had ate at before when we were here 3 years ago and there was a huge ferris wheel that wasn't there before. Not exactly like a ferris wheel at an amusement park. This one was completely enclosed and had heat and air on it. It was dark at the time as you can see (That is why the pics are blurry) but the falls were beautiful. The last time we were here we were in our RV and didn't get to see the falls at nite. Tomorrow nite I will take pics closer up hopefully they will turn out.