Gaylord KOA, MI 6/22/07

Pics: 1) black squirrel; 2) old GM bus; 3) Fort Michilimackinac and the Mackinac Bridge; 4) firing the musket; 5) firing the cannon; 6) Roxanne in the RV on the Mackinac Bridge

6/22/07 – Friday – 69079 – 78 – Gaylord KOA, MI – weather sunny and warm – low +52 - high +81

Saw 2 black squirrels and 1 red squirrel

We left Gaylord this morning and continued to Mackinaw City. As we came into town, and before going over the Mackinac Bridge, we spotted a group of classic cars. We immediately turned into where they were gathered and were able to take pictures of all 63 cars as they drove out onto the highway in their caravan group. Too bad we didn’t get a closer look at some of them, especially the General Motors bus, which was the most unusual and one we hadn’t seen before.

Next we continued to the recreated Fort Michilimackinac, located to the west of the Mackinac Bridge and on Lake Michigan. Being in this location, it was a major fur trading point for this area of the country. This fort was built in 1715 and controlled by the French until they lost it to the British in 1761. The British, in turn, feared losing it to the American rebels, so they dismantled it and moved it to Mackinac Island in 1780. Starting in 1959, archaeologists began excavating whatever remained of the fort and have discovered many artifacts, which are now on display. There are also site interpreters who give walking tours, have children’s games and do re-enactments of the arrival of voyageurs, musket firing and cannon firing.

To finish the day, we drove across the Mackinac Bridge, which straddles the Mackinac Straits and divides Lake Michigan on the west and Lake Huron on the east.