Image 1 of 116
Even after all this traveling, there's still something special about crossing a state line . . .
Image 2 of 116
That's really the color of the water in the St Clair River at St Clair MI . . .
Image 3 of 116
St Clair claims the longest fresh water boardwalk in the country, and it's done right
Image 4 of 116
Saw this hydroplane boat in the parking lot at a local Best Buy store - must be a big sport hereabouts . . .
Image 5 of 116
Now we're in Muskegon MI, and that's John Johnson, Grillmaster Supreme
Image 6 of 116
Brother Dave and wife Debbie on either side of their daughter Beth . . .
Image 7 of 116
Brother John arriving . . .
Image 8 of 116
Dave, Debbie's service dog Jade and snoozing future son-in-law Mike
Image 9 of 116
Seems like there are always kids in the pool at Sister Vicki's house
Image 10 of 116
There Vicki and her oldest, Mike.
Image 11 of 116
That's niece-in-law Sara checking out a flower
Image 12 of 116
Marcia, Sister Sue and Vicki
Image 13 of 116
All the sibs in the same place for a change
Image 14 of 116
All the sibs and all the spouses -
Image 15 of 116
Sue and her big brother
Image 16 of 116
Mike's awake! Beth looks pleased
Image 17 of 116
Brother John and Marcia . . .
Image 18 of 116
Spiffy hat!
Image 19 of 116
Most of the sibs plus Debbie. John got away before the picture . . .
Image 20 of 116
Vicki & John's "cottage" on a lake in the country . . .
Image 21 of 116
John is again the grillmaster - and again supreme
Image 22 of 116
Just a passing "Awwwww" moment . . .
Image 23 of 116
We're told it's more strenuous than it looks . . .
Image 24 of 116
In Newago MI, a house that looked hard to get into . . .
Image 25 of 116
Now at Meijer Gardens. The Chihuly glasswork is named "Citron Green and Red Tower" - even though it's yellow
Image 26 of 116
Wouldn't that make a great jigsaw puzzle?
Image 27 of 116
We're told the Chihuly crew planned their installation before any of the flowers started growing
Image 28 of 116
There were several hundred glass "reeds" on this hillside
Image 29 of 116
Floats on the waterfall.
Image 30 of 116
Just an amazing display . .
Image 31 of 116
Not glass, but still a very nice sculpture - all figures made up of letters of the alphabet
Image 32 of 116
It is a garden, after all . . . gotta have flowers . . .
Image 33 of 116
Some of these are similar to the ones we saw in Phoenix 18 months ago . .
Image 34 of 116
The glass works were well integrated into the gardens . .
Image 35 of 116
It's called the Rose Crystal Tower. It's actually made of plastic, not glass . . .
Image 36 of 116
Marvelous glass on the cafeteria ceiling as well . . .
Image 37 of 116
Wonderful . . .
Image 38 of 116
Inside the conservatories, neon "Tumbleweeds" hang from the rafters
Image 39 of 116
We're told the display is more spectacular at night . . .
Image 40 of 116
Glass tiger lillies . . .
Image 41 of 116
It's so organic . . .
Image 42 of 116
And, of course, the real blooms are great . . .
Image 43 of 116
A Crystal Heron
Image 44 of 116
Looks like a balloon artist gone berserk
Image 45 of 116
Glass baskets in the tropical conservatory
Image 46 of 116
A spectacular fan palm
Image 47 of 116
Tough to get a picture of this Polyvitro Chandelier.
Image 48 of 116
Gorgeous Orchid
Image 49 of 116
More gorgeous orchids
Image 50 of 116
Looks like it ought to be trapping bugs . . .
Image 51 of 116
Alien flower . . .
Image 52 of 116
Glass blooms that look completely natural.
Image 53 of 116
A walk-through sculpture fountain in the new Volunteer Recognition Plaza
Image 54 of 116
We almost didn't find this installation, deep in the Children's Garden . . .
Image 55 of 116
A goldfinch! Cool . . .
Image 56 of 116
This joyful statue epitomizes the feeling of Meijer Gardens
Image 57 of 116
Even without the Chihuly, this is a spectacular place . . .
Image 58 of 116
But with the glass, it's even more wonderful
Image 59 of 116
We found this wonderful work behind the amphitheatre . . .
Image 60 of 116
They say there are only a few groundskeepers trusted to mow that lawn . . .
Image 61 of 116
It's called "Summer Sun" . .
Image 62 of 116
We like this one - "Listen to History". But if you never open the book, what do you learn?
Image 63 of 116
We saw the Saffron Tower in Phoenix, but not that enormous trowel . . .
Image 64 of 116
That's "Julla". We like Julla . . .
Image 65 of 116
Another polyvitro work - the Lime Crystal Tower
Image 66 of 116
'Blue Moon" - no matter how you shoot it, it looks out of focus
Image 67 of 116
The floats on the lake move about with the breeze . . .
Image 68 of 116
Sex in the gardens . . .
Image 69 of 116
Our RV Park at Mackinaw City was on the shores of Lake Huron
Image 70 of 116
And there it is looking in from the water
Image 71 of 116
The totem pole at the entrance helps us find our way home . . .
Image 72 of 116
The Mackinac Island Ferries with the spectacular wakes weren't any faster than the one we rode
Image 73 of 116
One of the lighthouses guarding the harbor at Mackinac Island
Image 74 of 116
The Island is truly a summer resort - in the winter everything freezes
Image 75 of 116
Only emergency vehicles are gasoline powered - everybody else uses bicycles, horsepower or shank's mare
Image 76 of 116
We absolutely cannot resist a butterfly garden - or cute turtles
Image 77 of 116
Butterflies are some of nature's most beautiful bugs
Image 78 of 116
We suppose the colors and patterns are meaningful to other butterflies
Image 79 of 116
This garden had some nice furnishings and flowers
Image 80 of 116
Rumor has it that the cemetery was relocated from prime waterfront property, but many bodies didn't get moved
Image 81 of 116
A natural bridge is always fun . . .the road below is a favorite bicycle route
Image 82 of 116
Our carriage awaits!
Image 83 of 116
Walking downhill is our way to walk
Image 84 of 116
The old Fort Mackinac is open for tours
Image 85 of 116
Sign says it's an old bark church. Doesn't say how old
Image 86 of 116
Lots of bike racks. Lots of equine-sized pooper scoopers too
Image 87 of 116
Our choice for lunch. Good food, great fudge
Image 88 of 116
For a relaxing place, it's surprisingly busy
Image 89 of 116
The hotels and most buildings are around 75-100 years old.
Image 90 of 116
Many of the hotels are quite spectacular
Image 91 of 116
This one was particularly picturesque
Image 92 of 116
Of course, none hold a candle to the magnificent Grand Hotel.
Image 93 of 116
Lots of nice flowers
Image 94 of 116
The folks unloading the lumber don't even notice the paragliders
Image 95 of 116
We took a boat tour of the Soo Locks at Sault Ste Marie
Image 96 of 116
They had a couple of tall ships doing summer duty
Image 97 of 116
They don't build hydroelectric generating stations like this anymore . . .
Image 98 of 116
More folks boarding the boat . . .
Image 99 of 116
The tug basin on the US side of the river
Image 100 of 116
Approaching the American locks from the Lake Huron side . . .
Image 101 of 116
The locks have a 21ft lift. That's a railroad bridge behind . . .
Image 102 of 116
Lots of ships have scraped those beams
Image 103 of 116
We're almost up to the new level . . .
Image 104 of 116
And with the lock filled, the gates open, and we move out . . .
Image 105 of 116
On the Canadian side, a modern steel mill uses raw materials from around Lake Superior
Image 106 of 116
We liked the "swizzle stick" smokestacks . . .
Image 107 of 116
Finished steel rolls loaded on barges
Image 108 of 116
Now we head back into the lock to drop 21ft . . .
Image 109 of 116
But first, we wait for traffic - a police boat and another tour boat
Image 110 of 116
We dodge the Polish freighter Orla as we head downstream
Image 111 of 116
That's the tall ship "Bounty", built for the movie "Mutiny on the Bounty"
Image 112 of 116
What's left of the rapids the locks were built to bypass . . .
Image 113 of 116
The Millenium Fountain was turned on by Queen Elizabeth in 2000
Image 114 of 116
It has nothing to do with any president . .
Image 115 of 116
And our tour is over . . . back at the docks
Image 116 of 116
We'll end on this shop of Mighty Mac as we cross back to the Lower Peninsula