Going UP, eh?

Kerry noticed the cruise control was not working on the Wing, so before departing Frankenmuth, we needed to find some WD-40, hoping that would do the trick.  We tried the drug store next to the hotel, and it was like walking into 1965 (except for the prices). The pharmacy was tucked in the back, and the snack bar/ counter service restaurant was up front with several of the locals enjoying a visit with their morning coffee.  The one item this store lacked was the WD-40, so we walked two blocks down to the hardware store.  Again, a tiny downtown store with EVERYTHING crammed floor to ceiling.  Not only did they have the WD-40, but in three different sizes.  We were set.  Kerry still wanted to stop into the meat store and pick up some sausages to cook on the grill and we also picked up a large bottle of german dark beer to go with the sausages.  This shop had every kind of sausage you could imagine, most fresh with everything in cases so that you had to ask the girl behind the counter for your selection.

     Finally we were ready to leave Frankenmuth behind.  We wanted to stay away from interstates as much as possible, so we headed north and picked up  route 23 for a bit, then rt. 65 North.  This road made a beeline north through mile after mile of Michigan farmland,  followed by mile after mile of pine forests, eventually meeting up with rt. 23 again along the northern coast.  We turned onto 23 west, and within a mile it suddenly became quite cold.  The temperature had dropped from 80 degrees down to 62 degrees!  Not long after that Lake Huron opened up before us with its brilliant blue sparkling water.

     Two hours later we arrived in Mackinac City, (pronounced 'mack-in-aw') and decided to stop for a bit at the pier, walk around, and take some pictures.  We parked the bike and noticed no one was around.   We took off our helmets and jackets.  I took a picture and we started walking, only to be swarmed by thousands of insects that looked like large mosquitoes.  We hurried back to the bike to find it covered with these bugs, including our gear.  They started covering our bodies as fast as we could swat them away.  I think I swallowed a few.  We quickly shook out the jackets and put them on, as well as helmets and took off as fast as possible!  UGH!  Now I know why that parking lot was empty.

Bugs swarming on the side of the bathroom wall

Getting stuck behind a truck on the Mackinac Bridge

     We fueled up (3.99/gallon) and headed for the Mackinac Bridge that connects southern Michigan with the Upper Peninsula.  All was wonderful until the right lane closed and we got stuck behind a very slow-moving lumber truck.  We were only going 23 mph when the bridge surface changed from asphalt to metal grating.  Fortunately Kerry has superb biking skills, but it was a real white-knuckle experience for him!  The metal grating kept torquing the handle bars back and forth, plus we were going very slowly, which makes it worse.  The winds up top are gusty, too!  Kerry didn't enjoy this much, but I was able to enjoy the view and take pictures.  Glad it was him in the driver's seat!

Negotiating the Mackinac Bridge

metal grating on the bridge.

We made it across the bridge and finally linked up with Rt. 2, which will be our highway for the next six states.  We headed west on Rt 2 with more beautiful views, now of  Lake Michigan.

Two hours later we arrived at the Gray Wolf Lodge in Manistique, MI, and had dinner at the Three Seasons Cafe next door.  I had a beef  'Pasty' a regional specialty which is a baked pastry with beef, carrots, and potatoes on the inside.  Kerry had broasted chicken.  Everything was good and very filling.  339 scenic miles for the day; its time for that german dark beer.

Beef Pasty