Kline Road Trips

We woke up to much calmer waters so we’re able to go our our tour this morning before we left town. It was so great!

We packed up the camper and all our stuff and got to the boat launch about 15 minutes before it left. Most people were already waiting in line so we were left with inside seats. We were definitely ok with that after braving the rain and choppy waters in the ferry from Mackinac Island! And it did start raining lightly as soon as we left the dock.

We had a great view from our seats and I took a million pictures. The minerals are what makes the different colors as water filters through the rocks. The water is cool aqua color too. Kayakers are getting very close to the cliffs, which is on my bucket list (though I am so glad we were warm and dry on this cold, rainy morning).

We saw the iconic Pictured Rocks arch, the Miner’s Castle, from the water today. It’s impressive either by land or water! We also went past the painted coves and rocks where iron, copper, and lime leaked out of the rock and oxidized to make all the colors. Rainbow Cave is named because it rains inside the cave, but we couldn’t tell because it was raining outside the cave at the moment. Battleship Rocks is where a bunch of outcroppings look like battle ships lined up in a row. Another outcropping is called Flower Vase, as it looks like a vase.

The waters were calm enough for the captain to take us into Chapel Cove. Jeff was very impressed at the driving skills it took to squeeze into this tight spot with just inches to spare on each side. We also saw Chapel Rock, with just one tree living on the outcropping, it’s roots reaching out over open water to the mainland. An arch had fallen years ago, but yet the tree lives on.

Lastly, we saw Spray Falls, a 70 foot waterfall that is too remote to see over land. Beautiful!

On the way back to the dock, the captain spotlighted the East Channel Lighthouse, built to help ships get safely to Munising Bay.

We didn’t make it to Grand Island this time, but we will make sure to do so on the next trip. Sounds like it is a must see with lots of hiking and kayaking opportunities.

It’s was about a 2 hour tour so the rest of the day, we made our way to Houghton where we got a hotel and slept in real beds and took nice long showers. We did make a couple stops along the way to see the ore docks in Marquette. It was raining so Jeff just jumped out to snap a couple pictures and then we were on our way. The ore docks are very impressive and I can imagine how busy they were back in the mining days.

We sat nice and cozy on the inside while the early birds got rained on!

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Munising- Miner’s Castle and Miner’s Castle Beach hike

August 11, 2023August 11, 2023 Amy Kline

We woke up to high winds and kind of chilly weather. The beach at our campground was deserted so I found some cool rocks, then came back to the campsite to look them up. Our original plan was to take a boat cruise to see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from the water. We were kind of relieved when the company canceled and we were able to reschedule for the following morning.

So plan B for the day was to go on a hike. We went to the Miner’s Castle lookout and then hiked about a mile to Miner’s Castle Beach. The water near shore was a beautiful aqua blue which is due to how shallow it is and the clear, unpolluted water.

The hike was definitely a moderate level, lots of stepping over tree roots and rocks. The views were fantastic, both in the woodsy area and out on the sandy beach. Huge waves that were pretty loud, but great for taking pictures.

Once we hiked back to the car, uphill and climbing over tree roots most of the way, we were famished and decided to get fish and chips for dinner from a food truck on the way back to the campground. It was freshly caught and delicious! Early to bed since it was chilly and we didn’t feel like having a fire.

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Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and Tahquamenon Falls

August 10, 2023 Amy Kline

Highlights for today were the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and Tahquamenon Falls. Jeff’s must see stop on our roadtrip was the museum and it did not disappoint. We listened to “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” on the way to give the boys some context. The museum was a lot more than I thought it would be. One main museum-y building with displays and info on some of the main shipwrecks around there. It is known as the Graveyard of the Great Lakes because so many ships sunk around there. Bad storms that come up quickly, busy shipping lanes, and underwater shoals caused a lot of the sinkings.

Other buildings there focused on the lighthouse keepers and their families. The Whitefish Point Light Station was the first lighthouse on the Great Lakes and was so important to saving lives. The building attached to the light station set up in different time periods as if the families were living there. There were 2 light keepers and their families so the house is kind of a duplex with a connected hallway to get to the light station. It sounds like a monotonous and very isolating job.

There was also a very interesting building that housed a life rescue boat. I never knew that there were self bailing boats. Cool! The men who worked the shipwrecks sailed out in some of the worst weather-cold, gale force winds- in order to save people.

Once we finished the museum, we went to Tahquamenon Falls. First we stopped at the Lower Falls. They have a paved path to follow that takes you to great viewing spots of the falls which is split in half by an island. Lots of people were there swimming and climbing around on the rocks. Then we went on to the Upper Falls a few miles down the road. That It was much easier to get a photo without people at this area. The falls has a 50 foot drop and is 200 feet across. The water is a brownish color because of of the tannins in the swampy areas near the source of the river, caused by the trees. All natural, not polluted. Hurray!

Another 1.5 hours in the truck and we got to our campground in Musining. Normally we camp in state parks but this is owned by the town. Lots of highway noise and we are on the driveway to go in and out, but the site is level and gives a good view of the sky and water.