Pure Michigan

Mackinaw City,  MI

We are liking Michigan.    Our first few nights in this state were at Loranger Pines Campground in the town of West Branch

This is a small campground about 3 miles out of town and I 75 nestled in rows of Pines.  A simple campground with spacious sites, a picnic table and concrete patio.  No pools, no planned activities, no playground just a laundry and showers.  We used the laundry but prefer our own showers.  It is a Passport America affiliate that is accepted only Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Our 3 days were at a cost of $65.00.

On Thursday we got out and about heading toward Lake Huron and the town of Tawas.  In Tawas we walked around one of their parks which line Saginaw Bay.

We then headed south of Route 23 hugging the bay to the town of Alabaster.  In 1837 gypson was discovered in this area with a quarry built in 1862.  Gypson was used first for fertilizer the plaster and eventually in wallboard.

The plant

A quaint church sitting nearby on shore.

We retraced our route back to Tawas and beyond to the town of Oscoda and picked up the River Road and headed west.  This road follows the Au Sable River. On the river, starting in 1918, six dams were built.  This is the Foote Dam

Further up the road is the Lumberman's Monument paying tribute to those who toiled long hours felling trees in the early part of the 20th century.   This monument was built in 1931 at a cost of $50,000.  There is also a visitors center and a reconstructed lumberman's cabin holding a small museum.

There are 242 steps leading down to the river.

Since there is no escalator or elevator coming back up, we passed on this walk.

This morning we left West Branch and continued up I-75 to Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping.  As we approached the campground we saw the famous Mackinaw bridge that crosses to Upper Michigan with Lake Huron on the east, Lake Michigan to the west.

The campground sits on the shores of Lake Huron.  When we got to the campground there was a line up of rigs getting registered.

The two huge tent sites are occupied by Boy Scouts this weekend.  Check in area had double lines of rigs and there were about 3 in front of us.  However, check in was quick and effortless.  With the Escapees discount our cost is approximately $29.00 a night.  Not bad.

We were given a really large pull through site, the only pull through we have seen.

We can see the lake from our site but it is mostly hidden by a few other campsites between us and the lake.   A very short walk and

Now to plan our next four days here in this beautiful area.  So excited.