Crossing the Bridge

August 25, 2026

Day 9 of our journey unfortunately dawned cloudy with rain moving in. Terry had wanted to get good photos of us crossing the Mighty Mac, the 5-mile-long suspension bridge that connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The forecast said there would be heavy rain for several hours. The photo opportunity was not looking good.

But we had to get to the other side and continue to our next destination, so we set out anyway. We stopped to get gas, and I wondered why the price was so high, $4.69/gallon, when a little man appeared with his step ladder. He proceeded to clean our huge windshield for us with his little scrubbie sponge and paper towels! I can’t remember the last time a gas station provided that service.

As we paid the $4 toll and headed onto the bridge, the sun came out! And the pictures didn’t turn out so bad after all.

We stopped for a late breakfast at the Beary Patch near Engadine. I had the veggie skillet (it even had broccoli!) with homemade bread. It was so tasty!

And the drive along Lake Michigan in the Upper Peninsula was absolutely stunning!

We stopped several times along the way to walk the shoreline including at Lakeview Park in Manistique where the beach was sandy with large rocks, with the East Breakwater Lighthouse in the distance. Even the McDonalds in Manistique had a lake view!

We stopped again at the Menominee North Pier Lighthouse. Terry got some great photos!

Before we knew it, we were at our Harvest Host spot for the night at Ahnapee Brewery in Suamico, just north of Green Bay. We grabbed dinner at the 888 Cheese & Co next door and Terry got some beer and we settled in for a rest.

The next day we spent some time in one of our favorite places. . . stay tuned!