A Great Lakes Gala by Frank Shortt
A Great Lakes Gala By Frank Shortt
When one thinks ‘Great Lakes’ it often begins with thinking that they are ‘just freshwater ponds’ in the upper Midwest. This is not so. The Great Lakes do indeed consist of freshwater, but they could also be called seas. In fact, they are referred to as Inland Seas. There is much to see and experience on these vast, inland waterways.
My wife, Sharon, and I had already encountered Ontario and Erie on a previous trip to Niagara Falls to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. In fact, this was our first honeymoon as we did not have the honor of taking a honeymoon when we were first married. I was a lowly Airman in the U.S. Air Force then and could not afford to go anywhere except to our one bedroom apartment in Sacramento at 18th and N. streets.
When opportunity arose to see the other three Great Lakes, it was near our 51st wedding anniversary, so we decided to ‘take the plunge’, as it were. The tour was entitled, ‘Great Lake Shores’ and would begin in Milwaukee, eventually taking us to upper Wisconsin and Michigan and on to lower Lake Michigan, to lastly end up back in Milwaukee.
Sharon and I arrived on Saturday, September 6, 2014 spending the night at Crowne Plaza Hotel in beautiful Milwaukee. Sunday morning, having to wait until evening to hook up with the tour, we decided to attend the baseball game between the Brewers and the Cardinals. Sad to say, the Cardinals tromped the Brewers in their own field. Locals commented that maybe the Cardinals had a point to prove when they were 9-1 and showed no signs of mercy. Sunday evening we met all the fellow travelers and decided that the trip would be one of remembrance.
A three day old Holstein One of many John Deeres After a great tour
Our first day of travel took us to a dairy farm, of all things in Wisconsin, which turned out to be great because of the antique tractor collection as well as a miniature tractor collection, par excellence! Later we went to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, in Manitowoc, for a wonderful display of the shipbuilding and submarine exhibit which took place in that region then on to Lambeau Field home of the Green Bay Packers. We were allowed to run the tunnel that the Packers use to enter the playing field each home game.
Unfortunately, Sharon and I were excluded from the second day’s activities. Sharon had eaten crab salad the night before and had become extremely ill, probably from tainted crab meat. As Sharon did not feel like going anywhere that day, I spent the morning shopping for some things that had been ruined from the illness. The hotel manager was kind enough to take me to Walmart and to even pay for the purchases as she felt that our day had been ruined because of the tainted, or not, crab meat.
Wednesday! Off to the North Woods of Laura Ingalls Wilder and James Oliver Curwood for a tour of the lumber camps in Sturgeon Bay and Manistique. Michigan owes most of her fame and fortune to the lumber industry. While visiting the Kitch-iti-kipi (Big Springs) we began our descent to where over 10,000 gallons of water rush each minute from fissures in the limestone bottom. Unfortunately, as I began the descent on the boardwalk, my feet flew out from under me and I ended up flat of my backside. Thanks to God, I did not hit my head, which would probably not have bothered me too much because of its sandstone qualities, nonetheless, I fell and my clothes were soaked. Our only alternative was to spend the time in the gift shop. Could this have been a conspiracy to get us as their first customers? Miraculously, thank God again, after taking a hot shower that afternoon, I felt no soreness whatever. I am sure that my walking each morning contributes to the fact that I was able to escape greater harm.
Frank and Sharon feed the bears
Dean and Jewel Oswald have a unique job. They rescue bear cubs that have been orphaned or otherwise left alone. This was an opportunity to see bears close at hand and to witness the Oswald’s working with these beautiful wonders of nature. Their ‘bear ranch’ is in Manistique, Michigan. Further north is the wonder of nature called Tahquamenon Falls, second in size to Niagara Falls. At the Great Lakes shipwreck museum we learned the story of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald as well as other disasters along the mighty Lake Superior.
Tahquamenon Falls Lighthouse on Lake Superior
The ‘Mighty Mac’ is a five mile extension bridge to the Lower Peninsula of Upper Michigan. One side is Lake Huron and the other side is Lake Superior. Mackinac Island lies across from Mackinac City, a short, high-speed ferry ride away. Mackinac, or Mackinaw Island is home to the magnificent Grand Hotel where we enjoyed a luxurious lunch and tour of the island by horse-drawn carriage, the only transportation.
The ‘Mighty Mac’ Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island
Charlevoix, Michigan is home to the famous Earl Young Architecture. These homes remind one of the ‘Hobbit Homes’ of Lord of the Rings renown. Earl Young designed these homes to look like mushrooms. Concrete on the chimneys appears to melt down the sides much like ice cream cones. A stop in Manistee, Michigan takes us to the First Congregational Church where resides Stained Glass Windows designed by famous jewelry maker, Louis Comfort Tiffany. These are a sight to behold.
Stained Glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany Dwarf home by Earl Young
As all good things must come to an end, Sunday, our last day we boarded the SS Badger, a coal stoked steamship used for ferrying, to return to the Wisconsin shore. We spent most of our time inside as the weather was rather nippy on Lake Michigan. Those who wished could play “Badger Bingo”, Trivia games, or shop in the “Boatique”.
Our last stop was at the “Brat capital” Sheboygan. Our lunch consisted of Brats, sauerkraut, German Potato Salad, pretzel bread, and whatever we wanted to drink.
Anyone wishing to have a Great Lakes interlude will not be disappointed if they like cheese, bratwurst, tailgate parties at the baseball park, lots and lots of water, and plenty of wildlife. As they say on the Great Lakes, “Heave Ho”!!