McLain State Park and Home

 We just returned home and I have the wifi connection I need to upload a few final pictures. Spending time in this region would be a good experience for those politicians doubting the need for Internet infrastructure improvements. A good part of the time we had no phone reception. These were taken in the during our stay at McClain State Park (Michigan). Perhaps the nicest park as for as accommodations go, but not the nearby attractions of Door County.

We took advantage of our opportunity to eat fish. I guess that is what you do around the lakes. The fish shown is perch - I ended up not being as big a fan of white fish. I do like smoked fish and we purchased some to bring home. I took the image of a guy stoking the smoking tent. He seemed the perfect image for this work and this region. A few minutes after this picture was taken a pickup loaded with wood used by the smokers was rear ended right in front of us. No brakes so the driver must have been distracted and did not see the truck stopped to turn in. Driver of the pickup hit the steering wheel and was taken away by ambulance,

The Bridge

 It is claimed that the Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world at 8614 feet. In comparison, the Golden Gate is 6450 feet.  The bridge opened to traffic in 1957 replacing ferry traffic between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace (our camping site). The deck is built to move from side to side up to 35 feet in high winds. The bridge has its own website providing bridge conditions, warnings to high-profile vehicles, and live video. https://www.mackinacbridge.org/  The website provides monthly traffic stats and offers an insight into just how much the tourist industry in this region has been affected by the pandemic. 

Michigan's Upper Peninsula

 This peninsula is just across the lake, but very different from Door County. There is less of a touristy feel to the general area, but the State Parks are more crowded. Today we did some shopping and what we purchased was a combination of local cuisine and traditional tourist goodies.

Pasties

We get pasties when we are in this part of the country. If you have not tasted a pastie, it reminds me of a Swanson Chicken Pot Pie, but handmade and more expensive. You pay for the ambience, but Bessie's Pasties are the real deal. Only the chicken was available, but I prefer it to beef anyway. 

Smoked Stuff

We visited a smoked fish store and purchased smoked white fish and lake trout, smoked jerky. and some really great stuff to spread on crackers. 

Fudge

Fudge is the tourist's staple, but it is still a must buy.

Time to sample the fudge and then a nap. 

Green Bay Packers

 We are transitioning from our location in Wisconsin to a location in Michigan. We are in St. Ignace which most probably know as the place you board the ferry for Mackinac Island.  In doing so, we drove around Green Bay and through the city of Green Bay (without any confusion this time). This got me thinking about the Packers. Were they named for the City or for the bay or was it a matter of the city being named for the bay and then the Packers for the city. I searched for the history of the Packers, but did not find an easy answer. The Packers were named for the Indian Packing plant and the appropriate decision was made to name the team the Packers after considering the Indians. 

Go Vikings.

Door County

 Door County, Wisconsin, strikes me as one of those places that decided the big money was in tourism. The original revenue sources - probably lumber, fishing, and maybe specialized agriculture - became the base for coffee shops, lots of camping areas, boat tours, fancy dining facilities and guest accommodations, some golf, fudge shops, and wineries. The limitations of the land translates as scenic beauty and the lack of industry allowed the other original sources of income to become tourist attractions.

Door County seems to encourage the development of cherry orchards and wineries often on the same farms. I did not inquire regarding this combination, but diversification is good. I tend to think of the type of cherry being harvested while we are here as the main ingredient for cherry pies (with ice cream if possible). Too tart of the tree. I did really like the cherry donuts and the cherry salsa with chips. I am not a wine snob so whatever tastes good to me I will drink. We sampled the summer wines and purchased a couple of bottles. I make the effort to explore good coffees, but while I have had great wines in great locations (e.g., South Africa) I have just not made the same effort to evaluate what I am drinking. 

One more thing. Tourist destinations are just that because they attract lots of people. This seems to be the way things are everywhere this year.