When Noel and I were at the University of North Dakota in the early 1990’s we had season tickets to the entertainment at the Chester Fritz Auditorium on the UND campus.
We saw a lot of different musicians, entertainers and touring broadway shows. I remember seeing “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and a concert by Itsak Perlman during our 4 years in Grand Forks.
One of the most memorable concerts we saw was with Gordon Lightfoot. He strode out to the stage with his guitar and started playing songs. There was little to no commentary between songs – he simply performed for a couple of hours.
One of his memorable – and best known songs – is the Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald.
Today, we had the opportunity to tour the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in northern Michigan.
We learned about the U.S. Lighthouse Service – later part of the U.S. Coast Guard – and the Life Saving crews that worked to rescue survivors from the many ship wrecks on the Great Lakes over the past couple of centuries.
One of the museum centerpieces is the bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald – which was recovered several decades ago from the wreckage by Canadian divers and museum personnel.
We saw a short film about the Edmund Fitzgerald. It discussed their final voyage. The loss of life. The discovery of the wreck. The hoisting of the bell and commemoration of the lives lost of the ship and crew during a fierce winter storm. All with the melodic voice of Gordon Lightfoot singing the “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” in the background.
It once again brought us around the “full circle” with fond memories from the concert we attended 30+ years ago.
After spending several hours at the museum, we had a quick lunch in the camper and drove south to Tahquamenon Falls State Park – to see the infamous Upper and Lower Falls.
After about a 45 minute drive – we pulled into the Upper Falls Parking area and did a short 15 minute hike to the overlook of the Falls.
We were not disappointed.
It turns out – they also have one of the only breweries in a State Park in the nation – so I had to try it and see what I thought.
I had the Cherry Wheat Ale. It was fine – not great – but then again – you could drink your beer and walk to the Upper Falls.
After an hour or so at the Upper Falls – it was time to head to below the “bridge” to where the Trolls live. (Note – Michigan lingo – “Yoopers” live above the bridge connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan; “Trolls” live below the bridge).
The bridge of course is the Mackinac Bridge – one of the largest suspension bridges in the world.
As we approached – Noel was adamant that she was not going to drive across it.
Many years ago a car was blown off the bridge due to high cross winds. (At least local lore was that this happened). Not sure if it is true – but the cross winds driving across the bridge can be fierce at times.
Kirk got the opportunity to drive across the bridge. The white knuckle experience will be repeated in a week – but we safely arrived at our campsite in Mackinac City to get ready for the arrival of our son and daughter-in-law in their camper van.
Next up – Traverse City!
Kirk’s Travelogue 