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For those of us who moved away after graduation, getting around
Michigan (in August) is a treat - look at some of the sights ...
Our favorite - great blue heron -- standing at water’s
edge beside the Mackinac Bridge public viewing area
Striations and clouds and shadows give a unique effect
Park sign giving us a historical perspective -- this park is
about 20 miles west of Saint Ignace
A peaceful view .... the same park, looking south-south-west onto Lake Michigan; the intent was to drive
40 miles west to the Manistique Lakes to look for loons
Looking east from Sleeping Bear Seashore -- those are the Glen Lakes
Looking west from Sleeping Bear Dune Seashore at South Manitou -- a view that is hard to match
Instead of Michigan up north, the high speed ferry from Muskegon,
then up to Green Bay; the slow ferry from Manitowoc (July 2010)
Lake Express arriving Muskegon; note the bow doors will swing open allowing the passengers to drive off; the stern is open; this high speed catamaran was built at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, AL
Lake Express docks bow-in in Muskegon; this service has the owner drive car onboard - with directions from the crew of course; at the Milwaukee terminal Lake Express reverses into the quay
S.S. Badger arriving Manitowoc - coal-fired-steam-engine -- this unique 50-year old car ferry was one of a dozen operating on Lake Michigan by the C&O Railroad primarily for carrying rail-cars
In 1992 ASME awarded the vessel a Landmark - Google “asme badger”
Stern gate open and reversing into the slip; there is only a stern door; cars and campers are driven onboard by company staff, around the center casing, then are parked ready for unloading; the cabana (aft upper deck)
was added in 1992 -- in earlier years the upper deck aft was for cars
Badger underway -- the sat-nav dome is covered with coal soot
Looking at the dunes north of Ludington
Now out of service, the Spartan at the quay in Ludington, Michigan - the ramp leading from the left was for loading
the cars when there were carried on the aft upper deck; today, this ramp is used to load provisions aboard for the cafeteria and ship supplies
Loading bridge - since stern loading only, the Badger will reverse into the quay; the old ramp for cars is seen in the upper left
Sorry ... but, could not keep from closing the “picture show”, looking west into the setting sun ..
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