We See A Light!

From Dearborn, we spent the next few days driving north along "the thumb" of Michigan. Highways 25, 13, and 23, were pleasant along Lake Huron. We must admit our disappointment when we discovered we could not see the many lighthouses along the coast due to private development. But we were excited to see that Michigan residents loved and utilized their state parks, though!


Some facts about the one lighthouse we did see...

Point Aux Barques Light

• Original lighthouse was built in 1847
• Catherine Shook was Michigan's first female light keeper, a job assumed after her husband drowned in 1849.
• Current lighthouse was built in 1857, an 89-foot tower with attached home.
• Assistant keeper's house built in 1908
• Fully automated in 1934, still an active aid to navigation.
• Last keeper retired in 1939
• 103 steps to the top
• 3rd order Fresnel lens (removed in 1958)

Unfortunately, the tower was closed when we arrived, but we were able to utilize this 2-seater outhouse. Fun!


Some cool facts we learned about the Great Lakes:

• The Great Lakes hold 18% of all the world's fresh water, with Lake Superior holding more than half.
• The Great Lakes contain 6 quadrillion gallons of fresh water.
• This would make up 5,439 cubic miles of water.
• Less than 1% of this water is renewable each year.
• If all the water was drained from the lakes, every acre within the U.S. boarder would be covered with 9.5 feet of water.
• The Great Lakes' ecosystem is 750 miles from end to end.
• Lake Michigan is the second largest lake by volume, but third in surface area.
• Lake Huron is the second largest lake by surface area, but the third largest by volume. This lake is considered the most dangerous in storms because of its short wave fetch.
• Lake Erie is shallowest and smallest by volume; average depth is 62 feet and is the most polluted.
• Lake Ontario is the smallest by surface area, but its deep - a maximum depth of 802 feet - it is deeper than Lake Huron.

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Now we aren't finished traveling through Michigan just yet, but we have already come up with a poem...

Oh Michigan...

Over 100 Lighthouses we just couldn't see
and all of your state parks filled with RVs
Your lakeside cottages with clever names
like the Sail Inn, Sea other Side, and Seas the Day

The streets are filled with snowmobile speed limit signs
And the *Fifth Third Bank named in Prohibition times
Your Friday's are dedicated to Yard Sales
And your convenient stores called "Party Centers" tell some tales

ATV's fill the streets
And you have to ask in a restaurant for a non-smoking seat
The beautiful summer weather is quite a treat
But oddly, there are cemeteries on every street

You drink a lot, which makes for a laid back state
And Your lakes are not just good - their great.


*The Fifth National Bank and the Third National Bank merged in 1908. Since it was during Prohibition, they thought Fifth Third was better than Third Fifth - like 1/5 of alcohol.


Some other quirky things we saw:

• A business named The Fender Bender Mender

And two businesses had the following on their signs:

• Without Geometry, life is pointless.
• Stressed spelled backwards is dessert!