U.P.

After Niagra falls we made the mistake of trying to take a shortcut across Ontario, and spent most of that evening in Homeland Security Hell. We shook it off, however, and made our way to Michigan's upper peninsula, over the magnificent Mackinac Island Bridge, and arriving late that afternoon. We stayed in the charming town of St. Ignatius, self-described as a drinking town with a fishing problem. As we wended our way across the beautiful U.P. we learned about pasties; little meat and vegetable pies popularized by the Welsh miners who were hearty enough to populate this area, and marveled at the fact that this was a fresh water shoreline. The great lakes are fuckin' HUGE.

My only previous experience with one of the great lakes was in Cleveland, not the country's most attractive great lakes shore. The Northern Shores of Lakes Michigan and Huron, along Mackinac Island, are quite beautiful, and fairly deserted. Looking out onto the lake water, it seemed like looking out over the ocean. I guess that's why they call 'em the great lakes.