June 1 Driving to St. Ignace, Mich.

As we pulled out of the campground, a doe and her tiny fawn were standing in the woods, watching us.  They didn't move, thankfully.  They were the first deer we'd seen in this area and then saw our secnd wild turkey around the bend.  Drove through town and there were a dozen motorcyclists with flags going through.  It was nice to see so many flags for our 6 hour drive today.  It took longer than we had anticipated, and was the longest driving day yet, because the little towns are so close together and hiway speed limit is 55.  Soon we were in Wisc. for only about 10 miles, then back into Mich.  Saw a bright royal blue barn that was big and in good repair.  Even "rural" homes here have recycling bins out on the highway.
Norway, Mich.-huge Victorian home is a quilt shop.  Went through a stretch of miles with lots of barns and one big one had Miller High Life painted on the end, though it is faded.  Then saw Ev's Country Kitchen, Bessie's Pasties, and Krause's hardware!  There are interesting lights at rural intersections in several areas.  A wire hangs out over the highway and has a metal frame with a bulb in it.
Escanaba-1st view of Lake Michigan and back on eastern time (some of Mich is and some is central). The lake starts at St. Ignace and goes all the way to Chicago.  We drove through a town called Rapid River which had the Rapid River knife works - maybe knife lovers know that name.  Then the highway cuts through the Hiawatha Natl. Forest.  Dog sled rides are offered at one place and a ways back we saw signs for sleigh and covered wagon rides.  We lost sight of the lake again, but can still feel the wind on the camper.  Soon we stopped for lunch next to the lake, but it was so windy we ate inside.  Lots of new homes being built lakeside.
A town has a lot of moose statues.  The one in front of the Big Boy restaurant is painted with white shirt and red and white checkered pants like Big Boy.  One has a tuxedo on and a cow one has a pink blanket.  We have passed so many pastie shops today.  This lake must be warmer than Lake Superior because we've seen a lot of cars pulled off the highway and people wading in it.
St. Ignace ("nus") - some strange pronunciations here
Drove past several tourist spots, including the "Mystery spot", which is still a mystery to us.  Now we saw a moose with a flag painted on it.  Got set up at the campground and drove a couple of miles to castle rock which we saw on the way into town.  It is 200' above Lake Huron.  A strait divides Lake Huron and Lake Michigan here.  Mackinac Island is in Lake Huron.  We walked up 169 high and deep steps to the top, where we could see miles of pine or spruce type trees.  More than we've seen anywhere in Mich.
Bumper sticker:  there's room for all of God's creatures -- right next to the mashed potatoes.
Sweatshirt:  A man needs a woman who makes lots of money, can skin his deer and cook.  And a woman who can clean his fish and dig his bait.  Just don't let them meet.
Blocks and blocks of motels and many list $39 a night right now and some say people over 50 can stay a second night free.  This is one of 2 places where people stay and then take one of the 3 ferry and boat lines to Mackinac Island.  That is where we go tomorrow and is one of the highlights of the trip that we have been anxious to do.  Whether Mackinac is spelled ending with a c or w, as in Mackinaw City, it is pronounced Mackinaw.  If you say Mackinack, the locals know you are a fudgie- a tourist.  There are countless fudge stores and it averages $16.95 per pound.  They want you to buy 1/2 or a whole pound, not small pieces.
We looked at pics at a real estate office and they don't seem unreasonable.  Of course lakeside are more expensive.  But one pic showed a 3 bdrm home, 10 unit motel and 9 cabins - looked decent-for $299,900.  Who knows about location.
Books-finished my 9th one tonight, though I seldom read in the car since it is all new territory.  We can't believe we've been gone a month.