Michigan...Kalamazoo to Cheboygan

We left Joliet on Wednesday morning, heading east on Hwy 30.  We have tried to stay off the major interstate highways, thinking it will let us see more of what we came to see…America.  This route took us through south Chicago, and northern Indiana. These areas used to be more vibrant than they are now. At least we hope so. It was kind of depressing.

We turned north through South Bend, Indiana. It is a pretty river town, and home to Notre Dame University.  We drove through the campus, which is urban, and “contained’, but really very pretty.

Notre Dame...Motto: Life, Sweetness, Hope (go figure)

Following Hwy 31 north, we stopped in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where we spent our 3^rd wedding anniversary. (As Jack joked, maybe next year we can spend it in Tustin)  We stayed at a county park campground, and were surprised at how beautiful it was (except for the requisite train tracks). It had a lovely swimming beach, hiking trails and fishing pond.

Marken Glen County Park, Kalamazoo, MI

The fishing and swimming lake

Kalamazoo neighbors Battle Creek, Michigan, home to Kellogg’s corn flakes.

Educational factoid of the day: The Kellogg’s were Adventists, and had 9 children. John went to medical school, funded by the church, and returned to Battle Creek to direct the Adventist health center there. He promoted the “radical” ideas of good nutrition, fresh air, exercise and hydrotherapy. People from all over the world came to his “sanitarium” for treatment. He built a HUGE medical facility in Battle Creek, which is still there, but is now a government building.

Dr. John was concerned that people with bad teeth could not eat whole grains, so he invented CORN FLAKES.  His younger brother, William, ran with this idea and the Kellogg’s breakfast cereal company was launched.

The Kellogg cereal factory is not open for public tours, but the Kellogg Discovery Center, and the  Adventist Historical Village is. We got a great tour, through the center from a nice man named John. Dr. John invented a large number of contraptions meant to enhance circulation, joint movement, and bowel regularity.  Brother William went on to make a fortune in breakfast cereals.

Dr John Harvey Kellogg, brother to the corn flakes king, William Kellogg

Another noteworthy thing about our Kalamazoo/Battle Creek stopover is that we got to witness a thunder/lightening storm, torrential downpour and flash flood…luckily all from the comfort of Nina’s Mexican Cantina.  Wow!! Weather!!

Now we are in Cheboygan, Michigan…right up at the “tip of the mitten”. And it is beautiful!!! Our campground is along the Cheboygan River, which runs into (maybe out of) Lake Huron. The water is clear, and shining, and there are a bunch of people out today enjoying their pontoon boats.

We took the ferry out to Mackinac Island (pronounced Mackinaw), which is home to a lovely harbor village and Fort Mackinac. The Fort was established by the British during the American Revolution to protect the British assets from the Americans. It’s been British, and French, then American, British again and right now it’s OURS.  It’s beautifully preserved and quite picturesque. 

Not our ferry, but it's close relative

The Mackinaw Bridge

View from Fort Mackinaw

A garden in Mackinac, MI, beautiful!!!

We are having such a great time!