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 | | We
followed the Morris Ale with a couple of days visiting friends who live in
London. After lunch out Ann took Jan to see an exhibition of work by members
of the embroiderers' guild. The guild runs a variety of courses during the
year where members can learn new crafts and techniques from visiting tutors.
There were some beautiful pieces of work in a wide range of styles and also
of materials. The four element panel is patchwork, each element interpreting
the same view in a different season. Embroidery can also be in 3-D - the
piece on the left is part of a gourd trimmed with embroidery, beads and a
button. |
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These
pieces use metals in very different ways. The small pieces on the left
are made from thin sheets of copper which, when heated, change colour to
produce some very subtle effects. The artistic talent is in choosing and
using particular bits of the sheet to achieve the desired effect. The
stylised head
uses metallic thread and wire to produce such rich tones on the dark
background. |  |
| But it was time to move on. So we headed west from
London towards Port Huron and the crossing back to Michigan and the US.
Along the way we spotted a small garden centre store selling concrete
statues including this giraffe which caught our eye - an unusual garden
ornament. But there were no camels to add to our daughter's dowry (she
collects camels). |  |
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Closer examination revealed this head which looked as though it could be an
Easter Island replica. However it would be unrealistic for us to buy one
since we couldn't get it home to Europe very easily. |
| So we travelled on along the quieter Canadian route 22
eventually reaching Sarnia, the town on the Canadian side of Port Huron.
Crossing the border proved easier than it has been, as the US official was
so blown away with the idea that we could be travelling for six months. He
checked our visa paperwork and wished us safe travels. Not even any
questions about food or alcohol. |  |
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So having crossed into Michigan we turned north and headed up the coast. Our
first camp site was at Harbour Beach. The campsite was right on the beach
and was fine. We stayed a couple of nights and watched the white tailed deer
which ventured onto the beach at dusk. |
| Michigan is very flat and is at 600ft above sea level
which is just about the height of Lake Huron. There coastline is mostly very
shallow sand and reeds, with many houses along the lakeside making most of
the coast private. However there are dozens of state parks. We paid a fee
for a vehicle entry permit the first time which is valid for a year. By the
third campsite we had broken even. |  |
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Being flat, this is farming land and judging from this factory, sugar beet
is a common and lucrative crop. Lower Michigan is shaped like a mitten with
a thumb. We went north up the thumb then back south to Bay City before
heading north again. |
| Michigan has some of the heaviest trucks in the US.
This is a 42 wheeler and is not the largest we have seen. There are so many
wheels on the trailers they don't need supporting struts at the front for
when they are detached from the tractor unit. |  |
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Last year on our travels we had lost both rear hubcaps. Investigations had
suggested that replacements would have to be as a complete set and would
cost $400-500, an amount we did not feel inclined to spend. However,
spotting this store along the way we stopped on the off chance. Half an hour
later we were back on our way with a pair of 'new' rear 'simulators' for our
double rear wheels for less than $100. |
| This was truly a specialist shop. All his hubcaps were
used, no doubt collected from wrecked cars or the appalling roads there are
in some places. If you find what you are looking for he cleans them up and
fits them. True entrepreneurship! |  |
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Another camp site we stayed at was at Harrisville, about halfway up the east
coast of the lower Michigan peninsular. We stayed in the state park but
walked into the local 'town' which has a small marina. Sport fishing seems
to be the main preoccupation on this coast so there are no big pleasure
yachts in evidence. |
| But the county sheriff keeps an eye on things with the
aid of his trusty steed, and its twin 200HP outboards. Actually I think this
must be a fairly scary form of transport with one hell of a power to weight
ratio. |  |
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I know it isn't quite the main holiday season yet but this is really quite
an empty coast. Another couple of weeks and I think it will be a bit busier.
But this is still a fairly deserted region and a long way from any
significant major town. We are at least 200 miles north of Detroit. |
| The State campsites are excellent with adequate
facilities and quiet pitches despite the two families of young kids camping
next door. |  |
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The camp notice board next to the camp host's site is not unusual but the
little girl didn't move the whole time we were there... |
| ,We travelled on north pausing at a lakeside halt for
lunch. There is a cycle track at the side of us but surprisingly little road
traffic. |  |
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Because the lakes have no noticeable tides there is little erosion of the
coasts but the waves can get quite nasty in the winter and many ships have
sunk on these coasts. Lake Huron is smaller than Lake Superior. The five
lakes together make up the largest body of fresh water in the world and
would cover the land mass of the US to a depth of 9.5ft. (useless fact for
the day). |
| So eventually we came to the Mackinaw Bridge which
joins the lower to the upper peninsula which enables you to drive around
lake Michigan via Wisconsin. We crossed and travelled north to Brimley State
Park on Lake Superior, only a few miles from Sault Ste Marie and the
Canadian border. |  |
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