Day 37 - Wednesday, July 15 - SMOKEY

 Air quality warnings are out for a lot of Michigan. caused by smoke from wildfires in Minnesota and Canada. Today's online Detroit News ran a photo, taken at 10 AM, of the ramp leading up to the Mackinac Bridge. You can't even see as far as the first tower.

Below are three photos I took at the campground. The first I took a couple of days ago. The other two I took this afternoon.

From the front of the coach.

From the top of the ramp leading down to the beach. 

We braved the smoke this morning and went to Palms Book State Park, only a few miles from us, to see Kitch-iti-kipi, Michigan's largest natural freshwater spring. 10,000 gallons per minute surge up through small clouds of sand. The springs 45 degree water temperature is fairly constant, it rarely ices over.

We were surprised at the number of visitors.

There were a few folks wearing some type of mask, because of the smoke. The wait wasn't nearly as long as you would think from seeing all these folks. The people coming toward me just got off the raft. The folks going away are waiting to get on. Almost all of those in line make in on to the next raft.

The center of the "raft" is "glass bottomed". 

On one side of the raft is a 4' diameter vertical spoked wheel that visitors rotate to "pull" the raft along the cables. The rim/perimeter of the wheel is similar to a 1" diameter pipe made into a 4' diameter loop. I took a turn on it. If I had been the only guy on it we would still be out there. A lot of the time 2 people worked the wheel at the same time.

The water is crystal clear but there is a greenish cast to it. The trout is the photo are probably 18". The next two photos are through the glass bottom. The water si 40' deep.

There are numerous areas where the water "boils up" through fine sand(?) on the bottom. 

The outflow of the spring. Makes even an old guy like me want to grab a canoe to paddle down and see what is around the bend. We saw a bunch of ducks swimming around. Kathy saw a river otter.

I copied the image below from the State's website.

Kathy had noticed some construction activity down by the restroom/shower/laundry facility. This afternoon when we walked by it looked like they old clay sewer pipe must have broken and had to replaced. It looked like they replaced at least 30' of pipe. We seldom use the campgrounds facilities when we have a sewer connection, so it didn't bother us. I suspect that the facility was shut down for an uncomfortable amount of time while they did this work. Actually I think I saw a tanker truck in here yesterday. Maybe they used a pump and the tank on the truck to keep things operational.

It has finally cooled back down. PTL! Last nights low was 59 and todays high was in the high 60's. AT 11:30P it is 59 degrees.

God is good. I pray that He blesses you and yours. He has blessed me.