The Michigan UP Rally began with six coaches meeting in Mt.Pleasant, Michigan on Sept. 5. They included the Roseann & Max Putman, Sally & Ray Kartes, Joe & Cindy Marz, Ken & AnneMarie Wellock, Nancy & Don Sheridan, and Les & Ida Cook.

The next morning, all of us left Mt. Pleasant and headed north to Sault Ste. Marie. We stayed right on the St. Mary's River not far from the Soo Locks. We saw many freighters on the river. Across the river is Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. We all took a ferry boat tour and actually went thru the locks. It was a wonderful experience. We also went across into Canada to the Bushplane Museum. What an interesting place. We had a delicious spaghetti supper furnished by our hosts, and one evening we went to the buffet at the local casino.

It rained several days, but we managed to have a pretty day to take the Toonerville Trolley and Riverboat to Taquamenon Falls. It was a 6-1/2 hour trip. It was a little cold on the boat, so the ladies stayed down inside and played cards while the guys sat on the front of the boat looking at all the nature! While on the train, we all got to see several black bears that were being baited and would come out when the train went by....we got some good pictures.

After spending 4 days in Sault Ste. Marie, we moved on to Marquette, where we stayed at Gitche Gumee RV Park. Now, that park and Ranger Jeff are an experience in itself! Some of our group took another boat trip to see the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising. We found the local Dairy downtown Marquette and had some of that fabulous
ice cream.....yummmmmmm. Again, we had wonderful meals in a really quaint lodge at the park. And yes, more rain!

Then on to the next leg of our trip, Lake Linden on the Keweenaw peninsula. We had the small park all to ourselves for most of the three days we were there. Everyone did their own thing for sightseeing. We all managed to shop in Houghton-Hancock, and go to the far end of the peninsula to Copper Harbor. In addition to the sightseeing, we managed to have a potluck dinner that was great! Needless to say, the MI group is like the LA group....they love to eat.

On Sept. 17, we said our goodbyes and everyone headed off in a different direction, satisfied that we had seen and done so many fascinating things and had spent quality time with each other.

Thank you, Wellocks, Putmans and Sheridans for being great rally hosts. And thanks to all of you for making us feel so welcome at your rally. We really enjoyed ourselves.

I have just hit the high spots in this writing, there was too much in 12 days to pen....

Ida Cook

This a "great lakes freighter" coming out of the Poe lock on the American side traveling downstream from Lake Superior into the St. Mary's River and eventually into Lake Huron	This was just before we boarded the vessel Bidawee taking us up the St. Mary's river thru the American "Soo Locks". On the return trip we passed thru the Canadian Locks
This boat took us on a 21 mile trip down the river to the river	Tahquamenon Falls	Stairs down to bottom of Falls