U.P.Vacation-Day 5(cont.)

Following our wonderful picnic lunch at Bay View Campground, we then made our way to Tahquamenon Falls State Park.  En route to the Falls, we crossed over the mouth of the Tahquamenon River where it pours into Lake Superior.  Tahquamenon Falls is one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi, and is divided into two distinctly different areas, Upper Falls and Lower Falls, with plenty of hiking trails alongside the river.  We came to the Lower Falls first and what an awesome sight to see that much water rushing along with intrepid souls out in canoes exploring and getting a close-up view.

We enjoyed admiring the view from the great boardwalks that lined our way.  We have really been impressed with the many wooden boardwalks, steps, etc. in all the parks and recreational areas that we have visited.  The state of Michigan is using tax dollars well to promote accessibility to their beautiful sights here in the U. P.

We next made our way to the Upper Falls which drop approximately 50 feet and are roughly 200 feet across, with a flow of more than 50,000 gallons of water per second.  I am always amazed at the incredibly awesome power of moving water!

 We loved having the walkways that take us right up close to the Falls, so close we could feel the spray of the crashing water!  So nice to be seeing all this with our good friends Greenstone and Thimbleberry!

We passed by the stump of a 200+ year old tree that has been labeled with the timeline of its life.

After visiting the Tahquamenon Falls we took a circuitous route southeastward across the Upper Peninsula, passing some pretty farmland along our way.

We are planning to meet Steve and Leanne for dinner this evening at a great local place on the Bay near where G. & T. live, the Raber Bay Restaurant.  We are looking forward to having "fresh" walleye baskets.  The fish are caught right across the road in the bay and then cooked up in the Restaurant!

I first met Steve and Leanne (longtime friends of G. & T.) while I was hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2011, when they drove to Damascus, Virginia and found me and G. & T. and whisked us away to a motel for showers, food, and a bed to sleep in!  Then they hiked on the A.T. with us for three days!

So it was great to reconnect with them and for them to meet my Sweetie, Tom.  The walleye baskets were scrumptious and conversation great!  Raber Bay Restaurant is "out in the middle of nowhere", miles from the nearest town, but it was packed, on a Thursday night!  If we did not know the "locals", we would never have found the place.  Steve and Leanne joined us back at Greenstone and Thimbleberry's home for some of that good fresh raspberry pie for dessert!

What a great day of vacation it has been today, made even better with good friends!  Tomorrow we are planning to enjoy a "lazy" day exploring the woods that surround G. & T.'s place and maybe go to their local beach.