A Landmark of Sorts

My next stop before heading to the Soo was to go by way of Tahquamenon Falls.  I wanted to take pictures of them again even though I already took some pictures last weekend.  This is actually something I've been meaning to take pictures of for a while.  Number one, it is my guide to M-123 (of sorts) and number two, it is now a relic of history.

After World War II, there was a growing demand for long distance telephone service.  American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) had one of two options.    One was to string copper wires all across the country but this was expensive and would have some of the same reliability issues as power lines.  In the 1940's, AT&T developed a method where microwaves could be used to transmit radio signals.  It was soon discovered that this method could also be used to transmit long-distance television signals (i.e., from a television network).
The first prototype used to transmit signals went from from Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill and New York City in 1947.  An improved system was used to link New York to Boston.  Pretty soon, these towers could found across the United States.  These towers are roughly 30 to 40 miles of sight because microwave is pretty much line of sight.  Eventually, this system was replaced by satellites  and fiber optic cables.
Some of these towers are still around because they are useful cell towers (those use a different type of antenna). 

On the Way from Tahquamenon Falls to Sault Sainte Marie

So I drove from Tahquamenon Falls to Sault Sainte Marie.

 This is a bog that is just outside of the Upper Tahquamenon Falls State Park.  I've actually been meaning to take a picture of it for a while.  Sunday presented a good opportunity to do so.

 I kind of liked the way the colors looked.

 I just wish there would have been more water.

 M-123 is the State Highway that passes by the Falls.  It's western end is around Newberry, Michigan.  It heads north to pass by both of the Falls State Parks and then it heads east into Paradise.  From Paradise it turns south to Trout Lake and from Trout Lake it heads south east to meet up with I-75.  It is actually a pretty nice stretch of road.

 However, I stayed on it long enough to catch the Curley Lewis Memorial Highway.  It starts just south of Paradise and heads east until roughly Brimley (oatmeal capital of the world).  It is a more beautiful stretch of highway.

 And it looked really nice with the sea of colors on it.

 Sadly, some of the trees were de-leafed because of the rains from the night before.

 But the puddles made for some nice effects on the road.

One more shot of the trees.

Stopping By Trout Lake

So I made it up to Mackinaw City and got my hotel room.  Shortly after that, my friend contacted me and asked me if I wanted to meet him at Whitefish Point.  We figured we'd get there pretty close to sunset and I was game for that.

Heading up to Whitefish Point means that I go through Trout Lake.  There is sort of a rail yard for Canadian National trains.  I've been disappointed the past few times but not this time.  I managed to catch one engine there and I was happy.