Category Archives: Michigan

Marquette – Duluth

August 6, 2007

Where to start. It’s been a couple of days since the last report. I am now in Fargo, North Dakota and it is cold up here. Only mid 50s in the morning!

There were a couple of stops between here and Marquette. First of, Marquette, the little place right on Lake Superior. I walked around town for a while and marveled at the restored old brick buildings. This used to be an iron ore and lumber town in its hay days. The road called and I intended to make it to Duluth, Minnesota. There, I would stay with a friend for a day to just relax a little and map out the rest of the trip.

I drove thru more forests and past a bunch of lakes, some small other quiet large. I flew thru Wisconsin, took only 2 ½ hours to cross thru the northern part. However, I stopped in Montreal. As mentioned before, something had to give and it was Wisconsin, sorry.

Tall Timber Days parade

Tall Timber Days parade

I made it to Duluth somewhere around 6 PM. My friend has a house right on Lake Caribou inclusive of canoe and paddle boat. Got some rest and enjoyed the company as well as not having to drive for a day.

All good things have to come to an end and on Sunday off I went again. More forests and lakes. Minnesota has over 10,000 lakes. I was in luck, in Grand Rapids I stumbled across a street fair with a little parade. Looked more like a NYC block party, but size is not everything. Made a minor detour to Bemidji to see and photograph the giant statue of Paul Bunyan and his bull Babe, call me crazy.

Paul Bunyan and his bull Babe

Paul Bunyan and his bull Babe

I think I am ready for some flat land. Just east of Fargo the landscape started to change. The crops were low growing and the trees were almost entirely gone and replaced by shrubs.

I stayed the night in a Motel 6, super clean and surprisingly quiet. The motel has only data ports and I don’t have a cable, so I have to make my way to a Kinko’s to send the e-mail.

I am heading to the western border of N. Dakota before I drive south to South Dakota. It seems that I make it to Sturgis just in time for the big Harley rally and the Joan Jett concert on August 8.

I will skip Montana and instead drive thru northern Wyoming to Yellowstone. I have campsite reservations for 2 nights inside Yellowstone.

From there the road takes me to the Grand Teton, a stay in Jackson Hole and somehow thru Idaho to Washington State. Hope to be in Bellingham by

Big Fish Supper Club

Big Fish Supper Club

August 18. A few days there. Some more sightseeing in Washington State and than down via US 1 to San Francisco. I think I will be in SFO around August 24.

I don’t know how much e-mail possibilities I have, so don’t be surprised if you don’t hear from me for a few days.

Enjoy the day.

Michigan Still

August 2, 2007

Mackinac Bridge seen from St. Ignace

Mackinac Bridge seen from St. Ignace

Michigan’s U.P. or Upper Peninsula. A thunderstorm in the morning decided for me that I would not be going to Mackinac Island. Instead, I drove up to Sault Ste. Marie to see the Soo Locks. Very interesting to watch big ships move through the locks. The traffic through these locks used to be busier than the traffic through the Suez Canal and Panama Canal combined.

Barge in the Soo locks

Barge in the Soo locks

West on route 28, nothing but pine forests. I started to wonder if it was a good idea to go all the way up north to get to Wisconsin instead of taking a ferry across Lake Michigan yesterday. In the end the U.P. route turned out just fine. After all that forest, I finally saw water, Lake Superior. Great blue water. What will I do when I am in the middle of this country and there is no water in sight? After I got very annoyed with some drivers, I had to pull over at a scenic outlook to get away from them. What a great spot to pull over. There it was a beautiful empty beach right on Lake Superior. Got my swimsuit and went for a swim. Ah, what great way to end the day. I made reservations at a motel in Marquette, not far from where I was swimming. It is nice to have the toilet within 10’ again. Great view onto the Lake from my room, unfortunately, also great traffic noise.

Old City Hall, West Washington Street

Old City Hall, West Washington Street

Tonight I splurged. I went to dinner. Food at a table with linen tablecloth. What a difference to eating in a tent by flashlight. I think we all need to be deprived of the basics for a while to really appreciate the little things in life.

With a little luck I make it thru Wisconsin into Minnesota by tomorrow evening. Why didn’t anyone tell me that this is a REALLY big country?

Until next time.

P.S. Pictures will follow soon, haven’t downloaded all of them yet.

Separate e-mail to Carol who lives in Michigan.

Hello Carol,

just a quick hello from the road.  I am right now in Marquette on my way to Duluth.

I just had to tell you how beautiful Michigan is.

I drove from Emmett west on M-21 to Covert (there was a KOA camp ground) via Kalamazoo.  The drive on M-43 was stunning.  Hilly roads, lots of trees overgrowing the road, wow.  Up the west coast, stopped in Saugatuck, nice, but

Irrigation

Irrigation

almost too many tourists.  Drove past the Sleeping Bear Dunes, saw the giant dune, but didn’t climb it.  Opted to go for a

Girl jumps off pier at Crystal Lake

Girl jumps off pier at Crystal Lake

swim at Glenn Haven.  There were a lot of beautiful spots in between.  The landscape is ever changing.  I did drive over the Mackinac Bridge, unfortunately, in pouring rain.  Skipped Mackinac Island and headed for the locks in Sault Ste. Marie, very interesting.  I have to admit that the drive from there to Marquette for the most part was a little dull, too much forest.  But it paid off, I pulled off the road 10 miles east of Marquette and went for a swim in Lake Superior.

Everything is taking so much longer than I had thought.  I am starting to make short cuts.  Crossing thru the northern tip of Wisconsin instead of driving down to the Wisconsin Dells.  Guess I have to take another trip to see everything I by-past.

Not sure if it will be worthwhile to drive up to Hancock Houghton to see the mines.  What do you think?

Thanks for your tips.

NYS to Michigan

August 1, 2007

First of all, thank you for all of your support and well wishing.

My camping set-up at the Emmett KOA.

My camping set-up at the Emmett KOA.

I am writing this from my tent at the KOA spot in Mackinaw City, northern Michigan. With a little luck I might even be able to send this update from my tent as well, amazing.

Let’s go back a couple of days to NY State. I left Rochester on Sunday morning heading for the Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake, Lake Ontario that is. All went well until I missed the turn off right after the Canadian border. Not so bad, I just go to Niagara on the Lake first.

Prince of Wales Hotel on Picton Street.

Prince of Wales Hotel on Picton Street.

Past through a bunch of vineyards, strange to see them on flat land, I am used to seeing wine/grapes grow on the side of mountains. The little town was cute, too many people, the view over the lake was great. I asked for directions back to the Falls and headed south again. Bought some peaches on the way. What a nightmare. I don’t want to offend anyone, but the town of Niagara Falls is ghastly to put it mildly. It could be a Disney production.

Clifton Hill

Clifton Hill

There is no way to just stop and catch a glimpse of the Falls, people everywhere. I was very frustrated and disappointed. I was on the verge of leaving without having gotten a good look or even a photo of the Falls. Decided otherwise, stopped illegally, jumped out of the car, took two shots

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

and drove off, a cop car right behind me. Thank God, they didn’t do anything. I do not ever want to go back.

I made my way thru Canada west towards Michigan. I didn’t really have any interest to explore Canada at this time any further, sorry. The big bummer came at the US border. It took two hours until I finally got to the customs booth. No problems there.

I had put it into my head that tonight would be the night I would camp for the first time ever!! There was a KOA not too far from the border. I just made it in time to set up the tent before total darkness fell. I was not scared, but it did not feel comfortable. I didn’t have any time to get the lay of the land during daylight. Don’t laugh, but I was very glad to have Buddy. He stayed with me all night in the sleeping bag! The “bed” was pretty comfortable. Thanks James for recommending a rectangular sleeping bag.

Emmett Main Street Diner.

Emmett Main Street Diner.

Breakfast at a local place, standard three eggs, toast, hash browns and coffee. Got talking to the local folks and they gave me some tips for photo ops.

Old barn along highway 19 between Emmett and Memphis

Old barn along highway 19 between Emmett and Memphis

Michigan is beautiful. Farmland, corn fields (sweet corn) and out of nowhere adorable little towns. Some look very modern, saw even a cyber café.

I was headed for the Michigan west coast. The landscape changed from flat, straight roads with farmland to the left and right to hilly, curvy roads lined by big trees. The tree tops were so large that they formed a canopy over the road, wow. Made it to the coast with enough time to set up tent in daylight this time. KOA sites might not give you a true nature feel, but I am fine with that. Wouldn’t be too thrilled to be out in the woods by myself. I think my parents wouldn’t be either. It takes a little getting used to brushing your teeth next to a handful of strangers. The shower facilities are tiny. I have the feeling that my NYC studio will seem really big when I get back.

Steam engine at the SS Keewatin Maritime Museum.

Steam engine at the SS Keewatin Maritime Museum.

I didn’t get far the next day, very tired. Can’t fall asleep at night right away. Stopped in a town called Saugatuck, right on the mouth of the Kalamazoo River and Lake Michigan. Very nice, I like places by the water and Michigan has plenty of them. Spend the afternoon there, eating and drinking coffee. My coffee consumption might also be responsible for my not falling asleep problem, I am cutting back. Drove a little further north to Muskegon where I again camped. Unfortunately, the site was within earshot of the highway. Ear plugs only helped a little.

This brings you to present time, August 1. I panicked in the morning, when I realized that it would take me two more days before I am out of Michigan. I have to stop doing this, I’ll get to where I get when I get there. I have the feeling I will be back just a day or two later than I had planned. The drive up north to Mackinaw City was beautiful. Drove thru forests, cherry & apple orchards, past huge blueberry bushes and shoreline towns and I even took a dip in Lake Michigan, very refreshing. My favorite time for driving is after 6 PM when the sunlight gets warmer and everything looks even more beautiful.

My drive thru Wisconsin will be a little abbreviated. I’ll cross thru the upper, narrower part of Wisconsin, instead of driving further south. Something got to give, better to see fewer places than to loose my sanity.

Good night.