Driving around the UP: Day 3

I think today may be a personal best for hours spent driving around. Last night started out great with a scenic drive out H58 to the Twelvemile Campground. This is easily one of the most beautiful campgrounds you will ever stay at. It is a rustic campground set in a stand of tall pines atop large sand dunes on Lake Superior. From the good campsites you can watch the sun set into the shimmering blue waters with not a drop of land visible in any direction. We once kayaked into this campground and spent a great night of camping. As we drove into the campground we were excited to find that we had our choice of campsites on the waterfront. We would soon learn why the campground was abandoned. We jumped out of the Jeep and began pulling the camping equipment out. Before we had even set the tent up our legs were covered in black flies. The black flies that are common on the lakeshore, called stable flies, are made much worse by hot weather and an on shore breeze. We had both. Teased by the dramatic view of the setting sun over the lake we were committed to toughing it out. That is, until we tried to put the sleeping bag and air mattresses in the tent. Even a coordinated, two person effort resulted in a dozen or so flies making it into the tent. It was at this moment that we realized it would be an exercise in insanity to camp. We quickly loaded the Jeep back up and found that the flies had invaded our ride as well. The only way to escape the little terrors was to open the top and windows and drive like a crazy person down H58. By the time we drove back into Munising only a few hardy flies were still crawling around. Luckily, we found a hotel with vacancy and decent rates and were able to recover from our black fly encounter with a six pack, pizza, and the Tigers!
After a great breakfast at Sidney's in Munising we decided to spend our last night camping in the Porcupine Mountains. We made the three hour drive to the Western end of the UP and Union Bay campground. As the Jeep rolled to a stop at the camper registration booth the sky filled with clouds of black flies. They made a tapping sound as they smacked into the windshield, dive bombing our vehicle with abandon. Camping here wasn't going to be any better than last night. Resigned to our fate, we visited a couple of our favorite sites in the park: the falls of the Presque Isle River and the view from the escarpment of Lake of the Clouds. Both were every bit as beautiful as I remembered. I've posted some pictures below. Now we are driving east. The plan is to find a campground inland somewhere away from the worst of the flies. Even with the black flies it is still great to be in the UP.

Driving Around the UP: Day Two

The longest day of the year, in terms of daylight, is approaching in the next 10 days. We decided to make the most of this one by setting our alarm for 5 am.
Van Riper State Park turned out to be Grand Central for campers last night. In addition to the throngs of tourists and locals enjoying the warm weather, it was "paws in the park day." The average campground had two wet, smelly and happy pooches. This made for an entertaining evening as it only takes one barking dog to start a concert. This did make me miss my cats, although camping would most definitely not be their thing!
The park is situated right on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigamme. We took advantage of the warm weather and went for a swim at sunset before enjoying a fire and the first s'mores of the season. It was a magical night in the forest, with mild temps and a blanket of stars. It was a quiet night, not the creepy too quiet kind, but just right. I slept like a rock, awakening to that 5 am alarm a bit too soon for my taste.
We threw the camp gear in the Jeep and headed for nearby Craig Lake Stare Park. Craig Lake is Michigan's most remote park (other than the island park Isle Royale). It is reached by driving 9 miles on a rough gravel road weaving through a network of swamps, bogs and woods . The entrance bears a warning sign about the road conditions, but the recent dry weather made for little difficulty this morning. We parked at the trailhead and took the day's first cup of coffee for a walk down to the shores of Craig Lake. The waters were perfectly calm, reflecting the trees and blue skies in a perfect mirror image. Craig Lake is home to a large heard of Michigan's moose population. We walked quietly along the shores hoping to spot one of the giant creatures. Moose can be elusive and we would have to settle for a beautiful sunrise.
Our marathon day continued with the drive into Marquette for breakfast at The Sweetwater Cafe. This was our first trip to this place that specializes in multicultural, organic food prepared with local ingredients . The Huevos Rancheros was some of the best I have ever had, served with black beans, rice and homemade salsa. After an extra cup of coffee we were back on the road. This time we headed north to the town of Big Bay and a rustic hike to a famous series of waterfalls. The Yellow Dog River runs through the Ottawa National Forest and the McCormick National Wilderness, named for the family that donated the land to the government for recreational use by all. The trail head lies twenty miles west of Big Bay and is only reached after navigating a maze of dirt roads and two-tracks. Driving to a remote trail in the woods is often a nerve racking experience, and this time certainly was. The "roads" were unmarked, meaning we had to use the compass and trip odometer to figure out which intersection we were at and the correct way to turn. The farther we drove the more remote it got and the louder the voice sounded in the back of mind telling me to turn around. It is impossible at moments like these not to play-out the worse case scenario game. "What if we get lost?". "What if the Jeep breaks down?". "What if the folks we just drove by in that militia style compound are in fact armed to the teeth and harbor a deep-seated resentment of city folk in red Jeeps?". Fortunately, none of these played out and after a 45 minute bumpy drive, we found ourselves at an abandoned trail head in the middle of an old growth forest. It was a four mile hike round trip out to the Yellow Dog River. Once we reached the river we picked our way along a faint trail that reinforced the remoteness of this area. Staying on the trail required climbing under and over downed trees, rock hopping through quick-sand like mud and eventually shimmying across the river on a well-placed downed tree. The reward was a fantastic view of the 15 foot cascade that few people ever get to see. After enjoying the view for as long as the black flies would allow, we made the return hike to the Jeep. The car thermometer read 95 and we were both hot, sweaty and buggy from our hike. It was the perfect time for a swim. We drove back to Big Bay, paid the two dollar visitor fee at the Marquette County Park and jumped into the refreshing waters of Independence Lake. There is nothing better than swimming in cold clear water on a hot day.
Now we are on our way to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Twelvemile Campground. Thanks to our early start, we still have close to 5 hours of daylight left! Here are some pictures:




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Driving around the UP day 1

I started today with a jog along the Lake Huron waterfront. Last night's storms had moved on and it was a pleasant morning near the water. There was a thin veil of fog hanging over Mackinaw Island. The water was glassy smooth except for the ripples given off by a couple of loons enjoying the last calm days before the mass of tourists begin arriving for the summer. If my daily run could always be along a scene like this I think I could be a great runner!
After checking out of our hotel we headed to Java Joe's Cafe for breakfast. Joe's is a small joint set in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express. The place is built with a hippie theme complete with Jimmy Buffet concerts playing on a loop on a small tv at the entrance. There is indoor and outdoor seating and many of the tables have a view of the water. Most days Joe himself will wait on you. Today's fare included breakfast burritos and nutella crepes (which I highly recommend). Joe worked the room, giving tourists directions to the best attractions in the area.
After filling up at breakfast we hit the road, heading west on US 2. It turned into a gorgeous day with temps climbing into the 80s as we sped past the north shore of lake Michigan. US 2 heading west out of st ignace is one of the most scenic drives in Michigan. There are numerous spots to pull off and swim, and a mix of sand dunes and thick pine forests line the opposite side of the road.
At Blaney Park we headed north on M77 and made a quick visit to the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Seney is a true gem, one that most people drive past without visiting. When the area was clearcut by logging in the past it created a strange terrain. Wildlife experts flooded the area and built a series of damns, bridges and weirs to create a manageable system of wetlands. The refuge is part of the flyway that many migratory birds use to reach their summer grounds in the artic. In addition to a wide range of birds, Seney is home to moose, bear, wolves and many other mammals. On one visit we saw an otter swimming in one if the pools. The refuge is huge, and most of it is off limits to visitors to ensure successful nesting seasons for birds. There is, however, a 7 mile loop road that allows visitors to drive through part of the refuge. On our drive through this time we were treated to several loons, an osprey and bald eagle battling in mid air and too many swans to count. Seney is always worth the stop.
Tonight we're headed farther west to check out Van Riper State Park. This will be our first visit to this park. We're excited to see what this part of the UP has to offer. That's all for now. Life is good in the UP!

Going up north

Today is a holiday in the Moose household (and probably in the homes of many teachers). Today was the last day of school. Sure, there will be work obligations, but in the next 88 days I will not be responsible for teaching children, will not have to put on a tie, and will be free to pursue my outdoors pursuits wholeheartedly.
We celebrated our liberation by packing the jeep and heading north. This time to Michigan's upper peninsula. We'll stay tonight at the Driftwood Inn and Bar and then head further north and west for some camping and hiking.
Driving north on 127 and I 75 is a part of the Michigan culture. These highways are our escape route from the monotony of civilized life to the town, lakes, rivers and forests that blanket most of our state. The mass of people are trapped in and near the major cities comprising a small land area. The rest of the state is sparsely populated and home to what my wife affectionately refers to as "the pretty."
Close to 7 pm we made the trip across the Mackinac Bridge. Crossing the bridge is another Michigan tradition. I'm always amazed at the number of people that live in Michigan or visit our state that never see the Mackinac Bridge and make the crossing to the the wilds of the UP (upper peninsula). We drove across the bridge as we usually do, mouth agape, speechless, staring at the endless water to the west and the island shrouded in mist to the east. The water on the Lake Michigan side is a brilliant shade of blue. The water to the east an enchanting emerald green. Looking to the west it is possible to imagine the water reaching the sky itself. We couldn't be happier to be back up north.

Cat Sitter Found!

We got some great news this week in our preparations for the Long Trail.  One of our biggest concerns in planning this whole crazy trip are Hobbes and Sabrina, our two black cats.  Everyone tells you that “oh, cat’s don’t mind when you’re gone.”  Considering how aloof the average cat is, this would make sense.  Our cats, on the other hand, appear to love us.  That is, until we start packing.  Then the guilt trip begins in earnest.  Any sign of backpacks, or piles of clothes at all and they find a spot to sulk and glare at us for the rest of the night.  The longest we have left them in the past was 3 weeks when we went to Glacier National Park in 2010.  This year’s trip to Vermont will likely end up being 4-5 weeks, causing us to wonder if our cats will have gone on hunger strike by the time we return.  So you can imagine how excited we were to learn this week that our good friend from Iowa has decided to move back to Lansing and needs a place to live!  Uncle Steve (as we have referred to him to the cats) will be living in our house while we are gone, meaning they will receive plenty of attention.  They may not even notice we are gone!  

With this big detail worked out, the reality has set in that our big hike is getting very close.  We are scheduled to leave our house for Vermont in 20 days.  The piles of lists, maps, guide books and gear that have been a fun hobby for the past three months are suddenly urgent reminders that soon we will live a month with everything we need on our backs.  With a couple of shorter trips on the docket before we leave, we are left with only a handful of days to clear up the remaining details.  The good news, is that the cats are a pretty big detail!  

Hobbes and Sabrina:

Short's Brewery / Bellaire, MI

This was our first trip to Bellaire, which is pretty amazing when I consider how many times we have driven by on the other side of Torch Lake.  Bellaire is an odd place.  It is difficult to get to, whether you are coming from the North or the South, as you have to drive around a series of Lakes.  Its one of those "you can't get there from here" type of things.  On our drive into town (in the rain, of course) we were both surprised at how pretty the terrain was we were passing through.  It is very hilly and thickly covered in a mix of pines and hardwood forest with too many lakes to count.  The town itself is small, and feels like something out of New England, like a town you would find tucked into the Green or White Mountains.
The brewery is a unique experience, and definitely worth a trip if you've never been.  It is set in an old brick building located right on the main road through town (M-88).  There are two rooms, one with the bar and the other with a stage for live music.   On Saturday night the place was packed, so much so that we had to sit at a long table with other people.  You can always tell that a place has something unique going for it when people want to check it out enough that they are willing to sit with complete strangers.  Short's makes a bunch of brews and seems to hit or miss on many of them, possibly as a result of trying so many different things (I have tried Coffee Flavored Beer from there before, not good - it's still in our fridge!   We can't get anyone to drink it)  If you like pale ales and IPA's, however, they have several that are worth checking out.  The food was decent and the atmosphere lively.  The live entertainment was a bit of a disappointment, as one can only listen to so much ukulele!  Some of the regulars we talked to said that the bands that play most nights are generally very good.
All in all, our first trip to Bellaire was entertaining enough that we will likely make a return one sometime in the future.  This weekend was a nice change of pace before we spend most of this summer outdoors and our beverage choices consist of which pond or stream we want to filter out of.  Summer break is one week away.  Things are about to get real.

Rain, rain, and more rain

It's possible we may need an arc if this rain doesn't stop soon. Hopefully mother nature is getting it out of her system before we spend the month of July outside! Today has been the perfect day for two of our favorite activities: driving around in the jeep and eating great food. We started our day with morel omelettes at the 45th Paralell Cafe in Sutton's Bay. This place has only a handful of tables but fantastic breakfast food and great coffee. Next we took a scenic drive up M22 through Northport to check out the Grand Traverse Lighthouse. It's always cool to visit these Great Lakes lighthouses on cold, rainy days as it makes it much easier to imagine their necessity in the past. We drove down the west side of the leelenau peninsula, stopping for a short hike up to pyramid point. This is probably my favorite spot in the lower penninsula of Michigan. I've included some photos of the point below.
We drove back through Traverse City and stopped to warm up with some coffee and the best tomato basil soup ever at The Dish. This place specializes in fresh homemade soups, sandwiches, quesadillas and other cafe foods. Traverse City has no shortage of great places to eat, and this one is worth a trip. Now we are driving to Bell Aire to our hotel for the night and a visit to Short's Brewery. I'll post a report of the brewery later.