Michigan State Parks GeoTour 2: Upper Peninsula Adventure 3

TaGeez and I are on our third day of our UP adventure for the Michigan State Park GeoTour. Today we went from Marquette to Sault Ste Marie - sandy backroads, Lake Superior views, and the North Country Trail.

A full-day's drive along Lake Superior! We were lucky - weather was Pure Michigan blue, and, with the schools in, that left many of the parks practically empty. 

MSPGT2-UP: Kingston Lake SFCG GCAPW39

This was our first find for the day. We left Marquette early in the morning, skirting the bay, and driving through Munising. Eventually we hit our first dirt road of the day. Lovely lake, so we stopped for a few pictures. Except for the rustle of birds taking off, it was so peaceful here.

Then off to the cache for a quick, fun find. Glad we read the directions earlier today and remembered to bring the water jug! 

We replaced as found and dropped a trackable, running into another pair of Cachers as we left. Little did we know as we turned onto the dirt road that this would be the last pavement we would see for many, many hours.

MSPGT2-UP: Lake Superior SFCG GCAPW3B

Speaking of dirt roads, we had a choice to make. With construction on the "road", we had a choice of taking a 2-hour detour or driving along a several mile 2-track used by ATVs and lumber trucks. Well? We were in a rental, and the bonus is reliving the stories of our heroism later! WOW! So glad we rarely passed another vehicle. There was almost no signage and definitely no GPS so drove it by instinct, knowing that if we attempted to stop, we were stuck in the sand.

Traveling this road, we saw the cute little town of Grand Marais and the fascinating waterfall outside of the Au Sable lighthouse on the way. 

These are not great pictures, but it was fascinating seeing the waterfall spilling into Lake Superior!

At the State Forest Campground, this has been my favorite cache of the trip so far! A beautiful Lake Superior beach, the North Country trail skirting the water, and that awesome container that made me laugh! 

❤️ Fave point! 

MSPGT2-UP: Mouth of the Two Hearted River SFCG GCAPW3J

After a very long drive on a very dirty road (and no data connection so navigating the old-fashioned way), we ended up on the North Country Trail again! This road was so sandy and rutted that we had to pull over several times for speeding ATV's and dune buggies. 

It's amazing how much time it takes to go so few miles on a back dirt road. We finally made it to this rustic campground; Stage 1 was a quick, fun find, and stage 2 was close by. Afterwards we walked over to the water’s edge to check out the island in front of us.

So very peaceful. 

MSPGT2-UP: Tahquamenon Falls SP GCAPW3P

Tahquamenon Falls is exactly the type of state park cache for this series! Beautiful views, nice shops and food nearby! It was also quite the culture shock after bumpy, dirty roads and rustic campgrounds.

We arrived later in the day (after spending hours on sandy roads only fit for ATVs!). TaGeez and I moseyed to several photo stops along the Upper Falls before solving the puzzle for the final. Good puzzle. 

Afterwards we moseyed to the Lower Falls for some peaceful reflection, too.

Here we spent a lot of time sitting on benches and reflecting on our blessings. Really, as crazy busy as our lives have become with life changes occurring over the summer, we are lucky we could spend this time in this amazing state.

MSPGT2-UP: Whitefish Point State Harbor GCAPW3R

All that peace and wellness in the world fled at our final stop for the day! Normally I love Whitefish Point, but why is the final HERE? Do you have a contract with the hundreds of thousands of mosquitoes here?!! 😵‍💫Absolutely miserable! 

After spending miserable minutes in the swamp, being eaten by skeeters and cursing anyone within hearing distance, we headed to the actual point to soothe our souls. Here we visited my Virtual... Did you know it's the 50th anniversary of the sinking this year? 

And then we walked the boardwalk to the beach to let the cold, lake breeze cool our bug bites. 

We turned to Sault Ste Marie for one last overnighter before heading home the next day.

My final thought? Amazing that we could have so many different experiences in one peninsula.

Michigan State Parks GeoTour 2: Upper Peninsula Adventure 2

 TaGeez and I are on our 2nd day of our UP adventure and working our way from Ironwood to Marquette. The weather is Pure Michigan beautiful, skies are Michigan blue, and the roads & parks empty.

MSPGT2-UP: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park GCAPW3M

First stop of the day. What an odd location? Is it abandoned? We took the long way in, and the mosquitoes are out. 

Afterwards we pulled off the road across the street and communed with Lake Superior.

MSPGT2-UP: Twin Lakes State Park GCAPW3Q & Twin Lakes Contact Station GC4F7NX

This was a lovely drive along Lake Superior to get here. Honestly, I don’t understand why this spot was selected, but we are game. Beep! Beep! Quick find!

After grabbing the GeoTour cache nearby, we detoured here for this highly favorites cache. Quick find, and we drained the water.

MSPGT2-UP: McClain State Park GCAPW3F

❤️ This was my favorite state park cache today. Lovely walk in a pretty lakeside park to the cache. We appreciated the container, and then, afterwards, we stopped to enjoy the view.

MSPGT2-UP: Michigan Iron Industry Museum GCAPW3H

After stopping at 2 nearby quilt shops, we made it to this cache. 

For some of the parks, we wonder why they were selected for these tours, but this one was interesting with the museum nearby (closed now) and the geology trail to the cache.

MSPGT2-UP: Little Presque Isle GCAPW3D

Last state park of the day. If we did this again, we would park across the street & walk in. We went the wrong way on Song Bird Trail and did more bushwhacking than we would’ve liked. Afterwards, we went off to explore the Presque Isle parks more.

👻 My Happy Place - Presque Isle GCAJGWM

After a rather long day, I was a bit cranky at this point, but I wanted to see why my niece loved this park so much. Truly is a lovely place to see - the ore dock, the lighthouse, and the view right here!

Afterwards, it was time to eat! Per my niece, who is brilliant, recommended the Iron Bay Restaurant & Drinkery. Ok, 1.5 hour wait for a table or immediate seating in a fun bar? Woot! 

And have you ever had Superior Whitefish Tater Tots? SO FLIPPING DELICIOUS!

And, we know the rule... after every 5 or so quilt shops, Steve gets a distillery! In Marquette, that would be The Honorable Distillery! Which, although in a cute downtown, was up a very steep hill from the Drinkery! But what a view!

This is Steve's idea of a souvenir!

Tomorrow's adventure is from Marquette to Sault Ste Marie - along Lake Superior - and down some very interesting back roads!