Pure Michigan Color Tour

Roadtrip!

TaGeez and I on the road in upper, lower Michigan for the Fall color tour last week! Weatherman forecasted overcast skies, but any day on the road is a good day!

First stop is Ogemaw County. Nothing like a rural cemetery off of an old logging road to get the heart racing! This was the last county TaGeez needed to color in his lower Michigan map. 

MLT Omegaw Springs GC4DW0X

Afterwards, the skies the limit! Over these two days, we aim to hit the Autumn hot spots along Lake Michigan including Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Mackinaw City. With no commitments in sight, we took many scenic routes which meant crossing paths with more rural cemeteries and horse pastures.

Excelsior Township Cemetery GC3WXQV

The colors are golden and rust and blaze orange. Even with today's technology, we couldn't capture the Fall palette so we decided to sit back and enjoy the view. Lovely drive from I-75 to Traverse City and up the Old Mission Peninsula. 

No trip to the area is complete without a stop downtown. TaGeez bought us Mooney's ice cream, and we tasted samples at Cherry Republic. If you get a chance, try their Smokey Cherry BBQ Dressing - we took their recommendation and made BBQ chicken tortillas with it. 

1. Bake out chicken breasts
2. Cool, shred, and add to a small crockpot
3. Dump in half the bottle and let simmer
4. Serve in lettuce wraps or small tortillas. Smoky and not overly sweet! Yum!

Still early afternoon, we headed towards Petoskey with a stopover in Charlevoix. I think the Fall colors are always most beautiful in cemeteries because it's so untouched. We parked our car and walked to the GZ with the last of the sunlight peaking through the trees. 

You know that perfect Fall sound... the one of leaves crunching under your feet? Yes, it was like that.

"Can't Take it With You" GC1JM9B

See nearby

We reached Petoskey and checked into the second worst hotel of our experIence. Room still not clean by 7pm. Room still not clean after the staff "finished the room". Broken TV. Rednecks shouting off the balcony. Everywhere else was booked. This is why we always travel with an oversized blanket in the car boot.

So, off the dinner. My brother, Jim, recommended the City Park Grill, site of one of Ernest Hemingway's summer haunts.

From the 1910s – 1920s, Ernest Hemingway made northern Michigan his summer home. The Annex was one of his favorite places where he would sit in the second seat from the end of the bar and write his ideas for short stories and books. The short story “Gentleman of the World” makes mention of the Annex.

Prohibition was established in Michigan in 1917. However, [Frank] Fotchtman [owner] did not abide by it and illegally served alcohol. He went as far as to build secret underground tunnels to the Cushman Hotel and the Grill Café to export alcohol. These tunnels are no longer in existence because of sewers and other city infrastructure, but the doors and openings are still visible.

Decorated for Halloween

Can you believe there's no cache at this historic restaurant or the Hemingway statue next door.

It's kinda funny. Normally on these trips we have so much to see that we don't truly take advantage of our hotel. On this trip, with no real agenda, we had planned to sleep in, but we were early up and out the door. There was nothing keeping us at this hotel. ((shudder))

With extra time on our hands, we decided to head out to MI-31 and Alanson for Earth Caches. Normally not a fan of EC's (lots of copy/paste Wikipedia entries and confusing verification questions, for my taste), it is International Earth Cache Day (weekend). 

Alanson Flowing Artesian Well GC1D6FW

We spied 3 Artesian Wells along MI-31, and two of them are Earth Caches! I LOVE Artesian wells! And the water here was so tasty! As we were visiting the first one, a local pulled up with 3 gallon jugs in hand because "it makes the best coffee"! And this sweetheart let us time her fill rate for the EC!

Oden's Flowing Artesian Well GC22YFD

Then we had decided, since we had time before meeting a friend, to grab some EC's in Petoskey. You can't go to Petoskey and NOT search for Petoskey stones! Even in 39 degree weather!

We had help from another local. He collects Petoskey stones and polishes them for resale. He told us the trick. You bring a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with water. Then you walk above the water line and dump it on the dry rocks. The distinctive markings of the Petoskey stone are most visible when wet, but other collectors tend to target those along the water line, overlooking the ones washed up higher on the shore. He also suggested we target dry rocks near bushes as people tend to avoid rocks not easily accessible. IT WORKED! We found five of them!

Petoskey Stone EC GC1VY4A

This site was a two-fer. The CO had another Earth Cache about a half mile down the coast, but he allows finders to perform the same tests here. How could we not?

The Sands of Little Traverse Bay EC GC1YH77

We passed the first of two Indian Missions as we headed away from the beach. Can you imagine this view of Lake Michigan on your doorstep?

Indian Mission

It's time! Next stop is the Charlevoix Apple Festival and our good friend, Sara (RomanTwins)! She and her husband were vending their fabulous wooden spoons. 

RomanTwins and Scrapcat

Aren't these beautiful? They feel as beautiful as they look. We bought these two and are shopping for more in their Etsy shop. Sara said they take little upkeep - they could be periodically treated with Mineral oil like you use on wooden cutting boards. We have started to purge our cheap spoon collection for a few quality pieces.

After a quick visit, Paul recommended King's Orchard (vending off the main street) where we bought the most delicious Honeycrisp apples and plain donuts. A festival on the bay, donuts and apples, and surrounded by trees bursting in color. It definitely added to the Autumn experience!

Can you see the whirligigs? I don't have an awesome picture, but we found out later a coworker of mine was vending in the next booth over.

Yes, we bought one. TaGeez did minimal damage (imagine 'bull in a China shop') walking up and down the aisles with this and sampling in Cherry Republic! This one whirls horizontally versus vertically. The designer's wife said he was inspired by the movie Twister (I've always wanted one of those whirligigs!).

We left Charlevoix and headed to the Tunnel of Trees. You'd think we'd have more pictures, but cameras aren't doing it justice and most of the ride was in other's taillights. So many others had the same idea. 

On a whim, we detoured down the South Lamkin Road. No idea this was here! It's a road that runs parallel to M-119 - lower down on the cliff  and level to Lake Michigan. It was so quiet and untouched and solitary - beautiful stately homes along curvy roads all to ourselves!

If you are caching in the area, St. Ignatios Historic Mission GC1H2J8 is a must-do! Off the beaten path, it's a historic church, Indian mission and cemetery right on Lake Michigan! 

St Ignatios Historic Mission GC1H2J8

To find the cache, you have to skirt the cemetery and follow a path to an overlook. Look at this view!

One more Indian cemetery further up the road (Corpse Village GCF895 hidden by "a pack of dead things") and then off to Mackinaw City.

Corpse Village GCF895

Dinner at the Keyhole Bar & Grill (featured that night in Food Network's "50 States of Seafood") and then one last Virtual and Earth Cache (in the cold and rain). Wanna guess what each one featured?

Mighty Mac Virtual GC7B89P

The Mighty Mackinac Bridge

Straits of Mackinac EC GC19GN2

The weekend may've been overcast and ended in rain, but the colors & adventure still warmed the soul. Hopefully this will assuage the road trip urges enough to get us through the Winter.

Dipping Our Toes into the Sand: Traverse City to Mackinaw City

Ah, last weekend found a break in the weather, and TaGeez and I headed up to Traverse City to join other Free Range Lobsters for the Red Wings Training Camp. Gorgeous weather for camping, geocaching and a little sightseeing. 

Our early morning view

scrapcat and TaGeez, taking the beach by storm!

First morning found out geocaching up Old Mission Peninsula with PopLob. Even though we garnered this Virtual smiley years ago we find ourselves at the foot of this lighthouse every year. 

This year we brought along a hitchhiker. Hockeyman40 left Octie behind in the hotel so we kidnapped him and posed him all around the peninsula. We sent teasing texts to Johnny all through the morning.

Old Mission Peninsula has a lovely virtual, family- and kayak-friendly geocaches, Earth Caches, a fabulous Travel Bug hotel, and the Zombie cache at the Bohemian Cemetery. It also has quite a bit of history with Babe Ruth batting balls into the bay and the old General Store.

As we headed off the peninsula (and onto several other Virtual and Earth Caches), we had to stop for this Old Mission Peninsula Earth Cache GC6686J. It is the best view with rolling hills filled with grapevines framed both the loveliest, blue water. 

TaGeez and I had a few hours alone so we headed inland for some Virtuals. Ghost of Prince Froggers GCA060, down some old sandy Seasonal Access roads, was a disappointment. But the Leaning Tree Trails GC792F was a lovely walk along the Keystone Rapids.

Heading to Mancino's Pizza, we made one final detour to the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Earth Cache GC14EWP. The horizon was a lovely palette of pinks and purples. The water was very still with no boats coming or going. 

We packed Sunday morning. We had decided to head home via the Tunnel of Trees and Mackinaw City. Yes, my fellow Michiganders... we decided to head home from Traverse City via Mackinaw City. If you've read this blog are you really surprised? 

Helping us begin our journey was an enjoyable Got Benchmark? Wherigo GC1WPD5 up US 23. Eight benchmarks set in these cute locations ending in a nature preserve. Tall grasses and low mushrooms. That was the last of our bushwhacking for the rest of this trip.

Time to head north towards Charlevoix and Petoskey and eventually the Tunnel of Trees.

From Harbor Springs on, M-119 is the Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route, one of the Pure Michigan Byways in the state (Wikipedia). This 20-mile drive snaking through quaint towns, historic cemeteries, camps and nature preserves....

It’s called a “tunnel,” but unlike a mountain tunnel, the Tunnel of Trees gives the road tripper a different view and experience at each twist and turn as it hugs Lake Michigan, with rich hardwoods on each side creating a tree canopy over much of the narrow road. (Roadtripper.com)

The tunnel ends in Cross Village, home of the famous Legs Inn. Oh, the history! Oh, the view! And, oh, the Polish Food! My true regret is that the sauerkraut was so damn good! Nothing worse than craving something for dinner the width of a state away!

Built in the early 20's, Legs Inn is named for the inverted cast iron stove legs the original founder used to decorate the roof of the building.

TaGeez passing the time with a new friend

As you head to the back of the property the restaurant complex overlooks Lake Michigan. Stick a quarter in the viewer to see four lighthouses in the lake. And if you find yourself weary and in need of company, set yourself down at one of the picnic tables filled with visitors drinking wine and sharing tall tales.

The view from the balcony was stunning!

It's getting late so we moseyed into Mackinaw City and the Old Mackinac Point Light.

From here you can take pictures in front of the Mighty Mackinac Bridge or mosey over to Fort Michilimackinac. 

You may remember this bridge from my posts earlier in the month when we toured the US 23 Heritage Route along Lake Huron. We started in Bay City and headed North, past the Mighty Mack and onto McGulpin Lighthouse. This time we started in Traverse City and headed North, past the Mighty Mack and onto Old Mackinac Point Light. Pretty cool visiting two Great Lakes just one bridge width apart!

Another remnant from the US 23 tour were the Tom Moran steel sculptures. Heading south we found ourselves tackling a series of Virtuals starting in Onaway. Much to our joy we passed Moran's headquarters and his famous George Washington!

A lady at a nearby gas station pointed out the new Awakon Park Sculpture and Historic Landmark Trail. We tottled over there to find all of Tom's more famous pieces mixed in with the remains of the American Wood Rim Company. Great way to top a fabulous day exploring Pure Michigan.

I've shared several of his most well-known pieces here, but I truly recommend if you are in the area to stop in. It appears to be still under development so I'd like to come back one day.

At this point we turned south and, after garnering the information for three more Virtuals, headed back to Detroit. 

Geocaching takes you to the most amazing places. And when I think of amazing places I think of Pure Michigan.