Experiencing America > Trip Year 2022 > UP Side of Life, Vol. 2 > Day 2
Day TWO...
Sunday, September 4th, 2022
The second day of this trip had us going a short distance. All along the U.S. 2 corridor on the norhtern shore of Lake Michigan. We started in Manistique, and were to finish off the day in Mackinaw City; all in the State of Michigan. As is the case most trips, most of the travel companions are not up at the break of dawn. This allowed time to reflect, and explore ones inner peace. What better place than on the beaches of Manistique. With their boardwalk that runs along the Lake Michigan coast; being there just after sunrise is insiping on a crisp morning.
Looking east along the boardwalk.
Looking at Lake Michigan.
Looking along the beach.
With the rest of the folks in our group finally up and ready for what the day has to bring...it was off to breakfast at the local Big Boy. This is the quintessential of a Michigan Sunday morning breakfast is the buffet at the local Big Boy. After breakfast it was time to explore a few of the state parks that the Michigan Department of National Resources has to offer around Manistique. First on the list is the Palms Book State Park. This is home to Kitch-iti-kipi, aka "The Big Spring". This is a beautiful clear pond with trout. The stillness and glassness is breathtaking.
The sign at the entrance to the park.
Looking out over the pond.
Another look out over the pond.
Looking down at the pond from the raft in the middle of it.
After Palm Book State Park we headed back towards U.S. 2. Along the way we took a brief stoo at Indiana Lake.
The sign for the park.
Looking out over Indian Lake.
Having to go a short distance in the days travels was a change of pace from how our road trips typlically go. This allowed us to stop when ever and where ever with no sence of time delays. One stop was a roadside park west of Manistique, near Thompson. It has plaques telling the story of the famed Christmas Tree Ship. They told of it's history, the logging in the area, and the fate of the ships.
One side of the historical marker.
The other side of the historical marker.
An anchor and the historical marker.
Looking out over Lake Michigan from the historical roadside pull off.
Now that we circled around Manistique, it was time to head east along U.S. 2. As mentioned the day before, we took a detour in our journey to see something that had been seen on an Expidetion X TV show. The next stop on the trip was to a place that we had seen on the Expidetion Unknown TV show. The Seul Choix Lightouse, southeast of Gulliver, Michigan, dates back to 1892. It's name is French with the meaning of "Only Choice". This is said because this point on Lake Michigan is the "Only Choice" for safe harbor between the Straights of Mackinac and Green Bay, Wisconsin. This society that takes care of this lighthouse was extremley welcoming, and the lighthouse itself provided great views of Lake Michigan.
A sign for the lighthouse.
Anothern sign for the lighthouse.
The lighthouse.
The view from the top.Heading further east along U.S. 2 there were more pull offs, scenic over looks, and historical markers. At Naubinway, there is a marker for the northern most point of Lake Michigan. Yet, the day before we learned that road sign markers for geographical locations are not always where the location is. Sometimes they are at a locations, because that is where the locals felt like putting it. This to was the case at Naubinway. The marker for the northern most point of the lake even says that the actual location is a few miles east of town. None the less...here is the marker.
The marker of the Northern Most Point on Lake Michigan.
Looking out over Lake Michigan from Naubinway.
Our first time in the Upper Penninsula we skipped over what is one of the best hidden beached, amazing views, and horrible staircased to go up. This is because the Upper Penninsula is a place full of "If you know; you know" type of places. Cut River as you drive along U.S. 2 at the posted speed limit (65 M.P.H.) seems just like a bridge. Yet there is more to this river crossing. The roadside pull offs should be the first clue. Once you get out and explore. You find that view of Lake Michigan from the sidewalks of the bridge is amazing. Then the trails take you under the highway. The stairs take you further down in to the ravine and to trails running along Cut River. Following the river you find yourself on this isolated beach along Lake Michigan, as Cut Rver feeds into the lake.
Looking west along U.S. 2 as it crosses Cut River.
Looking south from the Cut River Bridge at Lake Michigan.
Looking down at the river and hiking trail from the bridge.
The stairs.
The trail and river under U.S. 2.
Looking north at Cut River as it clears the trees onto the beach.
Cut River as it feeds into Lake Michigan.
There was one event that was the point of making this trip. That was the Labor Day walk of the Mackinac Bridge. This event is something that has been happening since the opening of the bridge. It is the only time pedestrians are allowed on the bridge and motor traffic is not. When going east on U.S. 2, Cut River is a waypoint for those that know, the Mackinac Bridge will be in view soon. This leads to anticipation on whom can spot it first among travelers alike. Along the way there are many places to get a great shot of this engineering marvel. One place is Bridge View Rest Area along U.S. 2, west of St. Ignace. The other is from Straits State Park in St. Ignace. Both give unique prespectives of the bridge.
A message sign forshaddowing tomorrows events.
A view from the roadside park along U.S. 2.
Looking south from Straits State Park.
The final point for the evening was in Mackinaw City. This was in preps for the bridge walk in the morning. Yet, one final show was needed. Thanks to the Food Network we found Jack Pines Lumberjack Show outside Mackinaw City. They were featured on a episode of Dinner Impossible. The show that Jack Pines puts on to show of the skill of the Lumberjack is impressive, and entertaining.
The sign for the show.
The stage for the events of the show.
Day THREE