50+ Lifestyles

Enjoying Life

By Mary Schricker Gemberling

“The morning light shimmered through the trees and gave the lake an otherworldly hue. Everything in summer Michigan seemed to have a  soft shimmer to it, as though God had hung gauze over the sky and softly scattered glitter  on all His creations.”……..Viola Shipman

With the unofficial end of summer behind us, Gary and I headed north in our motorhome for a week long journey through the UP and around Lake Michigan. After driving seven hours, we arrived at the home of Barb and Jerry Neumann who are friends of friends from Gary’s college days. The Neumanns, new to RV-ing, have a beautiful lakefront home on Big Lake Chetac in Birchwood Wisconsin.

After a restful night we were ready to get on the road. We headed across Wisconsin with the cooler temps in the 50s and just a hint of foliage color, a premonition of autumn. Through the dense forest we could see an occasional dwelling flanked by a backdrop of sparkling blue water. I love driving along these two lane roads through small towns, all so ‘North Woods’ similar yet uniquely different.

We decided to take a break and have a bite to eat. The Chuckwagon Restaurant, along route 2 looked like a good place to stop as they had plenty of parking for two large RVs. Little did we know that the building, a historical landmark, originally started out as a tourist camp in the 1930s. After a tasty lunch we headed to Iron Mountain to visit the WWII Glider and Military Museum. The glider featured in this museum was built by Ford Motor Company, and is one of only seven fully restored CG-4A World War II gliders in the world. Aside from being a life-long learner, my marriage to a veteran has given me a greater appreciation for the preservation of military collections.

Our next stop was Lakeshore Campground on the shores of Lake Michigan. Tucked into the woods surrounding the lake, our sites were quiet and secluded, a sure recipe for a peaceful night. After a sound sleep and modest breakfast we once again prepared the RV for traveling. We only had about 100 miles to drive to Mackinaw City, where we would spend the next two nights. The drive on Route 2 hugged the shores of Lake Michigan’s crystal blue water. It was one of those sunny, not a cloud in the sky, glad to be alive days!

After checking into the campground we decided to try one of Michigan’s 300 microbreweries for lunch. The atmosphere, food, and service at the Rusted Spoke Brewing Co. did not disappoint. Our next activity took us back a few years to Colonial Michilimackinac. The fort constructed by the French in 1715 became the great fur trade center of the Northwest until its relocation to nearby Mackinac Island in 1781. Its rich history dominated by the French, British and Americans spattered with threats from the regional tribes is interesting fodder for another article. Nearby within the grounds of the Michilimackinac State Park on the shore of Lake Michigan is the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. Founded in 1889 and in operation from 1890 until 1957, it sits at the junction of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. With 129 lighthouses, Michigan boasts the most lighthouses of any US State.

On the following day we started early in anticipation of catching the 9 o’clock ferry to Mackinaw Island. For those of you who are not familiar with the island, no cars are allowed and all visitors must rely on walking, bicycling, or horse drawn buggies. Upon arrival we decided to take a tour of the island in one of those buggies. We were blessed with another beautiful day and the trip around the island was one of the highlights of the entire week. After lunch we strolled up and down the main street and of course stopped to sample some of that famous Mackinaw Island fudge. My favorite was double dark chocolate with pecans. After a return ferry ride and shuttle back to the campground we were ready for some R & R.

The next morning we slept in a bit as our next two night stop was only about 100 miles away on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. All of our campgrounds on this trip had been really nice but the one in the Traverse City area near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park exceeded all expectations. Located just outside the small town of Empire Michigan we were close to just about everything we had planned for the next two days.

We drove the ‘Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive’ through Sleeping Bear Dunes Park; stopped at a roadside stand for apples, peaches, and cherry pie; meandered through small towns eating and strolling the main streets; found a small winery and listened to music while we sampled their wines; and spent lots of time relaxing and enjoying our wonderful campground, What a beautiful area of Michigan!

The last night of our trip was spent in Ludington at another state of the art campground. We chose Ludington so that Barb and Jerry could ride the ferry across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc Wisconsin shortening their trip home by several hours.

The SS Badger is a passenger and vehicle ferry that has been in service since 1953. It is the last coal-fired passenger steamship in operation in the United States. It can accommodate 600 passengers and 180 vehicles, including RVs, motorcycles, motor coaches, and commercial trucks.

As we had done during many evenings during the past week we spent our last night sharing a meal and playing a game or two of cards. We had all enjoyed the time together exploring the great state of Michigan.

“A wanderer’s journey is most meaningful when it inspires and connects people”

Mary, a former educator and Seniors Real Estate Specialist is the author of four books: The West End Kid, A Labor of Love; My Personal Journey through the World of Caregiving, Hotel Blackhawk: A Century of Elegance, and Ebenezer United Methodist Church; 150 Years of Resiliency.