You may not find this terribly rewarding unless you're included here, so this is a good time for casual and random browsers to turn back before they get too caught up in the sweep and majesty of the proceedings and can't let go.
After a fabulous day at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 30 May 2026, we're trekking . . .
. . . north to Michigan's Upper Peninsula ('UP', with its 'Yoopies'), and there's . . .
. . . a huge, fake hot dog.
[One can be a big fan of hot dogs for lunch, but that Wienerlicious is too much even for us with all our friends. Also, what's that white stuff on it? -- some awkward regional embellishment?]
And there's the Mackinac Bridge to Yooper glory.
Lining up for the tolls (it doesn't even take the E-ZPass like everyone else)
Only the MacPass!
So here we are at last, in St Ignace (luckily not having to go downtown again).
Turning westward along Lake Michigan on Rte 2, to our favorite stopover -- MANISTIQUE!!
We follow the lake shore for about 40 miles, and . . .
. . . can usually look out over the water.
And now we're passing the lakeside Chapel Hill Motel in Brevort Township, as well as . . .
. . . its earlier incarnation.
In a while, Rte 2 will carry on more inlandishly as the shoreline turns to the south, for about another 40 miles to Manistique. We'll know we're close when we pass the Lume Cannabis Dispensary, alongside the Kewadin Casino, 4 miles short of our destination for the night.
And at last, after passing Big Al's Food Truck on the right, we reach the Quality Inn & Suites, where we've been pleased to have stopped several times before.
One can only guess that the giant M stands for Michigan, right?
It's a homey place, not too expensive, with a very friendly staff. And the popcorn is free.
And we always like to get the corner suite.
Plenty of room for the cats to run all round and have fun!
And best of all, it's near one end of the ca. mile and a half boardwalk into the downtown.
We've usually walked it down and back, but for a number of reasons weren't able to do it this time, alas.
Where to go for dinner? Across the Manistique River at the western edge of town, there is a new restaurant, Flatiron Brewing, and as we've shown up early, we get to chat with the staff for as long as we and they like.
The building seems to be part of a general renewal of the harbor area south of the Rte 2 bridge (from Google Maps).
The Manistique Car Ferry Dock is an historical landmark; the ferry was in service from 1909 to 1968.
Plenty of room for the hungry crowds, whenever they start flocking in.
Our dinner was very good. We wish them the best of luck.
Other renovations on the site are bringing in new businesses.
Like Trader Bob's Gift Shop
And the Boudrose Lounge and the Upper Crust Cafe Bakery & Deli
And a view of the Manistique East Breakwater Lighthouse at the entry to the harbor, on the other side of the river.
The next morning, we're leaving beautiful downtown Manistique.
A few more views of the lake, then inland . . .
. . . on a long, long stretch of road improvements. Maybe part of Pres. Biden's great infrastructure bill.
And turning right at Escanaba on Rte 2 & Rte 41, due west on excellent roads.
And no traffic, going on . . .
. . . almost forever. Four and a half hours from Manistique to our destination, actually.
Which is Kristin's cottage in Hazelhurst, Wisconsin
The upper lake looks as fine as ever. Water level's commendably high. This could be fun.
The family's enclave, called 'Mussent Point', is virtually at the northern end of the 3km long lake (with sizable bays stretching out in various places.
Here, at the end of the point, facing north, is the boathouse (1938), on the National Registry of Historic Places (Dept of the Interior).
And alongside the boathouse, our little hydrobike harbor, nicely set out . . .
. . . by Kristin's brother Eric, along with her pedalboard.
The cats, after eight months stuck in a Virginia condo, are acclimating to freedom.
Melvin perched on the base of a dangerously rotting tree on the shore, professionally removed over the winter.
Choupette recalling some of the fun she's had on the trampoline in the past.
There's always the getting off of it to be remembered as well.
The next day -- what mischief shall we get into? Little mice, or a vole? Even, occasionally, a chipmunk?
One would have noted that that's Choupette's métier -- Melvin wants no part of that sort of thing. A month later, however, we were disabused. A microscopic vole went off to vole heaven.
An early summer hike along the Pottawattomie Colony's 'Canal Trail'
The southern end of the Canal Trail begins near the culvert by the Mirror Lake, descends immediately into a swamp . . .
. . . that's the awful swamp . . .
. . . and then climbs onto a sort of moraine for the next half mile.
Lots of glorious scenery along the way, but . . .
. . . mind your step.
The path drops away on both sides, and sometimes . . .
. . . some people see . . .
. . . an opportunity for some off-trail exploration.
Who knows where that will lead our explorer?
But it's a short refamiliarizing sort of walk today, so before long . . .
. . . we're back at the swamp and . . .
. . . back up to the road.
And since someone has left their Toyota Crown Signia here by the culvert, we'll grab it.
A look-in at Tigertail to check out Cousin Rob's memorial bench
There's the Tigertail peninsula, jutting out a mile and a half to the south end of the lake.
Something's gone wrong with a few of the trees.
Lightning? Testing their health by the scientists of the Northwoods Land Trust?
Pink Island across the gap into the South Shore Bay
Cousin Rob's Bench has made it through the winter!
Heading back north, and preparing for the first Crossing of the Bar this summer
Successfully this time.
The family's presence on Mussent Point
Kristin's cottage is the low one on the right.
Next up: Settling in on the lake
Dwight Peck's personal website
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All rights reserved, all wrongs avenged. Posted 4 July 2026.
