2025-08-08 – Petoskey, MI
We headed south today, leaving the Upper Peninsula behind. Driving on an Interstate, I-75, seemed an alien experience because we’d been driving “blue roads” almost exclusively since we first arrived in Sault Ste Marie over six weeks ago.
We again got to cross the Mackinac Bridge on our way south, Nicknamed “The
Mighty Mac”. The bridge is five miles long, in total, with 7,400 feet of that length supported only by cables. While not the longest suspension bridge in the world, it is nonetheless one heck of a bridge!
Our destination was Petoskey, MI, and, as usual, our intention was to follow the shoreline of Lake Michigan, now, as closely as possible. Finding our way onto SR-119, the road soon became a winding, single-lane, two-way road hemmed in by trees on both sides with no shoulders. It was cool driving until opposing traffic came along and both drivers had to negotiate the passing situation. That section of road was about fourteen miles long! We only learned later that it was well known as the “Tunnel of Trees”.
Along the way we noted that the homes along the road were generally upscale with “upscaleness” increasing as we neared Petoskey. The first town at the end of the “tunnel” was Harbor Springs. We were surprised to find that the streets were lined with high end shops and restaurants and it was crowded with shoppers and traffic!
Continuing south we came through Bay View, a small community of beautifully maintained Victorian homes. We later learned that the community was founded in 1875 as a Methodist camp meeting known for its Chautauqua programs. It continues today as an ecumenical community where education, recreation, performing arts, and worship come together. It is celebrating its 150th Jubilee this summer.
We soon arrived in Petoskey which was also filled with shops, people and even more traffic. Continuing on to our destination we arrived at Rudbeckia Farm, Winery & Burnt Marshmallow Brewstillery, a Harvest Host. A bit south of town, it was a beautiful setting with a vineyard on the hill behind us and a field with scattered straw bales below us. The folks who ran the place were nice. Bill had an IPA, Sandy some wine and we shared a small charcuterie plate.
The temperature was in the mid 90s and there was no electricity to run the air conditioning and it was going to remain hot for the next couple of days. So we made arrangements for campgrounds for the next couple of days where we’d be able to plug in and run the AC. Reservations, as usual, were tight but we found one night at a nearby state park and the other at a commercial campground. Then we opened all our windows, turned on our fan and headed back to explore the town.
We had an air conditioned dinner at the Petoskey Brewing Company. The establishment was housed in a building constructed in 1898 for the express purpose of brewing “Petoskey Sparkle” beer. The building was tall so that gravity could be used to move materials through the beer making process.
When we returned to our camper another camper had arrived and started up a noisy generator that ran all night. Ugh! But, the breeze was cool and made for a good night’s sleep.
2025-08-09 – Petosky, MI
We moved to a commercial campground today just for electricity to run air conditioning. The only opening we could find was at Jellystone Park Petoskey, a family oriented place. It was nice but expensive and not our style. But any port in a storm!
Sandy went to Harbor Springs to explore the downtown and its tony shopping area. Bill spent his afternoon at the campground writing and reading. Temps were in the 90s so the air conditioning was a blessing!
We wanted to keep things cool and simple for dinner so Sandy whipped up a delicious, chunky chef salad.
2025-08-10 – Petosky, MI
We moved again, this time to Petosky State Park. It was much more our style, one third the cost and had an electrical hookup.
We treated ourselves to breakfast at The Bistro, a breakfast and lunch place in Petoskey. Then we explored downtown Petoskey.
Sandy got her steps, heading to the beach and walking out Petoskey Bayfront Breakwater to the light beacon at its end. Back in the campground Bill got to talking to a gal who was camped next to our site. It turns out she was from Hershey, PA.
Then we drove around the Bay View homes, delighting in all the Victorian design and gingerbread trim. We noticed lots of flags displayed as well as many homes had strings of spherical paper lanterns hung above their porches. Turns out the Association is having a 150th Jubilee Celebration and it’s been a long tradition to illuminate porches with these paper lanterns, especially at Christmas.
Dinner was a chicken stir fry. Retiring inside, the rain began and continued much of the night.