Thumbs Up to Michigan: A Photo Travel Journal (56k Warning)

So this morning at 8 am Kate and myself set off to explore the thumb region of Michigan, something I had not ever done. With my trusty Garmin nüvi 760 and a back up paper map I set off to see what sort of mis-adventure I could get myself in to. I had a couple stops lined up such as the Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park, Bad Axe, Harbor Beach, Port Sanilac, and Port Huron.

Here is sort of what my route looked like, thanks to Microsoft Streets and Trips 2008, picked up at Costco for $29.99 a couple weeks ago.



Going though the sugar beat fields of Michigan's Thumb area provided some entertainment, at least to a young guy from suburbia.

First off a tractor dealership, I don't know why I found this fascinating but I did.



Then I came across a WalMart in the middle of nowhere, I mean there was nothing but farm fields surrounding it and I was at least 40 miles from an substantial town. Also it was extremely busy, which seemed odd since most of the towns nearby probably barely had 200-300 people in them. It was a Super Centre too, whatever that meant. The only reason I stopped was because I needed to use the bathroom.



Then we ended up at the Petroglyphs, which is a big slab of sandstone back in the woods which had carvings on it from the Native Americans that inhabited the area. With me being interested in archaeology it seemed like a pretty cool stop since my one professor had always told me to get there if I could. They were quite cool, but the sad part is they seem rather hidden and unheard of. I strongly encourage anyone to take in the history of your local area if you can and appreciate it for what it is.





After the Petroglyphs we made our way to Bad Axe just down the road, there really isn't much there, sort of Small Town USA esque. I just liked the name of it and it's pretty much known throughout Michigan as "Nasty Hatchet"



After that it was about a 20 mile run to the Lake Huron and Harbor Beach. I hadn't been here is probably 15 years and it was the place where I went fishing with my dad for the first time out on the Great Lakes.





Then it was a run down Hwy 25 which ran down the coast of Lake Huron providing some nice scenery and photo taking opportunities.



The road sort of gave up after a while and I had to endure 15-17 miles of this crap which vibrated the hell out of the car.



Hwy 25 dumped us into Port Huron near the Blue Water Bridge which connects Port Huron to Sarina, ON. I almost wish I would have thought to have brought my Passport so I could have gone over there to check some things out.



It's also the area where Thomas Edison grew up . My favourite professor, who told me to check out the Petroglyphs headed up the archaeological dig on Edison's boyhood home back in the 70's. This statue is near the museum which my professor helped create. I thought it would be cool to check out what he's always talked about and I've seen the slides, some of the artefacts, and a bunch of the field notes through various classes.



After Port Huron it was a short run down a highway and back home.

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Going around, it was needless to say I collected quite a collection of insects on the front of the Cooper. I've honestly never had this many bugs on the front of a vehicle before.



And while driving I average decent fuel economy .

Looks like a fun time, Joey. Except for that washboard road. Ouch!

Fourty-four point one, huh? You beat my most recent trip in the Civic. I got straight up 40mpg's going anywhere between 72 and 57 mph (mostly 67). I thought that was pretty decent.

Come to Florida in mid-to-late May...that is a bug attack your bumper and hood will never recover from forget.

Bad Axe is a totally awesome name for a town. How many aspiring non-Scandinavian death metal bands are practicing in garages there?

Joey D

Hwy 25 dumped us into Port Huron near the Blue Water Bridge which connects Port Huron to Sarina, ON. I almost wish I would have thought to have brought my Passport so I could have gone over there to check some things out. [/IMG]

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You're not missing much, it would've been a waste of the few dollars the toll bridge collects. I've gotten hounded for hours at that crossing when absolutely nothing was wrong with our car, possessions or documentation, and I've breezed through when we were the sketchiest group of people imaginable, so it's also not worth risking the wait at customs.

Odd, I've lived in Michigan all of my life, but I don't think I've ever ventured into the thumb. I'm told its quite beautiful, and its kinda like their version of Traverse City (and that area) for us west-siders... Just a bit closer...

If I had money, I'd love to do a photo journal of the UP. That would be awesome.

I could average about 65 on the back roads and 55 along the lake, although I ran into traffic of all things on a back highways (can't ever remember what number) of guys in Amish buggies. I couldn't even get upset, I drove past them very slowly and they tipped their hats and said "wonderful morning to you kind sir".

I plan on doing some other trips over the summer, in a couple weeks Kate and myself are going to Hell, MI and then probably over the 4th we will be heading over to Grand Haven. I am going to try to get into the UP this year to see the Pictured Rocks as well.

Looks like Michigan, where the only exciting things are the car you came in or other man made landmarks. Well done putting up with the miles and miles of straight road and corn fields on either side.

Road trips are always fun though. Looks like you two had a fun time. And that Cooper is incredibly efficient.

TB

Except for that washboard road. Ouch!

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Bah. I have to put up with that stuff to get anywhere in my town. And the washboard is the smooth stuff. Avoiding the random drains sticking 2 inches above the road and the wheel-bending parts where the construction ends is a real challenge here. And every freeway here challenges that stuff in the amount everything vibrates.

They were mostly sugar beat fields, but the concept is the same. The thumb area is home to Pioneer Sugar. There was also a lot of sod farms.

Michigan seems to be lacking elevation changes . I love pictures of the Great Lakes, though 👍.

Depends on where you are, as always. Head north to the "finger tips" or to the UP (Upper Peninsula) and the terrain changes quite a bit. But, for the most part, lower Michigan is pretty flat unless you're in a river valley. Here in West Michigan, its a bit of both, but yeah, it depends.

In this area of Michigan we sort of got bulldozed by the glaciers during the Ice Age. There are some hills but really the elevation change isn't much. Anything below 907ft above sea level was under water at one point in time as well, which is most of the area. When I'm on an archaeological excavation we find fossilized shells all the time...not that archaeologist look for those sort of things .

Kylehnat

Michigan seems to be lacking elevation changes . I love pictures of the Great Lakes, though 👍.

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Thats the truth. The one area around that has quite large hills is a place called Silver Lake which is on the wast side of the state. The amazing part is that its like a desert right next to Lake Michigan and you are allowed to drive any vehicle onto the dunes. The dunes even go higher than the trees. We go there quite often with our quads. I posted quite a few pics last year. Yes Michigan is quite bland overall. Nice pics Joey. Also 44mpg is really good. Thats about the exact same mileage I get in my 96 Saturn. 👍

YSSMAN

Depends on where you are, as always. Head north to the "finger tips" or to the UP (Upper Peninsula) and the terrain changes quite a bit. But, for the most part, lower Michigan is pretty flat unless you're in a river valley. Here in West Michigan, its a bit of both, but yeah, it depends.

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I'd really like to head up to that part of Michigan sometime as well. I've only heard good things about it and that makes me rather curious. I'm sure it can't hold a candle to the cascades, but it probably is quite fascinating.

And I'm still convinced that the tallest hill in West Michigan is the approach to the bridge from M6 to West 196 over in Hudsonville.

That's about 10 minutes from me... And its nothing! Head out of Grand Rapids, north towards the Rockford area, and you get into some fun stuff. I know Camaroboy is familiar with the area around Grattan, but that's where I used to do a lot of my bike training, and its lovely no matter if you're pedaling yourself or in a car.

YSSMAN

That's about 10 minutes from me... And its nothing! Head out of Grand Rapids, north towards the Rockford area, and you get into some fun stuff. I know Camaroboy is familiar with the area around Grattan, but that's where I used to do a lot of my bike training, and its lovely no matter if you're pedaling yourself or in a car.

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Funny you mention Grattan. I have another event road track event coming up. https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=107882

About a month ago, My dad and I drove from North Carolina to Sault Sainte Marie michigan, to visit my sister and her family. If you dont know where that is, heres a map:



It was a lot of fun, and my sister lives right on the border of canada and Michigan. (her husband works for the border patrol). But, since we had to go to the upper penninsula, I drove across a much larger bridge than yours.



Thats mackinac bridge.

I've only been across the "Mighty Mac" twice... Just went into the UP for flapjacks. Yep. I'm one of those kinds of "trolls."

God it's been ages since I've gone across the Mackinac, it's on the list of places to go this year though.

Pupik

Come to Florida in mid-to-late May...that is a bug attack your bumper and hood will never recover from forget.

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I was going to post the same exact thing.

Joey D

God it's been ages since I've gone across the Mackinac, it's on the list of places to go this year though.

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Other than that bridge, theres nothing around. It was a boring drive from there to sault sainte marie. Still though, an amazing sight to see. We went to a few lighthouses on lake superior, and the view was spectacular. I didnt like the 40 degree weather in May, however.