Michigan

OK - I've settled in, rested, and gotten re-focused.  In a few minutes I'll start Season 7 of "Bosch" on Amazon.  I've been saving this last season for this trip, but, just like at home, the combination of Amazon and the wi-fi kept freezing it up.  The wi-fi here seems to be strong, so we'll see.

Today I probably took the longest trip you can possibly take and still stay in Michigan, starting at the southeast corner, not far from Detroit, and traveling to the very end of the Upper Peninsula, in the far northwest, a stone's throw from Minnesota.

I went straight north along the center of the "mitten" to the Macakinac Bridge.  It took all morning, even at 75 mph (the speed limit).  The view for the first third was, unfortunately, trees on either side of the road, obscuring whatever was behind them,  I drove through the classic American car country - Flint, Pontiac, etc. - but only saw one plant, which stretched on as far as I could see.  Then a brief drive through farmland, perhaps halfway up the mitten, and the rest was forest. I did see a billboard for "The World's Largest Crucifix," but I resisted the temptation.  Also, near the top of the mitten, I drove through Otsego County, and saw, in the distance, Lake Otsego.  And finally - did you know that in Michigan, there is a town named Zilwaukee?

The bridge is huge - it seemed like it is miles long* - and the impression is that any land you can see is impossibly far away, in all directions (the massive arc of the bridge obscured the land you were heading for).     

Then after a morning of driving north, I turned left on the UP (residents call themselves "yoopers") and, for about an hour, followed it's south shore, with constant, awesome views of Lake Michigan, which went on beyond the horizon.  Everything was sand, like the outer Cape.

Then I spent probably the last five hours of the trip zig-zagging north and west (mostly west) on two lane roads through the interior of the UP, which was much less interesting.  Remote, rural, poor and left behind.  Lots and lots of abandoned gas stations, warehouses, stores, and ancient tourist courts with whole rows of tiny cabins rotting into the sand.  Lots of truck repair places, pasty shops, and convenience stores.  Not many hotels - or cannabis billboards.  There was occasional water - lakes, inlets, etc. - but mostly two lanes through endless stunted forest.

I think I'll write a separate post on the difficulties with hotels when not on the Interstate, and its effect on a possible slight route change.  I'm not a cellphone warrior and apps just defeat me, so it may just make sense to go with what I know.  More later; "Bosch" is calling.

 - * Turns out it's nearly five miles long.