Michigan East Coast
July 21 - 24, 2008

7.24.08: Thank you for another great trip!  You do such a great job of smoothing things over when changes have to be made. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the money to buy your own island?!  We feel so safe with Paul behind the wheel and we love his sense of humor.   Chuck & Phyllis Gordon

7.29.08:  Great pictures and write up on the trip.  Thanks for everything, we had a great time and look forward to many more trips.   Jack n Diana Boas

 

TravelStarz teamed up with Roadrunner Tours out of Greenwood, Indiana.  They arrived in South Bend, where we loaded our passengers and headed for Bay City. Stopped at Cracker Barrel in Battle Creek for lunch, later arriving in Bay City around 4:30. Refreshed at our Doubletree Hotel, then took a short walk to the Appledore, which was waiting on the Saginaw River and we headed out to sail. Fortunately, after experiencing rain a good amount of time on the drive up here, stellar weather awaited us in Bay City. A lovely buffet dinner was served on board. The crew was ready to set sail and our passengers were invited to help raise the sails. Of course, there were plenty of volunteers. As sailors, they were required to give a "Heave-Ho" on each pull of the lines. Good thing they ate enough and had plenty of energy!

A great breeze took us into Saginaw Bay for an approximate 3 1/2 hour sail. The sky offered a spectacular sunset. It did cool down enough for most of us to don light jackets by the time we reached the drawbridges on the return.



 

 

Tuesday our step-on guide met us at the hotel for a city tour. Margie was a lovely 89 year old lady with the Bay City Historical Society (and darn proud of her age, I might add), who told us the history of the logging industry and lumbermen barons as we drove past many of the historic homes. Morning tea was served in the garden at Matthew 6:36 Gallery & Inn, a lovely bed & breakfast, after Denise, the Innkeeper, gave us a brief history of their lovely home, then released us to fully explore on our own.

We then began our move to Tawas when the weather decided to not be kind to us, experiencing rain to drizzle during almost the entire drive. After checking into our hotel, it was determined that the 5' ton 6' waves would be too high and rough for us to go to Charity Island. Small craft warnings were then issued. Thanks to Heidi Dewald of Michigan Sunrise Tours, we switched to "Plan B" and proceeded to Wiltsie's Pub & Grill in Osoda. Wiltsie's had little notice to expect 44 guests for dinner and did an excellent job in being fully prepared for us, serving a great dinner with service at almost the speed of light.

We hoped the weather cooperates Wednesday so we can lunch on Charity Island before our move to the Thunder Bay Elk Lodge and Resort.

Typical historic homes in Bay City.


Matthew 6:36 Bed & Breakfast - Afternoon Tea

We woke, got ourselves ready and went down to breakfast. The skies were not looking great, but we had high hopes for being allowed to go to Charity Island. It started to clear and received the go-ahead from Heidi to depart on our adjusted schedule to Charity Island, even though it was a bit windy.

We boarded the Shirley Ann for our 8 mile cruise to Charity Island. (Kinda sounds a little like Gilligan's Island, huh?) The waters were a little rough, but not bad. Accompanied by Karen Wiltsie, we arrived to find the sun shining and pleasantly warm. Karen's husband, Bob, met us on shore and we gathered in their pavilion to hear the story of how Bob and Karen acquired the island....or at least part of it at this time. The government red tape was sure more than I would have endured, but they were persistent and now welcome tourists to their lovely home.

We made a walk through the woods to their lovely home and lighthouse to have a marvelous lunch of either lake perch or beef tips on their wrap around deck porch, which they cook right in the front yard under a large tent. This is a true treat! After lunch, everyone roamed through the yard and at the water's edge, as well as exploring their lovely summer home.

Sadly, it was time to depart, so it was back through the woods to board the North Star. Those who had some difficulties walking were taken on their hayride type wagon. We were told the waters had gotten a bit rough and it would be a bumpy ride back to shore, taking a bit longer as we were going to take a longer route to better ride the waves.....and bumpy it was, but some considered it "an adventure".

My camera was acting up while on Charity Island.  If any of the passengers have pictures, I would love to have a copy and give Charity Island the credit it deserves.


We then proceeded to Hillman, Michigan and the Thunder Bay Elk Preserve. After getting our luggage taken to the rooms and checking out our rooms, we boarded the horse drawn carriages for a narrated tour through the elk preserve, where we viewed elk up close and personal! What beautiful stately creatures they are! And as fascinated with us as we were of them.



It was then off to the lodge for a dinner that was spectacular beyond words! No one knows how to do dinner any better than Jack and his wife, who he refers to as "his bride". Much of the dinner is prepared before our eyes. And the bantering between Jack and "his bride" between courses left us laughing and waiting for their next tales after the current course was finished. You will find no better hosts!

 

And a lovely couple from Ft. Wayne celebrating her 50th birthday.

 

The men's and ladies' restrooms.

What a good lookin' group we had!!!

 



We boarded the carriages again headed to our superior rooms for a good nights sleep.

Morning probably came too quickly for some, as this was our last day. So it was bags out and we headed to the Club House for a great buffet breakfast. We board the bus and say our good-byes to Jack and his daughter Melanie and we head for the NOAA Maritime Shipwreck Preserve in Alpena, where we were met by our guide in their new gallery to observe the work that is done to preserve the history of the most treacherous area of the Great Lakes, where approximately 160 ships have succumbed to the waters of the bay, and approximately 10,000 ship wrecks in Lake Huron since shipping began. Quite fascinating statistics!

The first picture is a replica of before the ship sank.  The second picture is of its condition on the bottom of Lake Huron at the present time.

Artifacts being cleaned in their lab.

Being that we had to eliminate the lighthouse stops on Wednesday due to the adjustment of the schedule due to the weather, we did make a brief stop at Sturgeon Point Lighthouse before our departure for home.