Autumn in Michigan is synonymous with color! Red sumac, orange maples, gold birch and
aspen and dark green pines! Our Fall
Color trip was just a few days before prime color but it did NOT
disappoint! Crisp, cool mornings, dark
rolling storm clouds interspersed with periodic bright blue skies kept our
senses guessing. This time, our
venture started out on the Lake Huron side of the state, beginning in
Pinconning and pausing in Tawas City where we parked at a Passport America
campground that was okay for the price we paid but certainly not for the price
without the discount. The good part
was that since it was not right on Lake Huron, as the city park is, the gusty
lake winds were buffered somewhat before they slid into the campground. Breakfast was the first day’s agenda and we
found a tasty one at the local restaurant in downtown East Tawas! Exploring was next and we headed north -
towards Alpena, stopping every little bit to check out a park or shop or a lighthouse. The upcoming weekend was the local
lighthouse festival so we missed the doings at the Sturgeon Point lighthouse
and school but the views of the threatening storm clouds over the expanse of
empty beach was impressive.
On our way back to
camp we traveled the “River Road National Scenic Byway” which is a 22-mile
rambling road, which runs west from Lake Huron in Oscoda and follows the always
beautiful Au Sable River. We stopped at
dams, checked out the campgrounds where we have stayed before, revisited the
Lumberman’s Memorial Monument which is a 15 ft bronze statue that represents
the 1800 lumber industry. We even
managed to descend the 300 steps at Iargo Springs to view the natural springs ¾
of the way to the rivers edge. We took
advantage of the several viewing decks and thankfully managed to ascend those
300 steps back to the top! Further west
were several more viewing areas with awesome views of the winding river and her
wider pond areas with hillsides splattered with bursts of color
The next morning,
after another good breakfast at another good restaurant in town, we did get to
climb the close together, circular, open steps of the Tawas Point Lighthouse
and scan the horizon from the very narrow top!
We climbed slowly and came down more slowly - me with my eyes fixed on
the back of H’s head, one hand securely on his shoulder and the other gripping
the cold metal railing!
From Tawas we moved farther west to Rose City and secured a
good spot in the Grouse Haven campground in the Rifle River Recreation
Area. H did see a grouse! We also saw a deer and 2 of her teenage fawns
and a handful of huge black turkeys! As
always we retraveled the gravely, one way, VERY narrow roadway that meanders
thru the park, past the 5 secluded pristine lakes and the primitive campgrounds
snuggled into the dense woods.
One of H’s favorite things to do in this area is to “hunt
grouse” - - from the drivers seat of his truck! And we did! Once we left
the city limits of Rose City we found a sandy two track and followed first one
and then another and another – going north, then east, then west and then north
again! After one of those turns we
ended up on a power line trail. At the
top of the big soft sandy hill, which was obviously very popular with other
4-wheelers, you could see the light tan ribbon of trail lying out in front of
us! We ended up in Mio and never drove
on a paved road till we reached that city limit!
The weekend was approaching and we were to be at the Bay
City Conservation and Gun Club so H could participate in a Sporting Clay Event
on Sunday so on Saturday morning we headed south. The fella’s at the club welcomed us and assisted in getting us
set up and hooked into their electric power for the evening. With the afternoon open, we asked for
directions on finding the Dow Gardens in Midland, which was about 20 miles
away. We had seen signs for the gardens
on our previous trip thru that town and were anxious to see them up close. I am so glad that we did! The grounds are on 110 acres that was the
original family estate of Herbert H Dow the founder of the Dow Chemical
Co. He and his wife Grace raised their
children there and their son, Alden B Dow built his modernistic home there in
1942. He studied under Frank Lloyd
Wright before becoming a famous architect in his own right. His home and studio seem as if they are
growing in the middle of a pond! Some
of the buildings and features in the garden were designed by Alden, including
the “Sun Bridge” which casts a perfect circle on the calm waters of the stream
that pass below it. Even tho the bright
colors of the summer blooms have faded, the fall foliage still glowed along the
stepping stone walkways, or near the bouldered passageways or around the bend
from the bridge built out of clinkers. It
must have been prom night in Midland because the park became overrun with
pretty girls dressed in their finest, escorted by lanky teen boys in their
matching tux. Helicopter Moms with busy
cameras hovered over and around all of them!!
It was indeed a great spot for prom pictures!!! But the sun was sinking lower and the temps
were dropping and getting colder so we knew it was time to head back to base.
The Bay City C&G Club sure put on a nice event for their
shooters. Bob fixed breakfast for
everyone and while the guys were out “hunting” for those wary bright orange
clay pigeons, he prepared chili, brats, beans, hotdogs and brownies for the
cold, hungry hunters! Since H shot in
the first group that went out, he was back fairly early so we enjoyed a good
meal, said our thanks and good byes and headed south and home.
