10/11 (T-W) September 2013
Tawas Point to Rogers City
Our last morning at Tawas State Park was mostly consumed with repacking and sorting of all the camping gear. There had been some rain overnight so anything left out was soaked, including the tent.
We wiped everything down and tried to get all the sand and debris off the coolers, etc. The tent got stuffed into a large garbage bag we had brought just for this purpose. We would dry it out later. For now we wanted to hit the road to see what was in store for us.
Our route for the day. A mere 200 miles. Just the way we like it.
We decided to check any state parks we passed along the way and the first one was Harrisville SP. It is about 30 miles north of Tawas Point SP.
Harrisville State Park is a heavily wooded state park on the shore of Lake Huron. It is located on U.S. Route 23 in Harrisville, Alcona County, Michigan. Established on a mere 6 acres (0.024 km) in 1921, it is one of the oldest parks in the Michigan State Park system, today encompassing some 107 acres (0.43 km). There were an estimated 151,273 visits to the park in 1996.
Source: WikiPedia
We arrived at Harrisville State Park around 11am to a light breeze and crystal clear sky.
Click on the photos below for a larger image.
As soon as we saw the beach we knew this stay would be longer than just a "drive through".
I don't consider myself a beach person, but these wild, undeveloped beaches up this way are mighty nice. And, mid-week, in September, they are often deserted.
This is looking north towards the Harrisville State Park campground. We checked it out later. Very nice! Next time we are going to by-pass Tawas Point SP and stay here at Harrisville.
We reluctantly gathered up the chairs and towels and continued on north. We were not sure where we would be staying that night. We saw no place along the way which looked appealing. After looking over the map Betsy noticed Rogers City was off the main road and along the lake shore so we decided to give it a try.
We saw no place to stay but the Driftwood Motel. Betsy went in and checked on pricing, etc. It was 80 bucks. Ouch. Since I had given up my veto power on lodging, we ended up staying. It was nothing to write home about but it was just a short walk to the beach so got our chiars and towel and headed on down to the water.
By now it was Happy hour so we had snacks and a few beverages and enjoyed having the place to ourselves.
Where there is water....
This was the scene the next morning from the second floor balcony of our room at the Driftwood.
We got packed up and then headed back to check out a quarry operation we had driven by the day before.
As you can see from this Google image, the quarry is rather large.
Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company (a.k.a. "Michigan Limestone") operates the world's largest limestone quarry located near Rogers City, Michigan. It was founded in 1910, however production didn't begin until 1912. Ownership of the quarry has changed a number of times in recent years, but it is still one of the country's largest producers of limestone.The limestone which it uses is found in the limestone deposit underground in the northeastern part of Northern Michigan near Alpena just south of Rogers City along the shore of Lake Huron.
The quality of the limestone deposit at Rogers City, the size of the deposit, and the availability of easy water transportation led to the development of the quarry and a port. Both the quarry and the port are named Calcite after the principal ingredient of the stone.
Source: WikiPedia
It was difficult to get a shot of how big this place was. But from our vantage point the big rock trucks looked like ants.
The bucket size is 27 cubic yards. Not that big really when you consider the drag line buckets on some coal strip jobs were as big as 105 cubic yards.
After looking over the quarry we went back through town to get a few shots.
Betsy always did prefer big wienies...
Interesting combo. Praise the Pork!
Talk about whimsy!
Our next stop was Hoeft State Park which was only about 5 miles north of Rogers City. We saw a bike path which connected the two.
P. H. Hoeft State Park is located 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Rogers City, Michigan, on US 23 in Presque Isle County. Donated on January 2, 1922 by lumber baron Paul H. Hoeft, the heavily wooded park sits on 1 mile (1.6 km) of Lake Huron shoreline and offers 143 campsites along with 4 miles (6.4 km) of hiking trails, hunting, playgrounds, a picnic pavilion and a lodge. The Huron Sunrise Trail bicycle path connects the park to Rogers City and the 40 Mile Lighthouse county park.
The pavilion is situated just off of the beach and was erected in the late 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. With its open beam construction, split rock foundation, large floor, fireplace and separate changing rooms this pavilion offers facilities for a family picnic or family reunion.
The Park Ranger cabin originally purchased from a Sears and Roebuck catalog in 1929 was the home of the park caretaker until its retirement in 2006. It has since been reopened as a year-round lodge that sleeps eight people and offers modern amenities such as electricity, bathrooms and a kitchen.
Source: WikiPedia
This park, like the others we had visited, was spotless and well maintained. Hoeft had a an old timey feel to it which we liked.
I love those old cast iron grills. Gotta git me one!
And here we are at our second quiet and deserted beach for the day.
Although the beach was nice and sandy, the lake floor was not. Now we know where all the cobbles used in the houses we saw came from.
In places there were huge, deep deposits of shells.
Betsy had not really anticipated any swimming for the day. Harrisville SP was unexpected. And Hoeft? It was secluded enough for a skinny-dip.BONUS!
After this delightful stop we continued on north. Soon we would be in the Yooper...
See you then...