Late-Summer-Michigan-Road-Trip-Bob Davis Podcast 947

Great Summer Road Trip To Michigan

These days taking a long road trip is pretty much out of the question. But a short road trip from Minnesota to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and West Coast is perfect. Learn more in Late-Summer-Michigan-Road-Trip-Bob Davis Podcast 947.

You’ve Never Been?

First of all when I told friends I was headed to the Midwest’s ‘West Coast’ people said, “You’ve never been?”

Second as a Chicagoan I’d been to Benton Harbor and the Indiana Dunes, right?

The West Coast

However not on up Michigan’s West Coast.

The Upper Peninsula

I’d certainly been to the Upper Peninsula. But I haven’t spent much time there.

Wow

I’ll just say it. Wow.

I Want To Go Back…In The Winter!

More importantly, I think it is one of the best places to visit in the summer. So much so, I want to go back in the winter!

Not Big On Travelog Podcasts

Above all I am not one for travelog podcasts. Every bend in the highway is chronicled. Routes and places to stay talked about and so on.

The Routes

I can tell you about Wisconsin 77 connecting to Ashland County GG, and ultimately 77 all the way to Ironwood, Michigan.

Some Of The Campgrounds

Even more the Alpine Campground near Ironwood, or US 20 to US 41all the way to Marquette, Michigan. Then all the way across to Michigan 123 on down to the magnificent Mackinac Bridge.

But It’s The History That Gets Me

Then most importantly the great maritime towns along Michigan’s Lake Michigan coast from Petoskey to Charlavoix on down to Traverse City, Manistee and all the way to Ludington.

The SS Badger Is The Cherry On Top

Finally  the cherry on top for me was the four hour ferry ride on the SS Badger the only steam powered boat on the lake these days, and the last remaining rail ferry.

The Old Industrial Midwest

I am product of the old industrial Midwest.

Factories, Farms, Railroads, Mines and Lakes

My home is a heartland of factories and mines. I can’t forget the farms and train yards.

Won’t Forget Working Class History

I won’t forget the working class history here.

Still An Industrial Powerhouse

Likewise I have to point out this area remains one of the world’s most powerful industrial regions.

Travel Is All About Learning

To sum up what gets me about this kind of travel is the history.

Plenty of that in this podcast.

Sponsored by Kim Nybo Insurance and Les J Hill Life and Business Coaching

Late-Summer-Michigan-Road-Trip-Bob Davis Podcast 947

 

2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 2-Podcast 658

Seeing a complete solar eclipse at the point of greatest totality is a peak experience. Getting there might be a challenge. But it’s worth it. I take you all the way through it in 2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 2-Podcast 658.

Path To The Eclipse

We start about 40 miles south of Chicago, Illinois. Taking Illinois 1 all the way down to US 45. Then onto the Shawnee National Forest. Our target is a place called Makanda. This is the location for the longest point of totality for the solar eclipse of 2017. This is a town very close to the southern border of the Land Of Lincoln.

Little Town At The Edge Of Illinois

Lots of talk about about Carbondale, Illinois as the point of totality. Truth is, the longest period of totality at a little more than 2 minutes occurs in Makanda, a little town about twenty miles south of Carbondale. During Part 1 of the eclipse podcasts we talked with some locals and spectators. In 2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 2-Podcast 658 we experience it.

A Peak Experience

With all the media these days it seems like people want to experience everything through media. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to actually go to an event and experience it in person. In 2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 2-Podcast 658.

Eclipse energy is a real thing

On the trip and at the event we saw people struggling with pre eclipse issues. We were pushing so hard to get everything perfect it made for a very stressful trip. At one point my friend Steve said, “We’re in the path of totality now, so it really doesn’t matter where we see it”. Twenty minutes later we found the perfect spot.

Hope To See Everyone Again

Especially relevant is the real feeling of camaraderie we experienced with all the people in this little town, who came to experience the total eclipse of the sun. I think it’s fair to say we all want to come back in 2024 for the next total solar eclipse. In April of 2024 the path of totality runs through Makanda, again. In 2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 2-Podcast 658.

Sponsored by Brush Studio in The West End Saint Louis Park Minnesota

2017 Solar Eclipse Point of Totality Part 2-Podcast 658