Entry into the U.S. & Michigan

Crossing the border at Sault Ste Marie into the United States was about as non intrusive as it has ever been for us crossing there. It took us 20 minutes or less in traffic to get to a patrol booth and once there the guard asked. ”Where you from, when did you go into Canada, & what did you bring back. Have a good day!” That was it. No inspections and no questions about whom all were aboard or did we bring back any fish. It was quick, easy and simple so the next time we come back we’ll get hammered!
My objective on this trip was to see as much of the US & Canada in the time we had with very little time on the Interstate Highway System. A friend of mine, Randy Dupree, told me once he never bought anything off the Interstate Highway except fuel & bad food. Well there is a lot a truth in that statement & I agree. I would also say you really get to see the real people when you travel the back roads, I guess it’s like Charles Kuralt’s On the Road, the byways and the back country roads is where you really see America, on either side of the border.
After we got into Michigan we did have to travel down the I-75 until we crossed the bridge at Mackinaw City, once we crossed the bridge we got on 31S towards Petoskey, where we stayed at Petoskey State Park. Before we got to Petoskey we went down about 25 miles of M119 a tree covered bywa along the Lake Michigan Shoreline, it was a beautiful sight. Wonderful homes and a beautiful sunset could be seen from that route. I would highly recommend this to anyone, the fall would even be more spectacular.
Now I understand the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has to maintain a lot of facilities but I believe their pricing structure is a little unfair. It cost us $14 to get in the park at petoskey then we had to pay an overnight fee to camp. They charged us $8 for the bus & $6 for the tow. I asked if I drove a truck towing a 35’ fifth wheel what would it cost to get in, only $8 for the motor vehicle & nothing for the trailer. I’m not talking a boycott here but I do feel that equal fees for all who enter would be more fair.
Petoskey State Park is a nice park and if we are ever in the area again we will return. One night was not enough. We left traveling down US31 through town and down the Michigan Lake Shoreline then we got on M72 and followed it for awhile. Traveling from one small town to another seeing what were tourist traps and where the real people actually live. Eventually we came to M55 and headed inland until we got to the Manistee National Forest, very large and well appointed for the outdoors person, fishing, snowmobile trails, hiking & camping. Tonight we are at Pine Lake Recreational Area dry camping; it’s nice, and small with only 12 sites in this area. Tomorrow we plan on heading back to US31 to head south. Our next stop will be Warren Dunes State Park near Bridgman, MI. Warren Dunes is a wild sand dunes area in Michigan, the sand gets blown in off Lake Michigan and piles up extremely high along that area of the Michigan shoreline.