Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Bob Visits Bear Lake

  On Sunday (01/02) Bob  and Larry Sabin set out for a quick trip to Bear Lake, Michigan, the home of our warmest childhood memories. He's coming home on Wednesday (01/05) so the trip was a bit of a whirlwind.

 But winter trips to the north come with the risk of slippery weather and this one was no different. In fact they're leaving in  advance of a winter storm that could drop over half a foot of snow in Bear Lake.

 In the meantime they've had a chance to visit the old haunts and have some good meals.

 Here then are the photos from the trip ...


 Formerly the Bella Vista Inn, the motel (12273 West Street) is under new management and with a new name. Tom  and I have stayed there and love the handy location.



 Bear Lake was solidly frozen and Bob  said ice shanties dot the lake. They were hesitant to walk on it but clearly the tracks show it was safe for some weight.


  A Lake Michigan view near Pierport, just a few miles west of Bear Lake.



 This is a view (above) of our former cottage. It's located within the Dayton Bear Lake Outing Club.


 And here's a closer view ...


 Inspiration Point just north of Arcadia, Michigan on M-22 is a popular turnout.


 Another view of Inspiration Point ...


 Bear Lake again from near town.




 At the Big Bay, Bob  and Larry spotted  these tracks in the snow. Fox?


 And now a quick tour of the Dayton Bear Lake Outing Club ...







 My grandfather, Elwood Schmidt, constructed a martin house in the late 1960's (he died in 1970) and it was placed on this post near the lake. This plaque was installed in his honor.









 Some closer views of our former cottage. This is a rear view. It has been greatly expanded since we sold it (1970's?) and also updated.



 Behind the garage ...




 Two more views of our former cottage (above and below)


 On 01/05/22 the guys are returning home and trying to stay in front of s snowstorm arriving from the west. Bear Lake is under a Winter Storm Warning with up to 7" of snow expected today. Bob said when they left (about 6 AM) they already had 4" on the ground.


 Bob's Chevy Silverado ought to travel well on the snow. I told them to head east and not to go south along Lake Michigan because that's where the snow would be the heaviest.


 Here's Larry readying for the long ride home. 

 Looks to me that they're getting out of town just in time, too. The NWS is calling for another 6" of daytime snow accumulation and perhaps another 2" tonight. That might place the area closer to a foot of snow before this is over.


 They stopped at Burke's Waterfront in Cadillac for breakfast. Bob's comment: "I look tired". Well, yeah.


 Larry Sabin waiting for their meal 



 And so they're traveling east away from the storm, soon to turn south and outrun  the snow. Trying to visit Bear Lake in the winter always offers travel concerns. I remember being there on my Christmas vacation from high school in the 1960's. We found lots of snow on the ground but didn't have to outrun any storms.

 They arrived home about 2 PM.

 Good memories are still being created.







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