Return to the Red House

This past weekend brought another trip to visit the Red House, a vacation home near Leota in northern Michigan. The Red House is owned by my sister Peggy and her husband Harold “Hal” Losey.  I have been friends with Hal since fourth grade in our home town of Berkley, MI. Ours is the longest friendship I’ve had in my life, now over 60 years. Hal and Peggy still live in the house I grew up in.

The trip involved another pair of voyages across Lake Michigan on the coal-fired steamship S.S. Badger. I’ve sailed on this 65-year-old National Historic Landmark vessel many times. Stories and photos from previous trips are here.

Friday – Wisconsin to Michigan

My outbound trip on the Badger left Manitowoc, WI at 2:00 pm on Friday afternoon. The boat was packed with over 400 passengers and their vehicles. Here are some photos from Friday. The cloud photos at the bottom were taken at dusk on my drive from Ludington to the Red House.

Saturday – The Red House

The main event on a rainy Saturday in Northern Michigan was enjoying lunch with Hal at the Trail’s End Pub in Leota. This popular bar and restaurant caters to local residents, tourists, and the many off-road vehicle riders and snowmobilers who come to this area to launch trips from the nearby Leota ORV Trailhead. Leota is also a launch point for those wanting to float, kayak, or canoe on the Muskegon River. Photos of the Trail’s End Pub are in a separate post.

Sunday – Michigan to Wisconsin

I headed for home late Sunday morning. My return sail on the Badger wasn’t until evening, so that gave me time to tour the new Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. Photos from my visit to this museum are in a separate post.