The Redneck Riviera

It’s the sunrise side, it’s the Lake Huron side, it’s vacation land in the Thumb, also known as the Redneck Riviera! No, this is not derogatory at all, we embrace our Bud Light and flannel! We are proud to be down to earth with a little cabin on the bay, bonfires on the beach, camping and tubing, brats and burgers, sand in our toes and s’mores all around. It is believed that the moniker Redneck Rivera came from the laid back atmosphere of the Caseville area. Many of the vacationers are blue-collar workers who have created a much different vibe than can be found on the West side of our great state.  

 
 

The M-25 Drive - Bayport the First Stop

Want to see what I’m talking about? Trust me you will love how relaxed and casual a summer trip to the Thumb can be. Try taking the M-25 drive and you will be hooked! M-25 travels from Port Huron to Bay City and there are many sights along the way. In this journey we focus on the route from Caro to Caseville.

 
 

 

Take M-24 (Lapeer Road) north through Caro. You will drive through much farmland and a small farming town called Sebawaing. Things start to get really interesting as you reach Bayport, home of the fish sandwich festival. The Bay Port Fish Sandwich Festival is the largest single eating event in Michigan's Upper Thumb. Bay Port Fish Sandwiches are an original creation which began in 1978. The popular weekend event is packed full of activities for family fun and continues to grow each year.

 

Wildfowel Bay near Bay Port

 

 

 

Your drive will take you along Wildfowl Bay with glimpses of the great Lake Huron along the way. As you approach Caseville you begin to see the traps of tourism at its Thumb Michigan best. Beautiful vacation homes, cabins, cottages and trailers. T-shirt shops, souvenir stands, greasy spoons, putt-putt golf and ice cream shops as well. If you are of a mind don’t miss the bars that still smell of beer and smokes and where a game of pool is still a quarter.

 

Caseville Marina

 

The pride of summer in Caseville and one of the big highlights of the Redneck Riviera is the Cheeseburger in Caseville festival. Cheeseburger is a festival in tribute to Jimmy Buffet, and different types of cheeseburgers. The festival takes place in the final weeks of August, celebrating the final weeks of summer vacation. Cheeseburger is amazing to see, what started as a three-day weekend has turned into a 10-day festival that includes laser light shows on the beach, concerts, fireworks, and, the highlight of the festival, The Parade of Tropical Fools.  The parade is held on the first Wednesday night of the festival and is the biggest attraction that the festival has to offer. The parade can last up to two hours and attracts more than 50,000 people every year. Cheeseburger has won several Michigan Fun Awards and is the only festival in Michigan to place in the top five in every category of the Michigan Fun Awards. It probably goes without saying that the partying during Cheeseburger is legendary.

 

 

So, you have lots of choices. A walk on the beach, a bike ride along the bay, camping, fishing, tubing, sailing, kayaking, shopping, a good meal, a cocktail or two, a swim, or just a drive along the Lake Huron shoreline; the Redneck Riviera has so much to offer! Most of all, you will love how laid back we are, it’s a whole different world here in the Thumb!

 

 



Spring Will Finally Be Sprung, Think Gardening in the Thumb!

Our one-day taste of sunshine and temps above freezing got me thinking about one of my favorite Thumb hobbies, gardening. Travel in my neighborhood and the home without a garden plot is the exception. By late August, people have tables out in their front yards with veggies to be had for free, the excess fruits of their labor. Some gardens are huge acres of manicured tilled land and some are small plots with a few rows of plants. It wasn’t long after I moved here that I wanted to try my hand at vegetable gardening.

Tomato Plants in My Garden

I am no professional, but I learned that trial by error is part of the fun. Each year I try to grow new things and it’s so rewarding to sow those little plants in early June and then watch them grow all summer and finally eat the fresh veggies. We don’t have a large area of cleared land so we planted our garden in raised beds. This is a great way to grow things if you don’t have a large backyard, you will be amazed at how easy it is to build the beds and how much you can grow in them. Here is a short video so you can get the idea of raised beds.

 

 

 

I have a friend who made the process even easier, she used old tractor tires for her raised beds. I have had great success with many things I have planted, cucumbers and tomatoes have done well and are very easy. If you don’t have room for a raised bed you can even plant these in a container and place it on a deck or patio. I have also done well with squash, potatoes and peppers. Pumpkins were a struggle as they need lots of room. The list of veggies to plant is almost endless, I stick with our favorites.

Some people are what I would call professional gardeners; they start seedlings in the winter, they test their soil, till the land, compost, etc. and that’s cool. But, I am much more casual. We rent a small mantis tiller in the spring and add some manure to the soil. Then, one of my favorite parts, shopping for the plants. Oh, what fun it is to choose all the baby veggies each year. Wojo's Greenhouse in Ortonville is great, a huge selection with beautiful plants. But, if you are on a budget, Walmart, Home Depot, even your local grocery can be a source. But, do remember to look for healthy plants that look cared for; many times the old adage you get what you pay for is very true with garden plants.

 

 

Garden Beds at Planting Time

 

Although I am so anxious to plant as soon as I have my new baby veggies at home I have learned from experience for most plants it is best to wait until after Memorial Day. Before that the soil is much too cold for tender plants and the risk of frost is still there. Planting is very easy, if I have ever have any question about how to plant a specific veggie I just look for video on the internet. Then, it’s true therapy for me to venture out to the garden each morning and check the progress of the plants. Watering, weeding, fertilizing, checking for pests; it’s not a chore but so relaxing.

 

Wow! Look how my babies have grown!

By late July the cucumbers are usually the first veggies to be ready. The freshness and the taste directly from garden to table is unbelievable. Then it’s tomatoe time, fresh salsa is the best! Like most other gardeners I am usually looking for friends and family to take some of the extras, we always plant too much. But, sharing is also part of the fun. No matter what and how much you plant, how serious you are, what works or doesn’t work, the most important thing to remember is to not be intimidated, have fun with it!

 

 If I can do it, you can too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Olympics Have Me Thinking, Let the Thumb Games Begin!

Living in the Thumb has given me lots of opportunities to try new sports; it has been awesome to get outside and get some exercise while having lots of fun. My hubby, Rod, and I have spent many an early morning fishing off the docks at the Holloway Reservoir or standing on the banks of the Cass River. $20 at Walmart gets casual catch and releasers like us all you need to spend some time in the peace and quiet of dawn at the water’s edge. Just don’t forget your fishing license!


Fishing near Holloway Reservoir Dam

 

If you want to be on the water kayaking is a great way to work those arm muscles and see the world from a different perspective. Kayaking is splendid on the Holloway reservoir or on Lake Huron near Port Austin. Both areas have rentals or you can get an affordable boat at Meijer or Walmart when spring arrives.

Kayaking near Port Austin

 

 

We also love to go ice skating, it is actually very romantic! With tons of inland lakes and ponds, ice fishing and ice skating are big around here. Hoyt Park in Saginaw has a huge rink that sits in one the city’s beautiful old neighborhoods, it’s free and very cool. We were having so much fun ice skating that we actually put a  rink in our backyard. A little fire pit nearby and it is so awesome to just throw on the skates and head out; only steps from the backdoor. I have found it’s a great workout and lots more fun than hanging out in the basement walking on the treadmill. A rink in your yard is actually easier than you might think. Some families build their own with a wood frame and thick plastic lining. We actually bought a kit that has a PVC pipe frame and liner. Put her together, add water and you are on your way. They come in all sizes, ours is actually almost as large as a hockey rink.

Hoyt Park in Saginaw

 

Truly my favorite sport that I have embarked on since moving to Mayville is cycling. I go every morning from spring to fall.  I just love hoping on the bike and wandering the miles of back roads near my home. The scenery is beautiful with acres of woods and farmland. It is so peaceful early in the day when the only other souls out and about are the cows, deer, turkeys and all the other critters that roam at sunrise. I ride around 20 miles a day and it never gets boring when you can find a new route each and every day. One of my favorite parts of riding near my home is the Southern Lakes Trailway. The Southern Links Trailway is a 10.2 mile trail that connects the communities of Columbiaville, Otter Lake, and Millington. This non-motorized trailway is paved with asphalt and is great for hiking and biking with a separate path for those on horseback. It is a beautiful ride with scenic views of open fields and wetlands, wooded forests and farm lands.

 

 

 

 

Just a few ideas for sporting fun in the Thumb!

 

Explore the Thumb and Enjoy the Adventure

 

Welcome to the Thumb!

 

 

I know the snow is deep now, but think about a day when you might want to take a drive and see  unique sites in your home state. Michigan has the well-known peninsulas - Lower and Upper – but there’s another one. It’s the peninsula that sticks out into Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay, Michigan’s great Thumb Area. It truly is a travel destination rich in natural scenic beauty, strong cultural heritage and plenty of year-round activities. When you visit the Thumb Area, you’ll find more than 150 miles of shoreline, 2,100 miles of rivers and streams, 51,000 acres of public recreation land, 49,000 acres of state game/wildlife areas and plenty of hometown festivals and events all year round!

 
I would love to share all of the sights and sounds of the Thumb. We have lighthouses, orchards and cider mills, wineries, antique shopping, museums, golf, parks, camping, farmers markets and more. This week I will focus on four of the most unique sites to give you a taste of what is in store for you when you travel to the Thumb!

 

Sanilac Petroglyphs State Park in Cass City
 

Visit this 240 acre historical site and find the Sanilac Petroglyphs, Michigan’s only known prehistoric rock carvings attributed to Native American workmanship in the Lower Peninsula. The carvings are etched into a sandstone outcrop and are a fascinating mystery, they give a glimpse into the lives of early Native American artists.

Sample of the Petroglyphs

Thumb Octagon Barn

 

Take a step back in time when you visit the Thumb Octagon Barn and Agricultural Museum located just outside of Gagetown in the heart of Michigan’s great Thumb Area. Built in 1923 by a local businessman, James L. Purdy, the Thumb Octagon Barn is a true epitome of agricultural life. Registered as a Michigan Historical Site, the Thumb Octagon Barn provides visitors with a glimpse into the livelihood of a Michigan Thumb farmer in the early 1900’s. The landmark sits on a 26 acre complex that includes the barn which stands 70 feet tall and occupies 8,718 square feet. The attraction also includes a “Craftsman” style house, a powerhouse building, one room schoolhouse, saw mill, covered bridge, blacksmith shop and more.

 

Wind Farms in Elkton and Ubly Areas

You can find over 615 wind turbines in the Thumb where the wind is strongest and most consistent. Seeing the enormous structures can turn a scenic drive into a jaw-dropping experience. Along Bay City-Forestville Road near the border of Huron and Sanilac counties, swaths of turbines churn away as dairy cows graze and sugar beets grow.

As you drive closer you can notice their size — as tall as 410 feet. You can hear their hum and see their slow-moving blades, each half a football field long. Visit Thumb Wind.com for a Michigan Wind Farm Map.

 

 

 

Lighthouses in the Thumb Area

Your trip to the Thumb must include a shoreline drive to see the magnificent lighthouses that dot the Lake Huron shoreline and the sunrise side. Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach, Port Hope and Port Austin are the towns to explore if you are a lighthouse fanatic. Check out this video for a small taste.

These fun destinations are just a sample of what’s in store for you when you visit the Thumb of Michigan, we look forward to welcoming you to our neck of the woods!

Thank you to these sources:

ThumbWind.com, Freep.com, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Thumb Area Tourism Council, Inc.









 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the Thumb!

City Girl Gone Wild

 

Take a girl who grew up in Detroit with all the trappings of urban life and drop her in the middle of the rural Thumb and its bound to make for some craziness as she learns to adapt. I learned quickly to be cautious about sharing stories of my follies with my co-workers; they took great joy in affectionately calling me a “cityiot”.

It’s a 15 minute drive to the grocery store, heck to anywhere. And let’s be clear that store is not the 24-hour mega-mart kind of deal. No more middle of the night Dorito runs for this girl. More troublesome was my yearning for the fabulous cuisine I once took for granted. Strolled into said grocery one day with a hankering for a large bagel, cream cheese and lox, ah, my memories of Southfield. Passed by the deli and looked for those lovely, fishy, pink treasures, not a salmon in sight. I stopped an employee and inquired where the lox could be found, “in the hardware section”, he responds. Oh my, locks would be all I could find that day.

 

My first Fall living in the Thumb was going very well, it is truly a pleasure when you have acres of your own forest to explore. In the back yard playing with my beloved dogs when I heard gunfire. I about had a stroke and hit the deck. That was really close. Laying on the ground and fortunately had the cell phone. Also, fortunately, I did not call 911, thank God for small miracles. Called the husband, screaming, “someone is shooting”! “Well, of course they are”, he calmly responds, it is opening day of hunting season. Oh.

On our way home from Vassar one morning, a town about 20 minutes west. The hubby and I are talking and driving just a relaxed Sunday afternoon. All of a sudden he slams on the brakes, a cow in the road, yes, a cow. So, I am merely glad we and the beast are ok. Figured we would be on our way. Not a chance, the hubby has to play bovine Good Samaritan. He sees the broken fence in a field to the right where the cow made her escape and the little farm nearby. So, me and the man get out of the car and somehow manage to guide the massive beast back to the barn, very comical for Mrs. Cow. I am sure stubborn must have been her middle name.

Cows are quite the thing here. But, a normal thing for my husband as you see he is the one who grew up in the Thumb and dragged his wife to live in the land of open fields. Some of his relatives have a dairy farm and take much joy in calling their cows hamburger, roast and such, just about ruined it for me. But, you get used to it. Later that summer when I went out to get the mail and the neighbor’s black and white beauty was strolling up the drive it was not even a thang.

 

 

A Thumb Winter and Cabin Fever

Back from another white knuckle drive to “the city”, anything south and east of Caro is pretty much just called “the city” here in my beloved Thumb of Michigan.  I love winter, my favorite season, but, cabin fever is setting in even for me. I know everyone has had a tough one since Thanksgiving, polar vortex and polar plunge and ice storm and lots of snow.

Life in the winter here is different and more challenging than I remember in Detroit. It snows all the time, the weathercasters call it “lake effect snow”. We can see several inches a day near the Lake Huron shoreline and as far south and west as my hometown of Mayville which is on the Lapeer-Tuscola county line. So, even when no storm is forecasted you will be caught off guard.

Driving in the Thumb in the winter is awful. Do not even think about not having a truck or at least an SUV. We have lots of open roads that travel through wide expanses of farmland. The wind blows across these routes producing a drifted and icy mess. Dirt roads are everywhere that turn into ice rinks with any thaw. Plan on a few days before the county gets the plow down your road when you are far from town. The trip to the main highway can be very dicey. One time it was so bad I had to leave the car two miles from home because I could not get through the four to five foot drifts. Talk about a long cold walk, always have boots, hat, and gloves in the car.

But, at least that day I made it home. The hubby and I have been stranded many times either here at home or at work. The hotel in Cass City (yes there is one!) became my refuge during one blizzard. Rod has been stuck in Flint for days because travel back home was impossible. A long commute is the price you pay for living in the country.

 

350 Foot Driveway Demands a SnowBlower

 

A  generator is not a luxury. When power goes out here it is days, not hours. No water, no heat, no toilet, no fun. We finally invested in a home generator. This baby sits outside and runs on the propane we use to heat our home. Hardwired into the house and 10 seconds after the power goes out the lights come on.  Yes, it was expensive, but worth every penny. Every outage I have felt  pretty darn smart when my lights were on. Just the peace of mind when we have any kind of storm is worth it. No power here goes far beyond the spoiled food in the fridge. Think about hauling water from down the road for the animals and you get some idea.

 

But, despite it all the good far outweighs the challenges. We are close to Lake Huron which has special beauty in the winter and ice fishing if you like. Tons of open areas and trails for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Saginaw has a great park where we go ice skating. Seriously awesome sledding and tobogganing all over the area. Just a simple walk in this beautiful country can make all the difference. So, when that cabin fever hits the best cure I know is to take winter head on and go out and enjoy it.

Christmas Morning in the Thumb

 

 

 

 

Morning on the Sunrise Side

 

 

We are well beyond the holiday season, but I want to share a Thumb story of Christmas. I admit I am a “Christmas Catholic”, pretty much go to church on the holidays. Here in the Thumb the Catholic Church has seen a great loss of members. As a result, a priest will serve several parishes. In my area, a nun actually runs the day to day operations of three parishes whose area encompasses probably a 60 mile radius.

It is a snowy Christmas morning and we set off for Wilmont, normally about 30 minutes away. But, any snow here can make driving treacherous; the wide open farmland allows the wind to blow the snow into an icy path. Wilmont is a town of 800 people and is about 75 miles northeast of Troy. The parish we travel to is St. Michael’s founded in 1935. It is a simple but lovely country church several miles from the town surrounded by farms and cows. I bet the concrete block building seats no more than 100 people. We arrive just 5 minutes before mass is to begin.

We pull into the parking lot, ours is the only car. Do I have the wrong time I wonder? Rod (hubby) goes to the door and the gentlemen says “yes, we are having mass, come on in”. I was a little intimidated to go in worried we will be the only people inside. The church is vacant except for the organist and an old man sitting across the aisle, he looks at least 90. That’s it. And the old man is the priest conducting mass, he drove in the weather over an hour from Bay City so we could celebrate Christmas, me and Rod.

11am approaches and I am feeling really nervous, what if no one else comes? But, a few others arrive along with the nun who runs the parish. We now have a total of 10 people in this little country church. Sister lights the Christmas tree and orders the priest to the back of the church to make his entrance. He asks, “are we going to sing?” Sister responds, “you bet”, the priest is too funny and cracks, “bet she takes a collection too!”

The mass goes on and I feel a connection to these 10 people that I have never felt going to mass in my life. For some reason I feel truly joined with them in this celebration. By the end of the mass and the Wilmont rendition of “Silent Night” I am actually tearful, it is a bittersweet moment. This has been the most memorable Christmas mass for me ever, filling me with warmth and the spirit of the day. But, because so many people have moved from the area, St. Michaels’s will close in July. What a sad thing for these special people. I will never forget this day and how special my Christmas morning was, sharing the joy of the day with my ten new friends. 

 

Saint Michael's in the Warm Summertime