I have been planning for a whole year to go back to Hessel, Michigan to meet my sister Di and brother-in-law Jeff at their neat, little log cabin. This was to be my 3rd year in a row and this year I had planned to see the "Hessel Wooden Boat Show". A week before I was to leave, I got an infection in my right arm. I had an infection from a bug bite 3 weeks earlier and antibodies cleared it up. It came back and was more intense than before. After another trip to the doctor for more antibiotics and steroids I was hopefully on the mend. I was to leave on Thursday morning the 8th and Alice wasn't going with me. When I awoke that morning I couldn't lift my arm. It hurt so bad I wanted to cut it off. After taking the medicine and watching the Olympics all day, I felt good enough in the early evening that I took Benny the dog and left at 6:00 pm for the 7 hour drive north. Alice wasn't very happy about it but then again, I am a stubborn old fucker.
From home to Hessel we had one gas stop, three pee stops and one back stretch. Driving my 2011 Ram 1500 with a Hemi I averaged 18.5 MPH. Traffic was good in the evening and Benny and I made it across the Mackinac Bridge and into the UP to Hessel by one am. After awaking the cabin folks and some small talk it was bedtime. All I saw when I shut my eyes was road. But it soon went away and I relaxed into a peaceful slumber.
Friday 8-9-24 the three of us rose late, had morning drinks gazing at Hessel bay and enjoying the cool weather. Ohio's weather has been hot and humid all summer and the cool air in Hessel felt great. We took a walk behind the cabin into the old Indian Missionary Cemetery. Some of the graves are from the late 1800's. Lots of history in the area. Later we hiked the Birge/Mertaugh/Nye Nature Preserve Complex. We had dogs Benny and Frankie and the 2.5 mile hike saw some ruffed grouse and we found, no Di found a geocache. After that hike we went to Cedarville, the town east of Hessel for a car show. The show was over before we got there but Tippers Bar and Grill had cold drinks and live music. The band was SOS, "Shipheads on Shore." The next stop was at Snows Bar, a local favorite and another band, 2XL. I had a great meal of lake trout and the first beers since my arm infection.
Saturday was WOODEN BOAT DAY!! We had a rough morning as Benny had to poop and I wanted to sleep. But we got up at 7:00 am and walked 2 miles in a windy, cool, cloudily morning. We tried going downtown but they had the road blocked and were already charging $10.00 to get into the show and dogs were not allowed. We went the opposite direction and the walk woke me up and Benny got to poop. Because of all the cabins around all poop has to be picked up. I used more poop bags on this trip than ever before. I need to replenish my bag supply. Around 11:00 am Di, Jeff and I went to the show. There were so many wooden boats that I was in a daze. The oldest was from 1906 all the way up to 2023. Really fancy stuff with superb craftsmanship and we estimated there was around three million dollars or more of those crafts. There was music, crafters and food vendors and even thought it was very windy, cloudy and threatening rain, there were lots of people there. We spent five hours there and even with a 10 minute rain shower I had a great time.
Back at the cabin we took a rest/beer break then saw a really neat rainbow in the sky. Was it an omen? We then walked to the Island Bar in Hessel where we watched the USA men win the gold medal in the Olympic basketball bracket. Later Jeff cooked hamburgers on the grill and we played cards before an early bedtime. I'm learning how to play the card game golf. It's frustrating!
Sunday was rain free and some sun made the morning drinks nice. Sitting in chairs watching the sun glistening on the bay is so relaxing and peaceful. Di and Jeff went to church while Benny and I took a 2.6 mile walk throughout town. (It's not that big of a town) We walked to the Sunday morning farmers market and I left my Old Timer pocket knife with the knife sharpener to get sharpened. After Di and Jeff got back we went 10 or so miles east to the Carl A. Gerstacker Nature Preserve at Dudley Bay for a 3.3 mile hike. It was a real nice hike in the woods on a good trail and the dogs loved it. When we got to the other end of the trail there was a sign that said "No dogs." On our end someone had scratched it off. Oh well, it's easier to ask forgiveness then ask permission. After the hike we went to Cozy Corners Tavern and Grill in Barbeau for supper. It sits on the Saint Mary's River which flows from Lake Huron to Lake Superior and you can see big freighters going in between. We saw two going south and they are huge. After eating Jeff took us to the Sundown Lounge, which was on the way back home and the bar maid was a hoot! Fun times at the Sundowner.
Back at the cabin I got more buzzed while playing the golf card game then we went out on the boat dock to look at the sunset then for shooting stars. The Perseid meteor shower was supposedly going on and we wanted to see it. There was something in the way of seeing the stars really well and all of a sudden it became very clear. We were seeing the northern lights. Not just a little display but a full force in your face show. Around 1:00 pm we called it quits as it was a very long but wonderful day.
Monday was a lazy, warmer and sunnier morning. Around noon I made fresh squeezed lemonade to go with the Tequila, then we took the pontoon boat out to a nice swimming beach they knew and had boat drinks all day. It was real relaxing but being on antibiotics in the sun really got to my skin. Little did I know! Before we left the cabin, Di put a Mississippi mud roast on and I made mashed potatoes and gravy then we ate some good comfort food. More golf games were played, a campfire was had, then we met the neighbors on the road out front to try and see more northern lights. No lights were seen but lots more meteors than the night before and the neighbor hood get together was a dandy time. I got to meet Joanne, the 85 year old lady who owns the cabin in front of Jeff's. She is an exciting lady and even liked my lemonade and tequila. Jim and Pam the neighbors to the east of Jeff came down with covid while I was there so we kept our distance. Larry and Steph, the neighbors west were in the process of selling their big yacht and their talk was very interesting. Sleep came very easy this night.
Tuesday was another warm, sunny morning. Got around slowly and just relaxed until after a late breakfast. We are on Hessel time. North of Hessel is Bay City Lake, a little pond in my opinion, in the woods off some old logging trails. We found it and hiked 3 miles then went to the Indian casino close by, where I lost, no, had a $40.00 beer. We had lunch at the cabin then took a boat ride to Cedarville and the Cattails Bar for drinks. A very dog friendly place. The water was wonderful even if the sun was hurting my skin. Damn medicine. Jeff cooked crappie and onion rings in the big daddy fryer while Di added sauteed zucchini for supper. It was a great last day here in Hessel, Michigan.
Wednesday was travel day. I had to leave but I didn't want to. It was like Benny knew it was home time and we were up early. After morning tea and snacks we bid farewell to Di and Jeff and hit the road by 8:00 am. The drive was uneventful but still 7 hours and the temperature got hotter the further south we went. Damn humidly and heat. By time we got home it was mid 80's and humid but I was home and reunited with Alice. Hessel is a great time and having family and the Hessel friends are a wonderful bonus. I sure hope I get to go back again next year!!!!!
