It is beautiful up at that end of the UP. Porcupine Mountains, Lake Gogebic are awesome. Keep driving safe.
Neal, Now you are required to go rent " Escanaba in the moonlight". All of the U.P is that way with mom & pop motels in every town. We try to not let the secret out about the U.P. The lake superior shore line is great with pictured rocks and the waterfalls.
Having fun following your trip.
When you hit Wisconsin, must have went through Florence.
Spent a lot of time up there, as we say, Up North.
Our old deer hunting grounds.
Nice area.
This is a trip of a lifetime.
I lived in the LP near Travis City so I know it’s beautiful. Just didn’t really appreciate it as a kid.
Thanks guys. I’m on BRimley having lunch. Plan to drive along the shore here some before heading south.
Here’s what the Hiawatha Motel looked like back in the day when Neal’s Cougar was brand new, this being the late 1960s or early 1970 I believe looking at the Jeep and Caddy in the parking lot.
Safe travels Neal!
Richard Truesdell
Co-editor, Legendary Cougar Magazine
Neal, what kind of mileage are you getting with the 5 speed?
Excellent thread Neal! Thanks for taking us along for the ride/trip.
This turned out to be one of the most fun days so far. You need to reads this through. I got going about 8:45 local time, Heading on east on US-2. I have been filling up at about 180 to 220 miles just in case I have trouble finding Ethanol free gas. I made my first stop in Gladstone MI at a Shell. This is the view from the off ramp of Lake Michigan.
So with a full tank I head on up the road, looking at the scenery. I found myself in the Hiawatha National Forest
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About 10 miles on I find a State road side park on the water, this park has easy access to the water and picnic settings.
I arrive in Manistique, a nice little town on the shores of Lake Michigan. To my surprise I find a Bob’s Big Boy restaurant. I had not seen one in years. There use to be one in Bellevue WA that we would go to when I was in High School.
While taking that picture I spotted the Manistique Light House. I didn’t have to move the car to get this shot.
Back on the hiways, I head on east on US 2 and turn right on State 17 north bound heading to Brimley. Then I turned right on State 28. The same hiway I had turned the wrong way on yesterday many miles west of here and head to Brimley. The reason stopping in this little town is that I lived here in the winter of 1962/63. I remember arriving here at Christmas time. My dad had arrived ahead of the rest of the family and had a tree and all the trimmings waiting for us when we arrived. This is the house we lived in
After looking at the house, that had no trees around it when we lived here I went down town and had lunch at Jack’s Grub and Pub. II I enjoyed the Bison Burger. While enjoying my burger a couple locals came in and thought I was someone they know. We talked for a while and they directed me to a place about a mile west of town that I could get the car to the top of a hill for pictures. This place was only about 200 feet of a paved road and well packed down. I bet a lot of the locals spend evenings here
I was going to stop at Brimley State park. But I could not find anyone to take my $9.00 to get in with ot a violation. Oh well. I continued on Lakeshore drive to Sault Ste Marie where I again stopped for gas. While on my way back to Interstate 73 I found a place I wish I could have had lunch at. Studebaker ‘s Restaurant and Lounge. I love the Yellow Studebaker hoisted up on the sign.
Well, on to the Interstate freeway for the first time since I got off of Interstate 5 in Everett WA last Thursday. Wow 75 miles per hour too. First time I was able to use 5th gear for more than a mile or so going downhill since Minnesota. I decided I wanted to look over St. Ignace. Again a nice little lake side town with a lot of shops. I found the local airport, Mackinac Airport has a parking lot on the hill side above the water.
On down the road I fine the ferry docks and the Mackinac Light house. Photo time…
I continued on and went over I 75 and found myself back on US-2 west bound. I found this cool observation tower and souvenir shop. It was only a buck to go up. But I decided I wanted to get down to the water.
A local gave me directions and found my way to a park. This offered a good vantage spot and photo location. I was able to get my picture taken by doing the same for some bikers who were touring Michigan on their Harleys. The Mackinac Bridge is in the background. Wow that is a long bridge, 26,372 feet in all and 552 feet tall.
After paying the toll I found my way to the south side and stopped in Mackinaw City and got a picture looking north at the bridge.
I then went to down town and found a Fudge shop and got myself a snack. There area a lot of cute shops here.
It was time to head on south, But I need to stop at the rest area at mile post 327. I found it has a great observation deck overlooking the valley to the south side of the freeway.
This rest stop is well landscaped well maintained.
I decided to stop for the night in Indian River and found this Motel.
While checking in, the owner noticed my car and asked me if I was in town for the car show. I told him I was on my way to Dearborn for a show. He let me know the local Eagles Club and the “Northern Rods ‘n rides” club was having a show this evening about a mile down the road. Well I can’t pass up an opportunity to meet car people. So I unloaded my luggage and headed out. I was car #18 in a field of about 20
This was my favorite Rod, I think the old Buick Nail heads make a nice looking power plant.
And this 71 429 Mach 1 Factory display car in mostly original paint was my favorite Muscle car. Incidental the owner is registered for the Dearborn Cougar Nationals. His 70 Elimantor is not finished but he is coming with pictures and documents.
Here are a few shots of the show field,
When the show was over I headed back to the hotel. The rooms are nice with wood paneling and clean. This is one of the bigger rooms. All the singles were rented out when I got in. The room was well under $70.00 and has Wi-fi.
Well I has been a long day, tomorrow will be about 6 hours driving to get in to Dearborn. I don’t plan any side trips. But will have another report tomorrow. Good night folks. See ya in Dearborn.
With the carb problem, Not what I expected. Still having the 3.00 gears 5th is unusable under 70 on any thing but a down grade or long flat stretches. I will tell you what I get on the return trip as I plan to take freeway all the way. Should be better.
That’s cool that you went by your old home. My paternal grandparents lived in Muskegon Heights when I was a grade-schooler. Thought about trying to find their house but was too young to remember where to even start looking.
We might have to add a day to our trip home and catch all of the great places you’ve found. The Mackinac bridge was about the only thing we pre-planned.
Will, I am in Dearborn. This has been a fun trip getting here. I don’t know how it can get any better. Oh that’s right; The 50th Anniversary show. There are a lot of Cougars parked in the Hilton Double tree inn’s parking lot, from all over. The pictures will be great. But let me get you here. I headed out if Indian River about 9:00 am. Again it was a nice sunny morning. I was able to use 5th gear for a long time as the speed limit on I-75 North of Saginaw is 75. As you can see here, It was a great say for a drive in Michigan.
I was not the only classic car on the freeway today.
I made a stop in Cleo for gas and found a Bob’s Big boy. So I stopped in for lunch. Note File photo.
Here in Dearborn at about 2:00 Thursday afternoon. I got checked in and moved my car to the reserved Cougar only area and parked with some good company.
It took me close to an hour to get to my room meeting people and talking Cougar and about the drive. I got the car unloaded and moved her over to the car wash area and gave her a decent washing. 45 us went out for dinner at Roman Village Cucina Italiana Restaurant for dinner Thanks to Brett Irick for putting this together. I was fortunate to get to ride with to dinner. He is very knowledgeable of Ford history and showed us quite a few locations. Unfortunately many were on the opposite side of the car from me. But here are a few shots I did get.
And a few shots from the dinner,
It was well after dark when we got back th the Double Tree, but that doesn’t stop a photographer with a fast lens and a tripod. So here are Cougars sleeping In Dearborn.
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Well folks, I should have been in bed some time ago. I’ll post again tomorrow evening, and hopefully earlier in the day as well. It’s going to be a blast.
Must be the guard Cat, sleeping with one eye open. 
Great pics, thanks for posting.
Wish I could have made it.
Congratulations on reaching your destination Neal! I’ve been enjoying following along with your adventure.
Tonight will be more a show then show and tell. I had a great time visiting people and places. I took the tour of the F-150 plant this morning. Most of it is off limits to photographing. But I found it quite interesting watching how things go on and in. I then went to the Henry Ford. I’ll start this the way I went starting at the F-150 plant.
Now we go to the Henry Ford,
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I hve about 100 pictures of the Cougars I took after I came back. But I’m going to skip posting them for now and go to the meat and greet.
I’m not posting Cougar pictures now due to my needing to get to bed, tomorrow will be Cougar pictures.
Well folks, if you are not here you are missing a Cougar gathering of a lifetime. I hear their may be over 200 cars tomorrow. But first, today we had a cruze to the Roush Museum that had 101 Cougars and 1 65 F-100 in. That’s correct, one hundred and one Cougars. It all started with a drivers meeting.
After the meeting we moved to the cars and started staging.
I picked up Don and Scott from West Coast Classic Cougar. And Don took some shots as we headed down Ford Road.
I insisted Don get a picture of this “Art car”
We arrived in force at the Roush Musiem.
Apparently someone at Ford wanted us to see something that will be up and coming. This has a Manufactures plate on it and is wrapped in something. He mostly just did a drive by.
I counted 22 1970 Cougars of that 7 were Eliminators. I then got inside the Museum
And back on the road to Northville MI for Lunch and visiting. With a group this big is can be a bit challenging to keep together.
Once in Northville the 69 and newer Cougars parked in a lot a block of of down town.
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I didn’t get pictures on the way back to the Double Tree, but when we got back those of us who didn’t go to the diner had a good time in the Hotel parking lot.
Tomorrow will be the biggest Cougar show ever held. I can’t wait! Come back for the next post folks. If you could not make it here I will do the best I can to show you as much of this show as I can.
You are really doing a great job. Just wonderful pictures. You’re making us feel we’re there for those of us that couldn’t make the show.Keep doing just what you’re doing!
Great photo documentary of your trip. My Dad lives about 5 miles from my childhood home. Next time I visit, I’m getting pictures.
Some teaser shots for tonight’s update.
I’m going to keep the dialog low tonight. I am really tired But I want the folks who could not make it here to see some of the show. I think I heard 202 Cougars and a few other numbers. But it does not matter a lot. It was just a tremendous turn out. I counted 6 GT-E’S, 10 Boss 302 Eliminators and 8 XR-7 G’s. . That is a car show in its self. Now on to the visuals…
Three versions of a White 1970 Cougar XR-7
Ginger and IO in front of FORD World headquarters.
Classic Cougars Cougar Club hosted a Pizza party after the show.
John Clor of Ford Performance stopped in to talk with us.
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Well, I am having a hard time keeping my eyes open. I hope all of you who could not make this enjoy the pictures. For those who were here, Congratulations on being part of this great show. I will be heading home in the morning. I will continue to make posts of my journey here until I get home. Good night all.