2008 Fall Color Field Trip

 

Where:  Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, near Munising, Mich.

When:   October 12-16 2008.  The 12th and the 16th would be travel days.

 

I first visited the UP for a photo workshop in 1991.  Professional photographers John and Barb Gerlach conducted the workshop.  This trip was so spectacular that I have returned seven times since then.  Each time has been a delight, both photographically and personally.

 

Some of the attractions are:

  • Wonderful fall color, as good as anything New England has to offer
  • Dozens of small lakes with no cabins around them
  • Practically no development (most of the land is part of the Hiawatha National Forest)
  • Many great waterfalls within a short driving distance
  • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (on foot and via boat tour)
  • Lake Superior shoreline
  • Sand dunes near the town of Grand Marias
  • Picturesque light houses
  • Seney Nature Preserve
  • Marquette, Michigan, including Presque Isle Park and a wonderful Coast Guard lighthouse
  • Mackinac Bridge (5-mile long suspension bridge)
  • Very few tourists
  • Low meal and lodging cost

 

With all the photo gear most of us have, three people per vehicle is a comfortable limit (four in a large SUV or minivan).  The driving distance from Columbus is about 590 miles.  It’s a full day’s drive, but it’s all Interstate or four lane highway right to the bridge (Rt. 23 and I75).  Once you reach central Michigan, the traffic is light and the scenery is nice.  Another option, which my wife and I have taken several times, is to leave Columbus around noon and stop in Frankenmuth, Michigan for the night.  Frankenmuth is a fun tourist town known for family style chicken dinners at Zehnder’s and the Bavarian Inn, gift shops, and the go-on-forever Bronner’s Christmas store.  Frankenmuth is off I75 north of Detroit, and is near the halfway point.

 

The Buckhorn is where we’ll be staying.  http://www.exploringthenorth.com/buckhorn/bhlodge.html   It has two lodge buildings, a motel section, and a restaurant with bar.  This facility is about 10 miles from Munising.  The Buckhorn is on Hovey Lake, which offers good photo opps right out your front door.  We have reserved the 11-bed, 6-bedroom Lodge #1.  At $175/night, the cost per person will be low. We already have seven people who said they are going.  Should you want more privacy, you can stay in one of the Buckhorn’s motel units.  Let me know.

 

Dan Borzynski and I are jointly leading this tour.  We both have extensive shooting experience in this area and so hopefully can provide assistance to trip participants.  We will provide maps and lists of places of photographic interest.  Once there, we can break into small groups and visit whichever sites interest each group.  We don’t need to go out en-masse.

 

If you are interested, please reserve your spot by August 15.  There is a $50 per-person deposit also due by August 15.  Make your check out to Rick Rieger.  Please mail your deposit check to me, or give it to me at a club meeting.  Each participant will receive an extensive packet of information to help make your trip more enjoyable and productive.

 

Rick Rieger                                                                   Dan Borzynski

614-457-5824 home, 614-439-4969 cell                            614-457-6253 home

1249 Autumn Hill Drive                                                   5060 Dierker Rd. Apt G

Columbus, OH 43235-7511                                             Columbus, OH 43220-5209

rrieger@wideopenwest.com                                           borzynd@hotmail.com