| Michigan was having the best year it had seen in | | | | headed north through Atlanta and up to Millersburg. |
| quite some time, in terms of snowfall. Some areas | | | | As the sun set, the sky turned from bright blue to a |
| had received more than twice the average amount | | | | vivid mix of pink, orange and blue with a few clouds |
| and the Lower Peninsula was calling to us for a | | | | mixed in to make an awesome sunset. That gave |
| snowmobile ride. | | | | way to a clear, moonlit night that was perfect for |
| Our three-person group hauled the snowmobiles to | | | | snowmobiling. |
| Frank Alley Memorial Park near West Branch, Michigan. | | | | After our fuel stop in Millersburg, we took a route |
| We unloaded there for a couple of reasons. When | | | | through the Black Mountain Recreation Area to |
| traveling north on I-75 from the southeast corner of | | | | Cheboygan. We could have taken a railroad grade, |
| the Lower Peninsula, it's the closest place to catch | | | | but with trails still in great shape, the moon shining |
| the trail system. Once on the snowmobile trails, you | | | | bright and no timetable to meet, the Black Mountain |
| can go wherever you want - even the Upper | | | | route was an obvious choice. |
| Peninsula. Second, the Ogemaw Hills snowmobile club | | | | In the heart of the Black Mountain area is a |
| usually has its trails in top shape. | | | | snowmobiler-friendly pit stop called The Bluffs. It sits |
| We rolled out of Alley Park late in the morning. Our | | | | on a bluff and overlooks Black Lake. We took a late |
| plan was to reach Cheboygan, located on the Lake | | | | and extended dinner break before the short ride to |
| Huron shoreline, that evening. | | | | our hotel in Cheboygan. |
| We took snowmobile trails north to Luzerne; home | | | | We arrived at the North Country Inn 12 hours after |
| of Ma Deeter's. You shouldn't pass through Luzerne | | | | our departure from the trailer. It was the kind of day |
| without stopping at the landmark restaurant. From | | | | I didn't want to end. Bright sunshine, pleasant |
| Luzerne we continued north through Red Oak and | | | | temperatures, plenty of snow and wonderfully |
| into Lewiston. The terrain included a wide variety of | | | | smooth trails gave way to a moonlit night. But like all |
| topography. Hills, tight woods, not-so-tight woods, | | | | good things, the day had to come to an end. We |
| swamps, meadows, forest roads, two tracks and | | | | parked the snowmobiles for the night with 203 miles |
| frozen lake tops were all included. From Lewiston we | | | | showing on the day's trip meter. |