Wednesday Weekly August 22: Up to the UP and a Wisconsin Wedding

After my buddy's bachelor party last week, I had a week to kill before the wedding. I decided I would run some errands and then take a trip up the the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (UP).

My mom was off of work last Monday so we ran some errands around town. Our first stop was Shopko. The nose guard on my glasses fell off during laser tag, so I needed to get it fixed.

Shopko store exterior with beige facade showing pharmacy and optical departments, blue car and silver SUV parked in lot under clear blue sky Hand holding pair of frameless reading glasses with thin black temples against light wooden surface Semi-rimless eyeglasses with black rectangular frames held up against white tiled wall

We then went to World Buffet.

World Buffet restaurant entrance in mall interior with decorative hanging lights suspended from ceiling and shoppers visible in background Plate of Asian buffet food including sushi rolls, lo mein noodles, shrimp, and vegetables with seaweed garnish Bright green wasabi paste in white ceramic bowl with chopsticks, served on restaurant table

The mall that World Buffet is in has seen better days. Another anchor store is closing and looks pretty barren.

Younkers department store entrance with large STORE CLOSING SALE! banner displayed above storefront Interior of Younkers store during liquidation sale with EVERYTHING MUST GO! and 60% to 80% discount signs hanging from ceiling

I guess the mall was nice and quiet for the cats at the pet shelter.

Two cats lounging on gray houndstooth cat bed or furniture topper inside store, one tabby and one black and white

We then took my Cougar out for a drive to North Wood County Park. I got a few pictures there by a dam.

White 1969 Mercury Cougar classic car parked at rural dam site with trees in background Rear three-quarter view of white 1969 Mercury Cougar parked near boat launch with river and trees visible

On Tuesday, I worked on blog entries. Jordy kept me company.

Small brown and white Shih Tzu puppy resting on gray cushioned furniture

On Wednesday, I headed to the UP. I stopped at a Holiday for breakfast. I hit the divided highways until they turned into two-lane roads that brought me into Michigan.

View through car windshield of residential driveway with lawn and white lighthouse decoration visible Holiday gas station storefront with red and blue logo on brick building under cloudy sky White sedan fueling up at Holiday gas station pump Road trip snacks laid out on car seat including string cheese, hash browns package, Canadian bacon egg bites, and Old Dutch dill pickle chips Rural highway stretching into distance through flat farmland under hazy sky Interstate highway with tree-covered hills visible in distance under overcast conditions Highway overhead sign showing exits for Sherman Street, Merrill, Tomahawk, Abbotsford and Chippewa Falls on Highway 51 and 29 Two-lane highway through northern Wisconsin forest with 55 mph speed limit signs posted on both sides Straight two-lane highway through dense forest under overcast gray sky in northern Wisconsin Rural highway intersection with white water tower visible above treeline under cloudy sky Small town commercial strip with WDOT sign, 40 mph speed limit, and various businesses along roadside Red and white gas station with canopy advertising groceries, cold beer, liquor, minnows, live bait and tackle Mountain Dew bottle in green plastic secured in car cup holder next to gear shift Welcome to Pure Michigan blue road sign on Highway 45 at Wisconsin-Michigan state border

Along the way I stopped at a Wisconsin wayside and also a Michigan roadside park. These are the old school rest stops that have been there a while.

Brown roadside park sign indicating site established 1957 by Michigan State Highway Department in cooperation with Ottawa National Forest

A little more driving brought me into Watersmeet aka "Nimrod Nation."

Watersmeet Township School District brick entrance sign with digital message board reading Welcome to Watersmeet Indian, established 1904

After getting a good laugh, I drove through the small UP towns to get to Gay, Michigan.

Rural Michigan intersection with SPAR convenience store and brown lodge building with red metal roof Remote forested highway in Upper Peninsula Michigan with power lines along roadside under cloudy sky Two-lane highway through Upper Peninsula forest with mixed evergreen and deciduous trees under partly cloudy sky Two-lane bridge crossing river or ravine with metal guardrails and forested hills in background Small Upper Peninsula town main street with mixed residential and commercial buildings under power lines Highway approaching small town with clear blue sky and distant church steeples visible on horizon Small town main street with residential houses and modest commercial buildings on sunny day with clear blue sky Approaching yellow vertical lift bridge tower over waterway with Houghton signage visible Interior view driving through blue steel truss lift bridge structure with metal grating deck Main street of small Upper Peninsula town with older commercial buildings and parked cars on sunny day Rural two-lane highway with wildflowers blooming along shoulder and forest in background under blue sky Green highway sign reading GAY marking entrance to small Upper Peninsula Michigan community

In Gay, there was a bar that liked to play up its name,The Gay Bar.

Roadside sign for Gay Bar in Gay Michigan advertising food, drinks, WiFi and ice cream with website thegaybar.com

After eating a Spam and cheese sandwich at The Gay Bar, I explored a little bit. I found a cool park right on Lake Superior called Tobacco River Park.

Lake Superior shoreline with small waves washing over rocks and pebbles on sandy beach under clear sky

From Gay, I headed towards Hancock. That's where I stopped at Pat's Foods to get a pasty.

Pat's Foods grocery store exterior with large firewood display stacked in front of entrance Cross-section of Upper Peninsula pasty held in hand showing beef, potato, rutabaga and onion filling inside golden pastry crust

Once I was done eating, I hit the road and made a quick stop at the Keweenaw Waterway Scenic Turnout.

Panoramic view of Lake Superior and forested shoreline from elevated overlook under partly cloudy sky

I then headed up to Copper Harbor. I wrote a separate blog entry on just Copper Harbor.

Green highway sign for Copper Harbor on tree-lined Keweenaw Peninsula road with oncoming traffic

I was thinking about staying the night, but I decided I could make it home. I got to watch the sun set as I drove back south.

Following dark SUV on rural highway into bright sunrise creating lens flare and silhouetted trees Rural two-lane highway at dusk with power lines and small white building visible under hazy sky Curved concrete approach to lift bridge with beige municipal building visible in background under clear sky Approaching yellow vertical lift bridge tower spanning waterway under bright blue morning sky Rural Upper Peninsula highway at dusk with green road sign and white SUV passing under darkening sky Two-lane highway through evergreen forest at twilight with pink and blue clouds illuminated by setting sun Straight highway through dense northern forest at dusk under dramatic cloudy twilight sky

On Thursday, I brought the Cougar out to my parents' house. I pretty much hung around the house and relaxed.

White 1969 Mercury Cougar convertible displayed in clean residential garage with tiled floor

On Friday, Victoria flew in and then picked me up in her rental car. We then headed to Wausau Country Club for the rehearsal since I was standing up in the wedding.

Black sedan parked on gravel overlook surrounded by dense green forest on sunny summer day Woman with long brown hair and sunglasses driving Nissan vehicle on rural highway with forest in background Interstate highway through rolling hills with red farm equipment transport truck ahead under partly cloudy sky Country club or golf course clubhouse with stone and siding exterior framed by large oak trees

There was so much stuff going on during the next couple days, I only grabbed a few pictures. We ended up staying at the Country Inn & Suites.

Country Inn and Suites hotel exterior with brick and siding facade and gold sedan in parking lot under overcast sky

We then went to the rehearsal dinner and a fire by Jake's house.

Campfire burning brightly in metal fire ring at night with silhouette of person visible in background

The next morning I met up with the rest of the groomsmen. We ate at the Green Mill for lunch.

Holiday Inn hotel exterior with beige facade, green metal roof, clock tower and evergreen trees under overcast sky with vehicles in parking lot Restaurant plate with breaded chicken parmesan topped with melted cheese, side of fries, ciabatta bread and coleslaw with ketchup

We then headed back to Wausau Country Club and got dressed. The ceremony went off well and then we headed to bar hop before the reception (this is a Wisconsin tradition).

White All American Taxi shuttle bus with red striping and wheelchair accessibility symbol parked in lot on sunny day Interior view of shuttle bus with passengers seated and driver visible at front near windows Selfie of man in black suit and turquoise tie holding Heineken beer can on shuttle bus with @impulsivetravelerguy.com watermark Crowded sports bar interior with wedding guests in formal attire gathered around bar area with multiple beer taps and TV screens

The meal was good and so was the reception. The next day, I returned my tux and then headed back to Marshfield. This Monday Victoria flew back to Austin. I'm just in Marshfield for another day or two to wrap things up and head back to Austin.

It was definitely a nice trip in Wisconsin. Congratulations to Jake and Katie on their wonderful wedding!

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