Friday, 26 September
The Drive
The drive took us from the Portage Lake Campground, west on I-94, to US-127 North, and then to M-10 west. It was 4-lane divided highway most of the way so the drive was fast and easy. We arrive in Blodgett Landing Campground around 4:35 pm.
Blodgett Landing Campground
We pulled into Blodgett Landing Campground in Hersey, a quiet little park tucked along the meeting point of the Hersey and Muskegon Rivers. Created with fill dirt on what used to be a swamp, the campground is a large grassy flat park with a modern bath facility in the center and a one-way road encircling it. Campsites are located on the grass on both sides of the road. Some sites had full hookups, some had shade, and some were near the water. There were plenty of fire rings and picnic tables, and there was a large dump for those who did not have full hookups.
My brother was already in the campground when we arrived, and we were able to place our campers face-to-face. We did not have a sewer connection, but having water was a treat since we had to fill our freshwater tank at all the previous campgrounds this trip,
Family
The purpose of the trip was to visit family, so we were glad to see my brother and his wife and spent an enjoyable evening around a fire, catching up.
Saturday, 27 September
Evart Farmer’s Market
Three of us headed over to the Evart Farmers Market, just down the road. A little over a dozen vendors had set up with a mix of crafts and the last of the summer’s produce. The atmosphere felt relaxed and neighborly, with stands offering everything from handmade goods to jars of preserves. We came away with a fun variety of finds—a stack of fantasy romance novels signed by the author, a loaf of zucchini bread, a jar of blueberry jam, and a couple of fresh tomatoes.
KISS Monument
As we drove along Lake Cadillac, we stopped at the KISS monument outside the Cadillac High School. This massive black granite slab more than eight feet tall and weighing nearly 5,000 pounds. Unveiled in 2015 to mark the 40th anniversary of the band’s legendary visit, it commemorates the unlikely but true story of how KISS came to Cadillac in October 1975. That year, the high school football coaches had been blasting KISS records in the locker room to pump up their players, and after a winning streak the story caught the band’s attention. KISS arrived for homecoming, marching in the parade, attending pep rallies, and performing a concert in the gym, cementing Cadillac’s place in rock history. The monument, etched with the band’s iconic logo, images, and the title “The Cadillacan”, now sits near Veterans Memorial Stadium as a bold tribute. It is said to be the only permanent monument in the world dedicated to the band. We saw the town was preparing for a 50th anniversary celebration next month.
Manton Veterans Memorial Museum
We then travelled a little way north to the Manton Veterans Memorial Museum. Google sent us to the wrong side of Manton Park, to the city campground, instead, but they appeared to be setting up for a Halloween event, as each camper was being decorated with Halloween decorations. With some being very elaborate. We drove through the campground enjoying the displays and then drove over to the museum.
The Manton Veterans Memorial Museum honors local veterans with a wide collection of military artifacts. Opened in 2002 through donated materials and volunteer labor, the museum features uniforms, weapons, and photographs. When we walked in, we were greeted by four veterans from different military services, all sitting around the front table, swapping stories. They greeted us warmly and oriented us to the museum and especially the visiting display of the Michigan Vietnam Memorial. Its walls are lined with more than 300 framed portraits of service members from the Manton area, creating a powerful tribute to the community’s military heritage. They were arranged by last name, and we noted that many families had multiple veterans, including one that had eighteen. All the artifacts and the uniforms were crisp, and we were told that the local laundry provided free service to them. It was obvious that it was meaningful to the locals, as we saw a family come in consisting of several generations as they searched for their deceased relatives.
The museum had three rooms, and in one of them, the traveling Michigan Vietnam Memorial was displayed. The wall is a replica-style memorial of the memorial in Lansing, Michigan, that honors the over 2,500 Michigan service members who were killed in the Vietnam War. It provides communities with a powerful and meaningful space to come together, reflect on the sacrifices made, and pay tribute to those who served our country. It is often a healing moment because most of the Vietnam veterans were not treated very well when they came home.
Back to Cadillac
We stopped at the home of one of my brother’s sons, who lived with his three children in a beautiful house with a large, open yard. My brother was clearly proud of the work he had been doing around the property. He pointed out the massive trees he had recently cut down, the wooden pool deck he had built with his own hands, and the many house projects he had tackled—including the complete rebuild of a collapsing basement wall. Out in the yard, he even had a zip line rigged up for the kids, a playful touch that spoke to his mix of hard work and creativity.
The timing was a bit hectic, as the family was heading out to a friend’s wedding reception, but we still managed a few moments to chat and visit. Before we left, one of the grandchildren eagerly packed up to come along with us—excited to spend the night camping with his grandpa.
Big Rapids
After dropping my brother and his grandson back at the campground, Lisa and I made a quick run into Big Rapids for groceries. It was about 12 miles away and home to my high school and college alma mater, Ferris State University. Driving into town stirred up memories of my high school and college days, and it was fun to see what had changed and what still felt familiar. We picked up a few groceries at Meijer, then detoured into the historic downtown for a treat at Kilwins. Lisa chose a cup of Big Rapids Rock, a decadent mix of chocolate and caramel swirls, while I went for a waffle cone piled high with Mackinac Island Fudge. The drive back may have been a little messy with melting ice cream and crumbling waffle cone, but it was absolutely worth it.
Blodgett Campground
Another of my brother’s sons and my brother’s wife joined us at the campground, adding to the lively mix of family voices. The evening was filled with laughter as they traded stories and good-naturedly teased each other about funny moments from years past. We lit a campfire, and before long, the aroma of fire-roasted sausages drifted through the air. My brother’s wife had also brought some water-soaked corn still in the husk that we placed directly into the fire. Paired with a hearty helping of potato salad, it was a perfect meal as we sat together, catching up and enjoying the warmth of both the fire and the company.
Sunday, 28 September
Spent the day at the campground visiting family. We watched the KC Chiefs play the Baltimore Ravens in football. We cooked up some hamburgers at halftime for dinner. After the game, we started up a campfire and talked late into the evening.
Monday, 29 September
We took a leisurely morning packing up and spending more time with my brother before heading to the dump around 1 pm. After we dumped, we headed off toward Bay City, MI