Biking in Trout Lake and the Eastern U.P.

Birch Lodge is located on an officially designated bicycle route as presented at the Eastern Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission website (under GIS maps, MDOT Eastern UP Bike Map).

Since Labor Day we've had three bicycling groups pass through and stay at the Motel. Two of the groups have been from Adventure Cycling, a nationwide group that sponsors tours including several across northern Michigan (website: AdventureCycling.org).

All the groups enjoyed the funky motel and historic lodge as well as the grounds. Using different sets of muscles after a day on the road, some took the Birch Lodge kayaks out for a spin on the lake and others went to the Birch Lodge Swimming Beach for a dip.

At night, they sat around our fire pit and exchanged stories.





For a short time we were "tagged" at the road entrance - letting fellow bikers know we were the place to stay. We've been told they will spread the word about Birch Lodge to fellow bikers and to be ready for their return next year.

Birch Lodge Interior Progress

We have been scraping off old paint, washing as much of the underlying calcimine paint off the plaster as possible, and priming with EXPENSIVE sealer. Work has progressed on the second floor lobby that opens out onto the porch deck. And, Hoo-Boy, those were some ugly looking walls after the prep work for painting was completed!!! We don't know why the walls appear brown on the base layer - was it a function of the calcimine aging, or were the lobby walls originally a brownish tint? In some places it does scrub off. Same story in the dining room.


We've painted the walls a cream color for now. We will anxiously await to see if the new paint does adhere to the newly prepared base. Might make for an initeresting Spring!











And just when you thought the fun was over, we're also working on the dining room!!! The same scrape-scrub-rinse-seal-and-paint routine. (But, is anything about this Birch Lodge place ROUTINE???)

In addition, our electrician has begun rewiring the first floor, after our explicit instruction and supervision to disturb the lodge's historic fabric as little as possible.

SEPT-ember, Tanks for the Memories

Well, have you missed us? We have been somewhat remiss in our bloggly duties. A whole lot has been going on. Or, perhaps I should say a "hole lot" . . . We are the proud owners of a shiny(?) new septic field with not one, but TWO tanks, WOO-HOO!!!



The old Birch Lodge septic tank was metal and in poor condition. We decided while we replaced the brown water tank we'd also bring everything up to code and install a gray water tank in case we, or subsequent owners, decide to re-open the commercial kitchen. So, huge 1200 and 1000 gallon tanks and field were installed northwest of the lodge. Sadly, a few trees had to go.


We have to console ourselves with the fact we now have a simply dandy place to put up the steel gnome cut-out croquet wickets we found in the back of the barn.

Fall Colors at Trout Lake, MI

The calendar may still say it is summer, but we know it is now fall. The first leaves are starting to change, some subtle gold and burgundy are giving color to the backdrop of green that surrounds Birch Lodge.



The birch trees have not started to color, nor have the sugar maple that make such a statement with their orange and red colors, but we know it will come soon. The nights have been dipping into the forties and the sunlight has taken on that strong low autumnal glow as it sets, illuminating the bark on the birch with a Maxfield Parish-like glow.


The fall flowers are also now in full bloom.



The native goldenrod, asters and the joe pye weed along the lake rival any perennial bed.


Less showy, but still favorites of mine are the orange jewel-weed and white turtle head blossoms.


Birch lodge has always been a special place to see the colors in the fall. The wind often goes still in the morning, and the gold of the birches, and orange and red of the maples on the Birch Shores peninsula are reflected in the mirror-like water. So beautiful. Also, the fall is a time of quiet here, most of the cottages on the lake are summer homes, and after Labor Day, most of the owners close their cottages and head south.


Our season is slower after Labor Day, but we plan to stay open as long as weather permits, hopefully into November. The heat is on in the motel, and if you have a chance, come on up and see the beauty of fall here. The kettle is on, and I'm getting in the mood for some pumpkin spice cookies!

One Step at a Time, Birch Lodge is Simply Electrifying

We finally got the last of the 8 rooms in the motel ready for guests this week, and once again we are fully booked. The number of guests has exceeded our expectations - many returning "regulars" but a majority finding us on line and staying for the first time. The motel rehab and clean-up and ongoing housekeeping has reduced the time available to work on the old lodge, but we are now moving forward.


Bill began electrical upgrades in the office recently, but quickly reached the limits of his expertise. Deb simply doesn't consider his success in screwing cfls into knob-and-tube wired fixtures a great leap forward.

So, somewhat reluctantly, this past week we've had electrical contractors out for bids to begin work on upgrades. A permit has been pulled and work should begin this coming week on the lodge office and Bill's office upstairs. Next phase will be the public areas on the first floor.











This past week also saw construction of permanent steps for the front porch that are in character with the building, replacing the temporary steps that were only constructed on the front. Guests can now access our vintage steel lawn chairs and wicker from the lakeside and each end. Of course, the excellent view from the porch needs no improvement.













Also, we've finished priming and applying paint to the west wing Doctor's Suite hall - replicating the original coral of the hallway. We've also begun painting the rooms in the wing. With flaking paint removed and calcimine paint scraped and sealed, the painted rooms are light and bright. The place is starting to feel like old times. If we allow ourselves to be optimistic, we may be able to start hosting guests in the lodge as early as next year.

Antique Boats at Birch Lodge

As a member of the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce we are happy to be included on their wonderful website. We noticed that Les Cheneaux Antique Wooden Boat Show is next weekend, Saturday-Sunday August 13 and 14, one of the largest shows of its kind in the nation.

Deb and I hope to get over to Hessel which is only about 45 minutes from Birch Lodge, and it is a darn scenic drive.

This got us to thinking about our own old boats here at Birch Lodge, which while not good ol woodies, we think are still pretty neat.


The previous owners of the lodge deposited about a dozen galvanized steel rowboats at the wood edge. These craft are 14 to 16 feet long with wooden gunnels and had wood grate flooring. These probably date to the 1940s and are in many of the old photos in the lodge.

We selected the best preserved of the batch and they are now being restored, down to the green, yellow and red paint job, by Trout Lake Services in town. You can see they still retained this paint scheme when they were in still in service in this vintage 1970s image.

We hoped to have them back this summer, but you will definitely see them in the water next year. Meanwhile, maybe we will see you at the show!

Oh, and Deb is a big sailboat lover too. She gets this from her dad who loved sailing and building boats. Some big and small. One of her favorites is this small model that is now at the lodge.

It is a wooden model crafted by Deb's father about 1930 from plans provided by Popular Science Magazine. It is intricate in detail, including lead anchors produced from molds by Don Rhead, and extending to the sails, which he stained with tea to simulate age and weathering. Check it out when you visit!

Mackinac Bridge, and Walks Around Birch Lodge

Birch Lodge is about 35 minutes north of the Mackinac Bridge, site of the famous Mackinac Bridge Walk on Labor Day. Thousands of people cross the bridge on foot, sometimes led by the Governor - the Mackinac Bridge Authority maintains a website that has information about the annual event. (One of the site's photos is provied here on the left.)

Many people have stayed at Birch Lodge since the first Bridge Walk in 1958. We are a somewhat-more-quiet base from which to participate in the festivities, and once again this year, we have started to receive reservations from Bridge Walk participants.


Birch Lodge offers plenty of opportunities for guests to "limber-up" for the 7-mile Bridge hike - or to just explore.

You can walk from the Carp River inlet on our quarter-mile of lake front up to our swimming beach and beyond.

When you are at the beach, you can walk through the clear, sandy bottom knee-deep water to cool off. Maybe you'll see the moose who also took a walk and left tracks on our beach . . .














You can walk out onto our dock and watch the fish - the gulls do.














You can walk along our 100-foot-long porch. Kind of like an economy version of the Grand Hotel(?) And we don't charge you to walk on ours!












You can walk up our drive and along the woods trails on our 20 acres.

You can walk out the gate and hike up the county road a half-mile to town for an ice cream cone.















And, unlike the Mackinac Bridge Walk, if it's rainy, you can still take a rather lengthy stroll in comfort by exploring the interior nooks and crannies of our 10,000 square foot lodge.