Travel

Road Trip

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As I’ve gotten older, I’ve really come to love road trips. I’ve spent a lot of time driving from place to place, and what used to be a chore has turned into something I really enjoy. Most of my travel involves flying because of time constraints. I enjoy flying, but I’m not a big fan of airports, crowds, and lines. Time and the changes in air travel that have happened over the years have given me a different perspective.

Driving gives you a chance to see everything you pass. If you have the time, you can stop and look at all the beautiful spots, eat at the little diners, and get to know more of this amazing world we live in. As a business traveler, I’ve been to most of the big cities (and many of the small towns) in the US and even a few in Europe. I cherish all of those experiences. Driving through the Alps in Switzerland and Italy is like nothing else. Driving through the Rocky Mountains is its own dramatic experience. Riding through the Appalachian mountains and the causeway across Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana are also special memories. The PCH (US Highway 1) in California is also very special to me. But these are places you can really only experience by car (or motorcycle).

Riding a motorcycle, or even driving with the windows down, lets you smell the places you go. Green trees have their own smell, especially pine and cedar trees. So does rain on the hills in Ireland. Or freshly tilled fields on our own plains in the US. It’s calming. It’s nature. It’s connectedness. I’ve never experienced this traveling at 500 miles per hour in an airplane at thirty thousand feet. That said, I have had a few opportunities to add a boat passage to a road trip and it’s so worth it! Crossing Lake Michigan from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to Ludington, Michigan was a wonderful addition to our motorcycle Circle Ride. Likewise, my World War II history tour in Europe included a cross-channel ferry trip from Portsmouth to Cherbourg. The sea has its own smell.  

I can’t stress enough how amazing it is to eat well. Once, I had a layover in Los Angeles that turned into a two-day adventure because of some airline mishaps. If I was stuck, I was going to make the most of it! I rented a car and drove up the Pacific Coast Highway from LA to Malibu. I explored the coast road and the canyon roads, and when I got hungry, I stumbled upon Bob Morris’s Paradise Cove Beach Cafe. I indulged in fresh seafood and sourdough bread, and then I walked along the beach. It was pure California magic, and I was almost glad I had been stranded by the airlines.

My friends Andy, Uly, and others in our group have turned our passion for small local dining into a hobby. We combine it with our love for motorcycle touring. Here in Michigan, we have a treasure trove of amazing places to explore (microbreweries, tap houses, diners, pizzerias, and so much more). And guess what? In neighboring Ohio and Indiana, these incredible places are never more than a few hours away.

Taking on Road Trips has been an incredible addition to my life’s adventures, and I highly recommend it for your next journey.  

Neushwanstien Castle, Bavaria, Photo by Author

The Stelvio Pass, Italy, Photo by Author

Snack Pretzels, Marienplatz, Munich – Photo by Author

On the road to Yellowstone, Wyoming – Photo by Author

Seek Discomfort

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‘Seek Discomfort’ is what the print on the t-shirt said.  ‘You found it!’ is what I thought to myself.  The young lady was clearly adept at navigating air travel.  After decades of work and vacation-related flying, there’s something about commercial air travel that unsettles me.  I find it less than comfortable.  It doesn’t matter if I’m flying to Chicago or Tirana.  The bustle and crowds of the airports, the intrusiveness of TSA, the lines, and the cramped quarters on the plane contribute to my growing disaffection for the process.  It’s often the only practical way to do things, but I wish it weren’t.  (Don’t misunderstand me, I love aviation, but loathe airports – I’ll write bit on that, another day).    

After a bit of contemplation (and while I grabbed my own roll-aboard from the overhead and made my way down the too-narrow aisle) I realized that the slogan might have a deeper meaning.  So often we seek comfort first.  We make sure we live lives that are soft and as easy as possible.  ‘Convenience Culture’ is the term that is popular now.  Think Amazon, Door Dash and other forms of instant home delivery.  Covid amplified the emotional forces that often want us to stay on the couch.  And capitalism, as it so often does, caters to demand.  

We can contrast that to my friend Travis.  Travis seeks discomfort.  He’s part of the movement (there are a few other adherents in my circle of friends and acquaintances) that embraces ‘Cold Plunge’.  Yep, think of immersing yourself in water, as cold as 39F as a way to easy sore muscles, enhance focus, lower your core body temperature (voluntary hypothermia!), and decrease inflammation.  I’ve also recently (re)embraced discomfort in the form of gym exercise and workouts.  I have had seasons (not enough of them) where I’ve embraced exercise culture.  Sore muscles and other various forms of discomfort do lead to greater strength and fitness, which is what brings me to the idea of embracing the notion of ‘Seek Discomfort’.  

When we are too comfortable, we are not more resilient.  When life is too convenient we are not more creative or courageous.  We are just more dependent.  And not on those we love or care about.  Interdependence, the notion that we mutually build into the lives of our friends and loved ones, is vital.  Being unnecessarily dependent on comfort and convenience might kill you or at least make you miserable.  Perhaps this is part of the attraction of camping.  Where you spend a small fortune to live like a homeless person.  It’s less comfortable than our normal lives.  But it gets us closer to the natural world (yes, even the glampers with the 40’ fifth-wheel).  I enjoy camping.   

On some level, I’m going to seek more challenge.  I will absolutely enjoy a certain amount of comfort and convenience (I enjoy the heated seat in my car, for example), but I’m also going to embrace some practices that challenge my affection for convenience. Maybe then I won’t be so grumpy about having to sit in a center seat, at the back of airplane, late in the evening, when all I want is to be home with my love.  Not sure about that cold plunge though…

Review – The Seabiscuit Cafe

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June 2025 – The Seabiscuit Cafe Mackinaw Island, Michigan

The first thing I need to address is the name of  this establishment.  The ambience in the Seabiscuit doesn’t exude ‘Cafe’.  It’s more accurately ‘Pub’.  This isn’t a bad thing, I like a good pub. The central feature is a bar. There are a half-dozen TVs playing sports, many high-top tables, all of the wood is dark and the tables are crammed in close.  The term Cafe’ usually implies coffee, and while I’m guessing they could produce a cup of coffee, the main beverage on offer here is beer.  The Seabiscuit movie was playing on a TV in the corner and a large plaque with the name dominated the decor.  

Now, on to the experience.  Our server was wonderful and accommodating of my wife’s food allergy.  I ordered the whitefish and chips, which was delivered in short order with batter coating and fries (chips!) worthy of any pub I’ve been to (Ireland and England included).  

Upon diving into my meal I was reminded that I’m not a huge fan of Great Lakes whitefish.  (Haven’t had it in years) In this case it was a bit dry and lacking in flavor.  I think this is more the nature of whitefish (I’m used to cod and haddock or walleye) than the preparation on offer by Seabiscuit.  I would recommend the french-dip (which looks amazing) or other pub-fare offering unless you’ve acquired the taste for whitefish.  My wife got a side salad with her meal of Mac and Cheese and it looked tasty.  I snuck a couple of cucumber slices and they were fresh and tasty.   The Mac and Cheese wasn’t anything extraordinary, but competent and pleasant as you would expect for comfort food.

I did enjoy a couple of cocktails, gin and tonic, which were nicely done and of appropriate strength.  Our server was attentive, friendly and efficient.  Given we were on the island on the Friday of a long holiday weekend, the island was commensurately crowded and by the time we got up to leave the line was out in the street.

As a side-note, if you want a quieter time on Mackinaw Island, go during the week. Otherwise you will likely wait in line for everything.  

Overall rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars for total experience. https://seabiscuitcafe.com

Review – Verde, Mackinaw Island

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June 2025 – The last time I visited Mackinaw Island (five years ago?) Verde was my last stop before boarding the ferry (Arnold Transit’s dock is adjacent). I remember an incredibly tasty plate of tacos and an equally satisfying margarita. As we were on our way to the ferry dock on our trip today (after having hit all the t-shirt shops and fudge stores) I figured I’d visit Verde again.

Having had such a positive experience once always leaves the door open to disappointment. But this was not the case today. I wasn’t hungry enough for the full treatment, so I ordered the chips and guacamole. I also ordered a margarita since I was enjoying the crowds on the island so much more with a little social lubricant. I topped it off with a bowl of the chicken tortilla soup and my wife ordered a grilled chicken sandwich.

We didn’t have to wait long for the guacamole and chips. Both the chips and guacamole were pretty clearly commercially made rather than done on-site (home-mades are the hallmark of a standout cantina). That said they were both flavorful and enjoyable. The margarita was very pleasant and whatever the well tequila was (I didn’t ask) it was a pleasant surprise.

Our table was in a partly open patio area with a view of the marina and the lake. The spacing of the tables was generous and we were one of three couples there. This kind of setting is why I go to islands, and I wasn’t disappointed. The temperature was around 70 degrees with a nice breeze coming over the water.

Our food was delivered promptly. Sarah cut off a bit of the grilled chicken from her sandwich for me to try and it was very juicy and flavorful, perfectly done. The sandwich was made to her request without avocado (she doesn’t eat the guacamole either) and the tomatoes appeared quite fresh. She was very pleased. The tortilla soup was served piping hot, which was very pleasant (I’m not sure there’s anything quite as disappointing as tepid soup). It was nicely seasoned and made with pinto beans (yay! I’ve not acquired the taste for black beans), chicken, with just slightly too much salt for my taste. Your mileage on this last bit may vary.

Our server was very pleasant and attentive and overall I would rate this visit to Verde easily as pleasant as my last one. Our server said Verde had recently changed their menu and now also serves smash burgers (is it bad that I didn’t notice?). If they are as good as our dinner I’d say it’s worth a try.

Overall I would rate Verde 4 out of 5 stars (homemade chips and guacamole would put them over the top). https://verdesmi.com