Pacific Northwest Road Trip: Day 23

We made it! This last leg of the journey was arduous, only because we were so weary and ready to get out of the car and stop living out of a suitcase! We were blessed with great weather for traveling and for that I am very grateful. The drive from Dickinson ND to our home in Michigan took 13.5 hours!

There is something exciting when you cross over into your home state. We entered through the Upper Peninsula and were soon rewarded with magnificent views of Lake Michigan, seen in the photo above. I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life and continue to be awed whenever I’m near one of the Great Lakes. They are so impressive, but you have to be here to truly experience them, maps and pictures just do not convey their magnitude!

We took a much-needed extended break once we reached St. Ignace. The Upper Peninsula is known for the Pasty (pronounced pass-tee)! The Pasty originated in Cornwall United Kingdom, over the centuries has made its way over the pond and has evolved into the version that we have today in Michigan.

We only enjoy pasties when we are in the northern regions of Michigan, so we were eager to find some to enjoy for dinner. Driving the main street of downtown St. Ignace, we passed lots of people out enjoying the fabulous weather. St. Ignace has many shops, cafes, restaurants, piers, and parks to enjoy.

We decided to stop at Lehto’s Pasties (Lehto’s Pasties | St. Ignace Restaurant & Online Pasty Orders – Lehto’s Pasties). A true traditional U.P. pasty restaurant operating since 1947! They have two locations, the original location is located along Lake Michigan, and the second location is downtown St. Ignace along Lake Huron. Upon entering we were cheerfully greeted by the owner who was in the process of kneading dough that encases the yummy contents of the pasty. The owner even came out and took our photo for the blog!

He recommended the traditional beef pasty made with onion, potato, rutabaga and seasonings which are then encased in a flaky pastry made from scratch! Served with a side of gravy that finishes the pasty perfectly! Such a simple dish but when done right tastes amazing!

How to properly eat a pasty is a great debate. My hubby likes to open up the pastie right down the middle and pour the gravy along the entire length of the filling. I prefer to pour a bit of gravy over the top of the crust a little at a time, taking a forkful and dipping it into the dish of gravy. Still others hold the entire pasty in their hand, dipping the end into the gravy with each bit. However, you choose to eat a pasty the result is a savory melt in your mouth goodness!

Following a tip from the Lehto’s Pasties owner we headed down to a park by waters of Lake Huron. After finishing our dinner, we strolled along the park’s boardwalk passing a marina, enjoying the crystal-clear waters, watching the ferry headed to Mackinac Island and checking out the lighthouse that stood at the end of the boardwalk.

Interestingly, the Wawatam Lighthouse (https://stignace.com/lighthouses/wawatam-light/) did not originate in this location. It was built in 1998 as a landmark to greet people at the Michigan Welcome Center in Monroe. Eventually it was moved to its current location and fitted with a working light. It now serves as a navigation aid to ships and pleasure crafts in the warmer months. Lake Michigan freezes over in the winter; the lighthouse serves as a navigational aid to snowmobilers who traverse the frozen lake between Mackinac Island and the mainland of St. Ignace or Mackinaw City.

We couldn’t linger too long in St. Ignace, another four hours of driving still lay ahead of us. It sure felt good to stretch our legs, fill our bellies, feel the sunshine and renew our spirits for the rest of the journey.

As we headed toward Michigan’s lower peninsula, the Mighty Mac stood ready to welcome us home! To paraphrase Robert Frost, These Great Lakes are lovey, mighty and deep, but we have miles to go before we sleep!