An Old Mission

Old Mission Peninsula defies characterization. It’s vacationland and farmland. It’s rural small town and it’s wealthy suburbs. There are rustic cabins down the road from mega mansions down the road from agriculture processing facilities. Island views turn into orchard rows turn into neighborhoods all on a skinny strip of land that separates the Grand Traverse Bay from itself. It’s also in a ~20 mile radius of where I live but it’s clearly distinct from Traverse City.

I find it fascinating, so I set out to explore it camera in hand and bike underfoot. The goal of characterizing OMP was far from my mind, ejoying all it had to offer was not.

I mostly biked the permimeter but took detours for sights, food, and any particularly interesting roads.

I wish I would have stopped more than I did, the goal was to really make a day of it. I had snacks in my pack, bike repair tool, a swimsuit & towel, and a book, but it was gray and threatening to rain which forced me to keep moving.

The “town” of Old Mission (Laura, if you’re reading, fact check me on if it’s legally considered a town) sits on a natural harbor almost at the tip of the peninsula.

At the tippy top is Old Mission State Park featuring some trails, a lighthouse, and a crushed shell beach with shin-shallow that never seems to drop off.

Two points of interest on my ride were the “bonus peninsulas” that jut out of OMP to varying degrees: Leffingwell Point and Neahtawanta.

The ride south was spent mostly on the western shore and I was fortunate to have my friend Noah join me for it, plus a well earned lunch and beer at the Jolly Pumpkin.

I took less detours and photos as I felt more tired. Overall, a sucesful ride and a well spent late-summer day. Next year, I’d like to try again and really committ to spending more time meandering, making stops, and taking photos.

You’re still reading? Well, I’m out of photos but I did try and create a “map” of my ride. My drawing skills have not improved since elementary school but it was fun to have a physical memory of the day and remember how I chose to spend my time.