Far Point is our house in Alpena.
The address is 5075 Huron Beach Rd, Alpena, MI 49707.
Cell phone towers do not reach the Far Point House. We no longer have a land line in Alpena. Bruce's cell phone is 734-395-3380. We do have high-speed WiFi internet. To use your cell phone you will need to turn on Wi-Fi calling.
Once you are a mile away from North Point Rd, your cell phone will lose coverage. So if you need to call for directions, do it shortly after you leave Alpena. On the way up 23 there are also several dead spots for cell phone coverage. I've noticed in particular between Au Gres and Tawas; also some between Harrisville and Alpena.
GPS
GPS now generally works to get you to Far Point. But at several points you may wish to take a different route. The big choice is whether to follow US 23 up along Lake Huron or go more to the middle of the state on M 33. As I write this Google is estimating the lake route to be 7 miles shorter and 12 minutes longer. But that depends on traffic, which during summer months is variable. Both routes are reasonably scenic, but on the middle route you get no view of the lake.
GPS may also send you up M 65. The route is basically the same distance and time as M 33, but with no towns, so nowhere to stop for food. I don't ever take this route.
The map databases used for at least some GPS include roads that no longer exist - once you get past Alpena. Also, you might get sent down Hamilton Road from U.S. 23. Hamilton is a very rough, poorly maintained road. Even though it would be the shortest route, Hamilton will take much longer and could cost you a muffler. Avoid it.
SPEED TRAP CAUTION
There are several places on US 23 where the road opens up to four lanes providing passing lanes. For some reason cars that have been traveling at 50 MPH often speed up to 65 when you get to the passing lane, so you might need to go 70 to actually get past them before the lane ends. Don't do it. The police love to hang out here, particularly in the passing lanes areas just before Tawas and half way between Tawas and Oscoda. The speed limit doesn't change and we have multiple people who have been ticketed there.
Lunch
If you want to eat there are these alternatives to suggest. There are also various fast food restaurants in Au Gres, Tawas and Oscoda.
In Tawas there is reasonable pizza at G's Pizza. After you get to the lake, you go about two miles, passing the Walmart on the left and then a trailer park on the right. Go through traffic light and then take the first left, it's right on the road visible from 23. When the weather is good we often call ahead to order pizza (do it in Au Gres before you lose phone coverage), then pick it up and go back a quarter mile to the park on the lake. It makes for a pretty quick stop. Their phone is 989-362-8659. This is a little more than 1 1/2 hours to Far Point.
Or If you come up through Mio, go through town, up the hill. Then about a half mile on the right hand side is the Paddle Inn Restaurant. This is a classic up-north restaurant.
Food Shopping
There are several good places to pick things up along the way.
0.4 miles after getting onto U.S. 23 you will see Jay's Farm Market on the left hand side. Jay's is a good place for produce including local produce They also have a good selection of meat, jerky, and smoked fish. And they have a bathroom.
When you get to Harrisville, there is one traffic light. When you can see the light coming, but a tenth of a mile before you get to it there is a park on the left hand side. In the parking lot of this park there are often 2 or 3 produce vendors with local stuff. If there are Michigan cherries available you are commanded to buy some. Alpena strawberries are also a must buy when they are there. Other stuff as it appeals to you.
If you come up the middle route, you will go past a Meijer on the right and a Walmart on the left as you come into town.