9/22/2025 Monday
Ludington MI to Denmark Wi…via the SS Badger Ferry
Stats: Miles: 23 AIS: 2:23 Speed:9.7 mph Elev. 800 ft
Packed the bikes and arrived about 8:15 at the ferry landing. It was a short ride from the motel. We walked our bikes onto the ferry and they had a “spot” with a rack for bikes off the left side at the back of the ferry.
The SS Badger was built in 1953 in Sturgeon Bay WI for the C & O Railway. They used to transport railroads cars underneath where the cars are now loaded. I read there were 14 ferries in its prime. This ferry runs 2 round trips/day in the summer and 1 round trip in the fall. It closes for the season in early October. There’s is another unused ferry in Ludington called The Spartan. It’s been said they use it for parts for the Badger… described as cannibalism. Another interesting feature is that it is coal powered.
In our travels through Michigan everyone raved about taking the Badger ferry. They love it! The other choices are: drive up and around through the Upper Peninsula or drive through Chicago!
There are two ferries crossing Lake Michigan. There’s also a high speed ferry connecting Muskegon to Milwaukee.
There are two decks… upper with outdoor seating in the front and enclosed in the back. There’s an upper inside cabin with a cafeteria style restaurant and tables. On the middle deck there’s a smaller cafeteria, bingo hall, movie lounge, small museum, gift shop, arcade and State Rooms you can rent for lounging, sleeping etc. In the summer on the “red-eye” these might be handy. Nothing in all the sitting areas has anything conducive to sleeping!
on the upper deck
We are going to try some Bingo. Played about 3 games. Did not even come close to winning
active game
I just realized when departing the ferry that no one drives their car on or off this ferry. They have employees running back and forth and driving the cars to the parking lot. I’m not a ferry expert but haven’t seen that yet! People cue up in the parking lot until there car is parked there.
leaving Michigan
Manitowoc Wisconsin
We found our way out of Manitowoc pretty easily. After about one mile we were headed northwest toward Green Bay. We did not plan to make it there today. Our plan was to get on another railroad trail that would take us to Denmark… 14 miles on a crushed limestone trail. Now that we have so much trail experience this one was not “cutting the mustard” for me. It was too soft and too slow. Once we came to a crossing after about 4 miles on this trail we found a road that led to a nice smooth highway to Denmark.
I don’t know if I was just being too picky about the trail surface, but honestly we have not had a total layover day in 8 days. We usually ride 6. Also coming off 2 big mileage days in a row.. 52 and 65. Within the first 4 miles I felt like I was dragging. This trail also, for some strange reason, gave mileage markers every 1/4 mile! Who does that? If it was suppose to be motivating it was exactly the opposite for me… I couldn’t look at them! It made the miles go by even more painfully slow! I’m tired. Hope my last day is peppier🤣
By taking the highway we traded a very flat railroad grade for rolling hills but for me it took the monotony of straight slow line away and I was much happier.
It’s our last night and we opted for a nice motel here in Denmark rather than a shower less campground for more miles toward GB. It’s possibly the nicest one we’ve stayed in so far. We’re happy… we’re comfortable. We have 30 miles remaining to our friend’s house in Saumico… just north of Green Bay. There will be be another trail tomorrow to try and use… or reject! Either way we’re going to finish this loop tomorrow… 30 days!!
Here’s what Google AI told me about this interesting old structure:
The Maribel Caves Hotelwas a spa and bottling plant in Maribel, Wisconsin, known for its mineral spring water bottled for sale in cities like Chicago and Milwaukee. The hotel, which operated until the 1920s, was built in 1900 but is now a ruin after fires in 1985 and a tornado in 2013, though you can still see the stone walls from the nearby Cherney Maribel Caves County Park.
cinnicrew 