How does one drive from Wisconsin to Ohio while avoiding the traffic of Chicago? The perfect solution is to take a ferry across Lake Michigan, which is what we did on a recent trip to visit family. The SS Badger is a 410-ft passenger/ferry ship. She was built in 1952 and in 1953 she began sailing back and forth between Manitowoc, WI, and Ludington, MI, 60 miles across the width of Lake Michigan. She still sails that route today, but instead of carrying rail cars for which she was originally built, she now carries up to 600 passengers, 180 vehicles and cargo on each crossing.
The SS Badger is the only remaining coal-fired steam ship operating on the Great Lakes and probably the only one on the waters of North America. According to their website, her uniflow steam engine was designated a mechanical engineering landmark by the Society of Mechanical Engineers, and in 2016 she was designated as a National Historic Landmark (that moves!).
Manitowoc, Wisconsin was the point of our departure for the four-hour ferry ride across Lake Michigan. We arrived at 1pm and positioned our car in line with the other vehicles that would be boarded for the crossing. The weather forecast for the day was not ideal. In fact, we received an email from The Badger offices the evening before, alerting all passengers that conditions “will be rough” and that if you would prefer, a full refund could be issued for an alternative day. But we had a schedule to keep and if The Badger was running, we’d be aboard. We are no strangers to rough water conditions, and given her size and reputation of flawless service, we were confident she’d have no trouble.
Once aboard, we made our way up several flights of stairs and explored the decks which offered snack bars, lounges, theater and TV rooms, chaise lounges on the bow, as well as seating port and starboard that ran the length of the ship. And inside the main lounge, free bingo, hosted by a very funny female comedian! Time passed quickly and the ship cut through the waves like a knife through butter.
The SS Badger arrived just after 7 pm, and we stayed in a Ludington motel. After getting checked in, we walked down the street to find a bite to eat. Refreshed the next morning, we continued eastward without the concern of what the morning rush hour would be like in Chicago. If you ever get a chance to travel aboard this national treasure, take it. You won’t be disappointed.
Interested in knowing more about the S. S. Badger? Go to http://www.ssbadger.com
Life in Nautical Miles 