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Michigan 2023

April - October 2023
Back to Michigan for the summer. Going back to Fayetteville to visit Aunt Chris. Then to Traverse for the summer at Holiday Park RV campground Read more
  • 74footprints
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  • Michigan 2023
    14
    Day 11

    Home for the summer

    May 6, 2023 in the United States

    Again just another long drive day so that we could be in Traverse on Saturday. Work starts Tuesday so Tom (and I) really wanted to have 2 days to get settled in.
    Getting thru the suburbs of Chicago a little tedious, we routed ourselves to avoid toll roads, so ended up on a couple of rough highways. But we saved 50 cents!
    We drove the little north western corner of islands you finally arrive at the Michigan Welcome center.
    Interstate road conditions much better and had a nice drive. Late lunch and had stop near Grand Rapids. Pulled into park at about 6 pm. It felt good going to bed knowing were didn't have to wake up to another day of driving!    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    1
    131112
    Day 12

    Summer summary, May

    May 7, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    Had a family and friends filled summer! Parked in site #181 at the Holiday Park Campground just south of Traverse City. Work schedule was typically Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. The last couple of months included some Mondays for me, so we always had weekends free.
    We were here just in time to attend several awards ceremonies for Spencer, watch him present in the High School "Pitch" contest, and share Tom's bday with family! Posting just a few photos for each month ❤️ with the next foot prints    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    131
    Day 37

    Summer Summary, June

    June 1, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    It's graduation time! Lots of family came out to celebrate!
    But it was also Shannon's birthday, Jeff and Ami's wedding, Fathers Day, and our anniversary!

  • Michigan 2023
    11123
    Day 67

    Summer summary, July

    July 1, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    This was sort of a month of mini vacations for us. Cobbs (plus friends) all headed up to Marquette (Upper Peninsula) for a week of camping, biking and hiking. Tom and I joined for an extended weekend, but elected to hotel it and leave the pets at home. Kind of glad we weren't tenting it because we had periodic rainstorms throughout the visit. Regardless we had time for bike riding around the city, hiking Sugarloaf, farmers market, and time on the rivers edge at the Cobbs campground.
    Later that month we took our bikes and drove over to Boyne Mt to check out the Skybridge. Then biked into Boyne City which is the other end of lake Charlevoix. Nice paved ride, 6 miles out and back.    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    1
    1
    Day 112

    Summer Summary, August

    August 15, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    August did not disappoint! Lots of Cali friends for the Cobbs, but we got to see them all as well. Barbie movie event was lots of fun and even Tom dressed up, borrowing clothes from Jeff. Park hosted a Kids Day event and Spencer and Siena joined us, tie-dye, rock painting and more.
    We all got together to say goodbye to Spencer as he leaves for college with a big pot luck dinner at the Cobbs. Day trip to Suttons Bay and Leland with a stop at 9 Bean Row for croissants. (These are my favorite gift shopping cities.) As the month came to an end we got a chance to watch Sienna play in a hockey match and a final weekend that included breakfast with Shannon at the Commons, a wonderful bike ride around Boardman Lake, and lunch with all the remaining Cobbs up top at Indigo.
    Spent the last part of August with some work days and a couple of days to repack before we start the drive home.
    One final dinner out with our family at Burrow restaurant. I can't believe we didn't stop and get a final pic!    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    1
    12
    Day 129

    Heading home, Sept 1st

    September 1, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 75 °F

    We were pretty well packed up yesterday, but had lots of good byes this morning! There 4 couples we have spent the last 3 summers with, and then some new friends from this summer. Even though we are coming back we are sure it will be a visit only without being work campers.
    Beautiful day for a drive! Had to keep our hands firmly on the wheel because it was breezy! Headed up to the mighty Mac, and over the UP to Munising which is on the south shore of Superior. Superior is the greatest of all the Great lakes and has a different feel then lake Michigan. Probably just because not so many people live or vacation here. The shoreline is classic Michigan look...
    Have always wanted to stay at this particular park-its right on the shore. We didn't get a spot on the water (it is Labor Day weekend!) But certainly had views of the lake. Sites a little rough, but they all had w/e.
    Still very windy, but able to have lake time with Charlie!    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    1
    Day 130

    Visit with Spencer

    September 2, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Got off the slow start this morning- Tom woke up feeling pretty crummy. And worse yet?? No COFFEE! OMG.
    Totally forgot to stop and get some. Tore apart RV; no tea bags, no grounds, not even hot cocoa mix...how could I not have anything?
    Fortunately (for Tom) I did not drink all my coffee yesterday so I could microwave some for him. Yuck!

    Repacked RV and hit the road.
    Nice drive through the UP, color just starting, with small clumps of orange and even red peeking out.

    Got to our RV Park in Houghton, right on the Portage Lake canal. Houghton is such a cute older, town on the Keweenaw peninsula. It sits on one side of Portage Lake with Hancock on the other side. It skinnies down to a wide canal with only a single lift bridge to get to the other side.

    Since Tom was still not feeling well, I met Spencer and we toured the campus and his dorm. Just enjoyed walking (in spite of the 90° weather) and having him talk about his classes and all the resources they offer the students. Quick trip to Walmart for yet another fan for his room, they have no AC!
    Then we drove out to the RV to spend time chatting with Tom. We were going to go out, but decided to order take out pizza from the Ambassador and ate in the RV. Quick drive back to his dorm to drop him off.
    Note: I have NO pictures of the town, campus or Spencer!!? Huge fail. Am including one of the bridge I downloaded, and a couple from Shannon when she dropped him off at school. Just was not thinking...🤔    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    Day 131

    Lakehead Boat Basin

    September 3, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    Second stop was the visitor center for the Northern Great Lakes. I left Charlie and Tom in the RV for nap time with the generator still running so they could have some cool air. Nice exhibit, and the AC in the center was in great condition!
    Another couple of hours and we were in Duluth. We stayed here once before and I really liked it so we came back. We are parked in a marina just down from the lift bridge in this town. We get to see some really big freighters going by and then watch the bridge raise up to allow them to clear. Even most sail boats require the bridge to lift. Weather was miserably hot and humid. Showered, dinner, bed. End of day thank goodness.    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    221111
    Day 132

    Glensheen Mansion

    September 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Took it pretty easy this Labor Day Monday. Was able to finally have nice phone visit with Cindy and Chris, life update and devo time. Then spent quite a bit of time getting a hold of KP advice nurse who then connects you with a doctor who makes final diagnosis and recommendations. Then had to confirm a local pharmacy that would take California call in prescription. Then back to advice nurse who then sendd message to our actual doc in Fresno who calls in order. A little convoluted process, especially on Labor Day!

    Finally solved most of that and headed out to do a little sightseeing on my own. I visited the Glensheen Mansion which is located on the north shore drive of Lake Superior. Beautiful brick mansion, carriage house, gardeners cottage, boathouse and grounds. Just spent the afternoon wandering and enjoying this self-guided tour. It was built in the very early 1900s, and most furniture and accessories are original to the house since the family still lived there until 1977. It actually has a sort of bizarre back story with one of the daughters and maid being murdered.

    Checked on prescription, still not ready, pharmacy closed early because of holiday....arrrgh. Back to RV and just enjoyed viewing the lights of the bridge and town from our spot in the Marina.    Read more

  • Michigan 2023
    1
    Day 133

    Heading west to St.Cloud

    September 5, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    Woke up to this beautiful, still morning. I never get tired of Marina views, and the reflections in the water were awesome. We dawdle around a little bit because I still had to pick Tom's prescription. Since the pharmacy was clear across town it made more sense to go by jeep. Once back we finished packing up and hooking jeep up.

    We only had about 200 miles to go so I took a slightly longer route around one the larger lakes (of the 10,000 found in the state) Mille Lacs. This lake was large enough that you really couldn't see to the opposite shore. But it was a large shallow lake and just lacked the charm of the many lakes in Michigan. (It almost seemed like Minnesota's version of Clear Lake, but with a flat wooded topography.) Nice cool day for traveling and had some rain.

    Grabbed some lunch at McDonald's and finished the day driving into St. Cloud. This fairly good size city is about 45 miles north of Minneapolis. Just seemed liked a nice quiet park to leave Tom and the RV. Only drawback is no cable, just weak over the air signals and relatively good wi-fi so Tom could stream some TV shows. Should have checked ammenties more closely!?

    Nicely spaced sites...and even though slightly older park, it has been well maintained! Individual restroom and shower set up as opposed to large gender specific restroom/ shower rooms. Lots of nice walking areas for Charlie    Read more

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