Escapee Rally, Cheboygan, MI

Wednesday through Saturday.
44 rigs showed up at the Rally.
Each day at 4:00 there is a social hour. It’s a chance to meet the other people attending the rally. On Thursday, we drove around the area stopping at Aloha & Cheboygan State Parks and a wonderful City park located right on Lake Huron. Had lunch, went walking out on the breakwater and took Gopher swimming. A warm & sunny day. At the City park, we were talking to some locals. They said around here you need to take full advantage of days like this because they don’t have very many.
Friday: Mostly enjoyed our friends company today. There was a pizza party for dinner then games. Carol played Farkel with a group.
The more Escapees we meet, the more fascinating the entire culture of “Full Timers” becomes. People talk about how long they have been full-timing. 5 years, 10, 15. One fellow is 93 years old; another couple is in their mid-eighties. One lady is about 90. She and her husband full-timed together for a very long time. When he passed away, she continued by herself for another ten years. Now she travels with her “baby” brother who must be in his mid-80’s. By the looks of the RV’s and the appearance of the people, some are quite wealthy and some are just getting by. Such things don’t seem to make any difference with this group. We have never met more friendly & outgoing people. Carol thoroughly enjoys the company of the other women. Maybe it’s because of her disability, or perhaps that’s just the way they are, but they have welcomed Carol like an old friend. These SKP Rally’s are one of the highlights of the trip.

Saturday:
On Friday & Saturday morning there was a pancake breakfast. My job was to mix the batter for the guy who did the cooking. Saturday night was the Pot Luck Supper. We made brownies and a key lime pie plus heated up some frozen burritos we were trying to get rid of. In the evening, Carol played Farkel with her friends.

Continuing north.

Monday & Tuesday:

Left about 9:15 continuing our trip north. In Ironton, there is the worlds shortest automobile ferry ride; just over a hundred yards. Unfortunately, the ferry did not take RV’s. We stopped here & there along the very scenic U.S. 31 which follows the shore of Lake Michigan. Stopped at the Friske Orchards Farm Market. They had just taken a tray of cinnamon buns from the oven; couldn’t resist.
Continued to the City of Petoskey and stayed at the Magnus Park city campground. It’s located directly on Little Traverse Bay and the paved bike trail. An excellent place to spend the night. Took a nice walk before the clouds moved in once again. As the day went on, the weather got worse. Started to rain about 5:00.
On Tuesday we drove to The Cross in the Woods shrine in Indian River. There is a huge cross made from one redwood tree. The Christ figure is of bronze. The shrine has a paved sculpture garden as well as a Doll Museum with over 525 dolls dressed in the garb of religious orders of men and women who served in Catholic ministry. Essentially, it’s 525 nun dolls. I was surprised, it was actually very interesting. Not in the same class as whistling to a CD, but entertaining in its own way. I couldn’t recall the religious orders of nuns I’ve had in school over the years, but I’m sure they were represented in the museum.
Later on we went to Wal-Mart in Cheboygan to pick up one of Carols prescriptions. Sometimes I don’t know what we would do without Wal-Mart. Last night about 6:00 I ordered, on-line, a prescription refill. Picked it up the next day in Cheboygan. Sure makes traveling easy.
We continued on to the Escapee Chapter 6 Rally at the Cheboygan County Fairgrounds. Thet expect about 35 rigs by tomorrow.

Traverse City. Cherry Festival.

Thursday & Friday

Woke up to a cool & rainy day. Left for Traverse City to pick up the mail & get groceries. After that we drove to the Leelanau SP located at the very tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. A scenic drive along the west shore of the Grand Traverse Bay. Not much of a day as far as the weather goes; cool, overcast & sometimes rainy. The Grand Traverse Lighthouse, built in 1858, is located in the park.
Friday morning we took a nice walk along the accessible trail. The weather’s a little nicer. Still windy but with occasional sun.

Saturday & Sunday

Saturday morning we drove to Traverse City to see the 83rd Annual Cherry Festival. We got to T.C. about 9:30am with the intent of first doing laundry & grocery shopping. To our surprise, people were already showing up for the Festival. The shoreline was already packed with boats. We changed our plans and found a perfect parking spot just off Grandview Blvd. about five blocks from the center of all the activity. Some other RV’s were already in the same area and by 10:00 all spaces were taken. There is a paved multi-use trail running along the waterfront; the perfect way for us to get around. After taking Gopher for a nice walk, Carol & I went to see what was going on. There was a sand volley ball tournament in progress. Children were trying their hand at making their own cherry pie. Every product you can imagine that’s made from cherries was for sale; salsa, juice, candy, pastries, bread, on & on. There was a Carnival Midway, wine tasting tent and live entertainment at night. In the afternoon was an air show. We don’t recall ever being to an air show before. When the show was over about 3:00, we left to do the laundry & shopping. About 5:00 we went back downtown and were quite surprised to find another spot large enough for us to park. Fireworks start at 10:30. We’re so far north that sunset isn’t until 9:30. We were taking a walk on the Path about 9:00. Someone set off a few small firecrackers. Poor Gopher went crazy. Cowered down, turned and pulled straight to the camper. After recalling the problems we had with her during the 4th of July we spend with Suzanne, we decided to skip the fireworks and head to the Turtle Creek Casino parking lot. Our “campsite” for the night.
On Sunday we went back to TC for the Arts & Crafts show and to just revisit the festivities we saw on Saturday. Early afternoon we went to the Traverse City State Park for the night.

Lake Michigan Rec. Area & Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sunday & Monday

Stopped by Meijer’s for groceries then headed to the Huron-Manistee National Forest Lake Michigan Recreation Area. We got a prime site near the beach access point. The sites are very large and heavily wooded; lots of privacy. There are several trails we could use with Carols scooter. Dogs are allowed on the trails and beach plus it only costs $8/night. Carol sat on the Lake Michigan observation deck while Gopher & I went swimming. She has no fear of the water at all and had a wonderful time chasing the stick. There were lots of dogs on the beach. I wish Gopher got along better with other dogs but she just doesn’t. She does OK with the initial “introduction” but after that wants nothing to do with them. If a dog she met approaches her, she gets aggressive as if to say “stay away from me”. Oh well.
Another Lazy Daze pulled into the campground. He’s from this area and said he was actually surprised to get such a nice campsite. This place is very popular with the locals plus it’s the 4th of July week.
Sunday was a beautiful, mostly sunny day. On Monday the weather turned to cool, cloudy & a light drizzle all day long.


Tuesday & Wednesday:

We continued our slow journey north. Drove along the coastal highway, M-22 rather than the faster US-31. It was a beautiful drive through small coastal towns. In Manistee, we spotted a hair cutting place. We both got much needed haircuts. We finally stopped at the Platt River Campground in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore located on the northwestern shore of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. It’s a “hilly region fringed with massive shoreline sand dunes and dotted with clear lakes.”
Got real lucky and snagged the last site with electric power.
It rained most of the night and into the morning. We drove to the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive then on to the Dune Climb area, Glen Haven and the Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum.
The Scenic Drive was through woods & the dune area. Great views of Lake Michigan. Near the Dune Climb area is a 1 mile accessible trail that goes near the dunes and through some beautiful woods. Glen Haven & the old Coast Guard Station had nautical museums, an old General Store and other historical sites. The founder of the Glen Haven area was D.H. Day. A lumberman, fisherman, etc. Glen Haven was a company town. His employees lived in company provided housing and were paid with coupons only redeemable at his store. This was a fairly common practice throughout the Country in the late 1800’s. On the way back to the campground at the end of the day, we stopped by the Platte River access area. The river is crystal clear. The water is filtered through the sand dunes.
No sun today. Cool & cloudy with some misty rain.

Scottville Riverside Park

Friday & Saturday

Went grocery shopping in Ludington then drove to Scottville and stayed in the Scottville Riverside Park. A very well maintained county campground on the Pere Marquette River. The bridge over the river is out for repairs so we had to take a long detour. Tomorrow there is a Farmers Market but, unfortunately, it’s on the other side of the river. Part of the park houses the Western Michigan Old Engine Club. While there were no events going on, we walked around that area of the park. Saw a saw mill, shingle making machine, an oil rig “grass hopper”, and assorted old farm machinery.

Muskegon, Ludington

Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Left Grand Haven SP about 9am. Drove north to the Krause County Park south of Muskegon. The park has an accessible boardwalk that leads almost to the water plus dogs are allowed on the beach. We spend perhaps an hour enjoying the beautiful morning. After the beach we drove to the Great Lakes Naval Memorial & Museum. The USS Silversides (SS-236) is there as well as a very interesting WW-II museum.
We wound up at the Muskegon S.P. for the night. Our campsite had a nice view of Muskegon Lake. Watched sail boats & the ferry to Wisconsin.

Wednesday & Thursday:
Stayed at the Butterville Campground just south of Ludington. The campground is on a very high dune overlooking the lake. Unfortunately, there is no way Carol can get to the beach. Gopher is happy because dogs are allowed on the beach. We drove into Ludington to just look around. Another summer resort town. Had lunch in town.
In the evening, promptly at 8:00, the S.S. Badger leaves the harbor. It's easily seen from the campground. The Badger, built in 1953, is the last Great Lakes car ferry and the last ship in the U.S. that is powered by coal. After the Badger, people hang around to watch the sun set over the lake.

Grand Haven

Sunday, June 21, 2009
Arrived at the Grand Haven State Park about 2:00. Our campsite is just across the street from the Lake Michigan beach giving us a great view of the breakwater, lighthouse and beach area.. There is a two mile long paved path that leads from the breakwater to downtown. Grand Haven reminds us of any of the summer beach resorts; Cape Cod, Ocean City, Rehoboth, on & on. A madhouse on weekends. Wall to wall people. We enjoyed our stay. Walked along the lake trail, read our books & watched the world go by. Today is Fathers Day plus the first day of summer. We’re pretty far north. It doesn’t get dark until after 10:00. By about 5:00 am it’s getting light.

Escapee Rally, Hillsdale, MI

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 through Sunday.

On Tuesday we drove to the Escapee Rally at the Hillsdale Fairgrounds. Did laundry & last minute shopping on the way.
You talk about a small world, our neighbors at the Rally are Lou & Dot Costopolis from Fort Pierce. They live in town near Dan McCarty School. Another Lazy Daze pulled in. Ron & ? from Nevada. They have been traveling for the last two years. About 50 rigs are expected at this rally. We met some other people from Michigan; Lon & Carolyn. They invited us to an Escapee Rally in Cheboygan, MI starting on July 8. Carol made some friends. The “girls” have been playing Mexican Train & Farkel. It’s a nice change for Carol to have some company other than just me all the time. That’s one of the main reasons we go to these rallies. While Carol is with her friends, I get a little free time.
By Thursday, there were 67 rigs at the rally. In the evening we walked to a nearby restaurant to have dinner with some friends.
O Friday we mostly hung around with our friends. In the evening there was a hot dog dinner.  Not bad. After dinner there was entertainment. A couple we had met yesterday were the “entertainment”. She whistled while instrumental music played on a CD. He told corny jokes. Really. No kidding. They were very sincere and the audience, us & other Escapees, enjoyed the show. I admire their courage for providing the entertainment. They said they do these performances for old age homes, hospitals, churches, etc. An enjoyable evening. The weather was marginal today. Mostly rain with some sun now & then. Tonight is supposed to be worse.
Saturday: Last nights weather wasn’t as bad as forecast. No really big storms. I helped with the morning breakfast; mixed the pancake batter.  Later in the morning we walked to the County Fair Farmers Market & Auction. It was a real mix of local people selling their junk, puppies & kittens, flowers, some veggies, pigs, hay, chickens. etc. We were hoping there would be a local bakery. No luck.
In the evening there was a fried chicken dinner. After dinner was the CARE auction. CARE is a nursing facility in Livingston, TX devoted to the care of members of the Escapee RV Club. Any member can go there at no cost. Johnny had sent Carol some autographed Maxine books & posters. We made four packs for the auction. They sold at auction for $100 each. That was by far, the most bid on any item. $2,000 was raised for CARE; $400 from Maxine.
On Sunday morning there coffee & donuts were served. Said our goodbye’s then headed on. Stopped at Wal-Mart then continued to Grand Haven State Park in Grand Haven, MI.
We both had a wonderful time at the rally. Made more camping friends.

Elkhart to Coldwater

Thursday through Monday, June 15

Thursday was a very rainy day. We stayed at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds Campground. Mostly stayed inside to keep dry. On Friday we went to the Downtown River Walk area in Elkhart for a weekend festival. Nothing special. Lots of your typical carnival food vendors & “craft” booths selling Made In China stuff. In the afternoon we went to Shipshewana to get the mail Suzanne sent for us. Stayed in a local RV park.
On Saturday we went to Coldwater, MI. Stopped at the Michigan Welcome Center and really loaded up on information about MI. Spent the night at the Memorial Park Campground; a Branch County Park. Very nice. We’re camped right on the lake. The people here are fascinated with the Lazy Daze. They have never seen an RV quite like this. The paint job, the streamlined appearance, the retro look. Three people came down to take a close look. Others came down to see Gopher the “border collie”. There are two very large, open fields. Gopher enjoyed running free for a while then cooling off in the lake. Sunday was a beautiful, sunny day. Lots of families came to the park for the beach, picnics, etc.
On Monday we went to Wal-Mart then to another Branch County Park; the Quincy Campground. Had the lakeside camping area all to us. Lots of open areas and access to Marble Lake. Another beautiful park. Gopher was able to spend most of the time off leash.