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.