It is currently 5 degrees (-28 degree windchill), the wind is howling, it’s snowing and we are both not feeling well. A post about our fun summer is just what I need right now. It also fills a huge time gap in this blog.
After returning from our winter trip, we decided to take a break from traveling and to have a more relaxing summer and fall. We split our time between our “sticks and bricks” in SE Michigan and our “Northern Outpost” in Frankfort, MI. While at home, we took care of the house and other responsibilities and met up with family and friends.
I am posting a lot of photos from the outpost, where we spent 47 nights, this year, camping off-grid in the RV. Highlights were meeting up with many friends we haven’t seen in a long time, hiking, paddling, cycling, mountain biking, bald eagles, sunsets, great weather, and just enjoying nature.
View of lake Michigan from a favorite local hiking trail. This is one of the trails, where we regularly see bald eagles. We usually see them, on average, every 2 or 3 days. One day, we saw four – two while paddling, another on our way home from paddling and a fourth while hiking on this trail. That was an amazing day! For me, it is always a reminder of freedom, on many levels.Checking out the weekly live concert in downtown Beulah (photo by Ron S. J.)Hanging out at the weekly live concert in downtown Beulah. Ron, Johnny, Mary, Dave, Lisa (photo by Ron S. J.)Watching the sun setting over Crystal Lake, from Beulah Beach (photo by Ron S. J.)The sun setting over Crystal Lake, from Beulah Beach (photo by Ron S. J.)View of Frankfort from across Betsie BayBoat dock at Beulah BeachThe end of one of our favorite hiking trails, Sleeping Bear Dunes National LakeshoreWild strawberries growing along our driveway. There aren’t many and they are very small, but tasty.After a bonfire with friends, Mark and Suzi, we began to make s’mores on a regular basis. Hanging out with them was really fun, and the new s’more habit was a bonus.Sunset at the end of our drivewayBonfireSunset at Frankfort BeachMountain biking in Thompsonville, MIWe came across a field of sunflowers while mountain biking in Thompsonville, MIFrankfort Lighthouse at sunsetDave, cooling off in the shade on our deck, aka ‘observation platform’The full moon rising over the observation platform at the outpostSunset at Frankfort BeachSunset at Frankfort BeachPoint Betsie LighthousePoint Betsie LighthouseDave and Mary, getting ready for a downwinder from Point Betsie to Frankfort Beach.Ron, Dave and Mary, heading out for a downwinder from Point Betsie to Frankfort Beach.Johnny, Ron and Lisa, eating fresh rasberries on Frankfort BeachStopping at the beach at Glen Haven, during a bike rideView of Betsie Bay from the distilleryWe have red and black raspberries growing wild at the outpostAn abondoned Indigo Bunting nest. This is one of our favorite birds on our property. It’s definitely the most beautiful. We also have, Eastern Towhees, Cedar waxwings, Black Capped chickadees, Robins, Hawks and more.Tiny, somewhat secret beach on Crystal LakeThe end of another favorite hiking trail, Sleeping Bear Dunes National LakeshoreSlushie, chillin’ at camp (he’s always chilling, even when it’s above 80 degrees)A favorite hiking trail, with views of Lake Michigan and, on a calm day, a ship wreck.Fourth of July firworks over the Frankfort LighthouseDave’s new water supply system, The Water Buffalo. We are really happy with it.Sleeping Bear Dunes National LakeshoreChecking out the Betsie RiverView of Lake Michigan from a local hiking trailBeulah Beach
-inspected and repacked wheel bearings
-inspected and adjusted trailer brakes
-inspected tires
-inspected and greased suspension
-greased stabilizers
-painted RV frame, springs, and rear bumper, stabilizers
-sanitized fresh water system, flushed and winterized.
-inspected and cleaned roof
-installed new awning
-installed new microwave
-washed, cut, waxed entire exterior
-plugged or re-plugged all mouse entry points
Dave washed, polished and buffed the entire exterior, while I cleaned the windows. He also vacuumed and I deep-cleaned every surface of the interior.Dave, greasing the bearings.Dave, working on all of the suspension-related maintenance.The awning was in pretty rough shape after many years of sun and weather exposure. With a few minutes of assistance from our neighbor (who is taller and stronger than me), we replaced it ourselves.The string on some of the blinds had almost completely frayed. I restrung them, which was a tedious process, but I saved a lot of money.After 497 nights of camping, we replaced the original microwave. I can’t wait to use it! It was taking 3 minutes just to reheat a cup of coffee.
As October approached, we planned for our annual RV maintenence, based on the weather forcast. The plan was to bring the RV home, to work on it, stopping at some new campgrounds along the way. I was hopeful that this would not be our final trip for the year.
Last days in Frankfort 2022
We headed up to our Northern Outpost in Frankfort, MI for our last two nights of the year there. We did a couple of final short hikes and visited a couple of microbrewries. We packed up or put away everything for winter and closed up the outhouse/tool shed. The only reason leaving for the year wasn’t so bad, was that we were headed to a couple of new locations, on our way home.
South Higgins Lake State Park
We had never been to Higgins lake, so we booked a couple of nights at South Higgins Lake State Park. It was a pretty, 2-hour drive from Frankfort, with the beginning of fall colors near the center of the state. The campground was nearly empty and our site was beautiful. We know it is an absolute circus during peak season, as South Higgins Lake is known to be the “party camground”, with a boat launch area. The North Higgins Lake campground is supposedly more family-oriented. We hiked at the Mari Lake trails, nearby. We drove around the area, checking out Roscommon and Houghton Lake and had a nice campfire.
Port Crescent State Park
We headed to Port Crescent State Park next. We were a little bummed that the microbrewery in Caseville and a couple of great places on Port Austin were closed because it was mid-week and off-season. When we saw our campsite we did not mind at all. It was a beautiful, calm afternoon, perfect for enjoying some quiet time on the beautiful beach. We happened to notice our neighbors’ bikes looked equipped for touring, with Brooks saddles and panniers, so Dave asked if they did any bike touring. It so happens that they had recently completed the Transamerica trail, just as Dave did when he was 20. The main difference, though, is they were 60! We had a lot of fun talking to them.
The highlight of our time at this park, was running into Skallywag, the German Shepherd and her owners, Bob and Wendy. We first met them at Fort Pickens, last winter, 2021 . (I wrote about them near the end of this post: Fort Pickens Area – Gulf Islands National Seashore – Pensacola Beach, FL Feb 25 – Mar 3 ). They live in Owosso, spend a lot of time in Cheboygan in summer, and enjoy Florida camping in the winter, so we figured we we see them again, somewhere. I saw the dog, when we were first driving into the park and I thought of them, not realizing it was actually them until we walked around the campground later. It was so great to catch up with them. It was just like when we were at Flagler Beach in spring, and realized were were camping near a couple from Maine, who were also at Fort Pickens at the same time. Bob and Wendy got a kick out of that, as they also remember the people from Maine.
We headed home to start our annual RV maintance after 119 nights of camping, this year. That is a total of 497 nights since we purchased the RV in fall of 2018, with Port Crescent State Park being our 79th camping location.
Sunset at our Northern Outpost, Frankfort, MICampfire at our Northern Outpost, Frankfort, MIDuring our last couple of days up north, we had a couple of really good Oktoberfest beers at our two closest breweries.South Higgins Lake State Park, Roscommon, MI
South Higgins Lake State Park, Roscommon, MI
South Higgins Lake State Park, Roscommon, MIMarl Lake Trails, Roscommon, MIMarl Lake Trails, Roscommon, MIBoat launch area at South Higgins Lake State Park, Roscommon, MISouth Higgins Lake State Park, Roscommon, MISouth Higgins Lake State Park, Roscommon, MI I am a true fan of Bob Ross and was happy to see these signs at the parks. Apparently, the Michigan DNR and Bob Ross Inc. partnered on programming to help raise awareness of tree planting and forest protection efforts in state parks.Another Bob Ross “Happy Little Trees” sign at Port Crescent State Park, Port Austin, MIThis is what is left of the town of Port Crescent 1841-1888. The town site is now Port Crescent State Park, Port Austin, MIPort Crescent State Park, Port Austin, MIPort Crescent State Park, Port Austin, MIPort Crescent State Park, Port Austin, MISkallywag (from Owosso) at Port Crescent State Park, Port Austin, MI. We originally met Skallywag and her owners at Fort Pickens, in the Florida panhandle, in March 2021.
