The Journey Has Begun!: No Schedule Allows For Changes!

August 7th, 2013 and Heading east and knowing we'd be in Decatur, Indiana on August 19th, gave us more time to explore the topside of this beautiful country! And to see places we hadn't seen before. So we drove til we got to Austin, Minnesota to bed down for the night at the Walmart. The next morning, while having our coffee we decided that we'd drive due east until we had to turn right or left!

We'd heard so much about Michigan in summer, through our travel, so Michigan bound it was! We arrived in a little town called Marinetta, Wisconsin. ( Not far from Green Bay) and decided to get groceries and bed down in the Walmart parking lot. (Yes, now two nights in a row at Walmarts and I'm really feeling like a gypsy!) The good thing is that's what these motorhomes are great for! They are totally self sufficient with generator, fresh water, kitchens, etc. and it's great to put them to good use once in a while! :) Plus the cost of $$ saved in campground costs!

Aug.9th and we're heading north along Lake Michigan and into the Upper Peninsula (UP)! Feeling like the middle of nowhere, we decide to check in to the first place we came upon, Whitefish Hill Rv Resort. @$44 per night we found it pricey! A beautiful old red barn housed the office, lounge, bathhouse and laundry! The old house our front is where the owners family lived. Clean, small, friendly but in the middle of nowhere and no pool! 1 night is all we booked.

Aug 10th, driving around the top side of the lake, we stumble upon a State Park called Fayette St Pk in Garden, Mi. and did we hit the jackpot!! With only a few sights that would fit a 40' motorhome we got lucky! We waited for the folks to check out to get our sight and a great site it was! Now, there were places to get water and no sewer hook up. Only electric was available. But we had a full tank of fresh water and an empty waste tank so we were good to go! At $32 per night for a big rig, it was just fine with us!The aroma of campfires reminded me of the rustic camping we'd do as a kid with my family! Love those memories! This park and campground boarders Lake Michigan with a beach and boat ramps. And on the other side lies the old historic town of Fayette, Open to the public to tour, this town dates back to 1867 and emptied out in 1891. It was built to produce iron ore/pig iron. The bldgs. have been preserved and/or re constructed to preserve the history. Blgs are open to public and the old town sits on the north west end of Lake Michigan! A gorgeous view over the water! Worth the visit! Be sure to check out the event schedule. Many fun events are held there!

Though we tried to extend with no luck, on August 12th we pulled anchor and headed east. St Igance, Mi. bound. We arrived that evening and checked into the Tiki Rv Pk. (And I have no idea why this name? Nothing resembled thatched roofs, beaches and planters punches!) But privately owned by an old couple, this rustic little camp was just in town and offered easy access to Main St and the ferry's that carried you to Mackinac Island. At $30 per night, it was fine with us. There is also a state pk along the Lake just north east of the Mackinac Bridge. Had we known about this, we may have chosen to stay there. Not only was it waterfront but the sunsets were just outstanding form here! Straits St Pk.

I hear the northern lights over the city here can be amazing!! But typically winter time when folks with thin blood head south! ;) The little city is nice with shops and restaurants. (the T shirt/ souvenir shops could go in my opinion) And Mackinac Island is worth the ferry trip there! Plan a day of it and enjoy the horse tours as they are knowledgeable about the history of the island. There are no autos on the island. Only bicycles and horse and buggy. In fact, all supplies and shipments to all stores/merchants are shipped in from town and placed on cargo buggies and delivered to recipients.

I was happy to learn that the horses are purchased from the Amish and given a much better life here.

August 15th and headed south, over the Mackinac Bridge to a little town called Petoskey, where we stumbled upon another State Park campground!! Yes, right in downtown Petoskey, Mi.! BUT only to find out they were booked! ;( When we were offered to park on the grass in the tent area with NO hookups, we took it! This place lie right on the Lake! An hour after parking the motorhome, two woman pull in and start setting up tent camp. Next we were all sipping wine together! ( it was ending up to be a great birthday!) Vickie and Julie were only a small part of what was to come! This was an annual weekend reunion planned with a dozen of their friends who were to show up with their tents the next day! A bunch of crazy 50+ yr old friends with a history....and we were welcomed with open arms! Wow! What fun with good folks! When the office got a cancelation on a full hook up site, we turned it down! We were just fine right where we were! :)

Bike rights with everyone to a music fest. right in town, gathering around the campfire that evening after a big food celebration......but mostly getting to know these new and wonderful friends! This was what I needed!

We explored Charlevoix, a little town just 30 minutes south of Petoskey. Reminded me of a little Annapolis! Clean, a beautiful harbor, stores and eateries....a great town to visit! Be sure to drive into the neighborhoods and see the "mushroom" houses this area is known for. Ask any local. They will tell you where to find them. There is also another town around the north side of Petoskey called Harbor Springs that is a vacation spot for many. This resort area offers many places to rent and is along the lake as well.

I am so glad we took this opportunity to explore the state of Michigan and will visit again one day. But this time I will tour the UP more, including Sault Ste Marie and the lox.