Labor Day Camping 2014

Bald Mountain

Our lovely very waterproof home away from home

Our Noah Tarp keeps us nice and dry!

Fall Beauty

Fourth Lake

Just perfect end of Summer photo don't you think?

Lovely Sunset with Loons calling on the water

This Blog has been eating Blog posts . . . I have written more than you have seen.  I am not sure quite what to think of it but trying to not get to frustrated by it.

 Obviously this trip was about 10 days ago . . . but it was a lovely albeit short getaway to the ADK for a little respite with Nature and friends.  This trip left at least 18 hours after it was supposed to- we were just not ready and it seemed to make no sense to get all stressed out over something that should have been restful.  So we took a little more time to get ready with less stress but it made for a short trip.  Of course the rain on Sunday also shortened it up quite a bit.  Heavy rain does not make for friendly mountain climbing/hiking. So we packed up and hit the road for home. Looking back at the images- it was so very lovely in so very many ways!
         We enjoyed the view and Friday evening the Loons on the Lake were so very talkative it was incredible.  We went hiking-on Saturday and visiting with friends. Our campfire on the cold night- Friday was the campfire that never happened- as we talk about it because the wood that we got was fireproof wood- it would not take off and burn for any thing. Hot tea on a cool morning, the quiet of the Lake and Forest are so restorative.  You can see we are among the minority and are still tent campers.  Driving around the campground it was readily apparent that tent camping is dying. So many campers and RV's. While tent camping although not always comfortable it is certainly simple. Although I still applaud those with RV's that are getting out and spending time in Nature.
        I think that spending time in nature is so very important and whatever way works best for you is great!  I think it is the simple aspect of camping in general that appeals to me. Time to do just one thing at a time. Less multitasking that has become the everyday of this busy world we live in. Time to sit, to think , to watch and listen.  Time to be.   May we all find this simple time of being,  somewhere in someway in our lives.

Girl Scouts turn 100 (1912-2012)

Were you ever a Girl Scout?

What did you learn - what was its impact on your life?

Today they are celebrating 100 years of Girl Scouting, "we grow girls strong, come grow with us".

I have been a Girl Scout more of my life than not. 41 years by last count.  I started in Brownies and stayed in as a girl through 12th grade. I earned the Gold Award and I traveled Internationally to Finland and Iceland  for GSUSA.  I then had my own inner city Troop when I was first out of college and following that my daughter joined up  and I helped with or was assistant leader to her troop.

I learned an immense amount about nature and the out of doors, I learned many outdoor skills, even survived on an uninhabited Island in Lake Michigan for 7 days with just the clothes on our backs.  Hard to say at times if I learned more skills or more inter-personal skills.  The friendships I made and the skills and fun we had are key to who I am today. 

 The CupCakes in the first photos are part of the 6 dozen we made for a Court of Awards late last week. Exciting and sad as the Seniors which  includes my daughter shared their experiences and said goodbye to a chapter of their lives.  It was clear though that they were all the  richer for the experiences that they had by being part of Girl Scouts. Time spent outdoors and in Community service is always character building.  Congratulations GSUSA on 100 years and may you have another 100.

Golden Hill Sate Park

Part of this past week found us camping here. Right on the Great lake Ontario' s shore. This is a light house from the 1800's. You can rent the second floor today and stay 2 nights or 7. It was a beautiful place, right on the lake. We survived a pretty hard cold front coming across the lake. It was darker than night over toward Toronto and then it came and it poured buckets and the wind about blew us into the lake. We hung out in the car for a while and since it soaked our big tent we then put up 2 smaller ones. These withstand a lot of weather. We had a perfect night abet the wind. When the front moved through the moon was full and beautiful! Also a wonderful sunrise- all viewable from the tent, sleeping with the front and back windows open. Definitely like being under the stars without the bugs. Hoping to go back here soon.

Michigan Part 4

Michigan Part 4

Sleeping Bear Dunes as seen from Platte river Beach

Hiking to Lake Michigan

Big Red- Holland's Lighthouse

Windmill Gardens De Swan Wind Mill brought over from Holland to the USA

Camping at Holland State Park

As one can see the weather deteriorated for this stretch of the trip. No blue skies, terrible wind, rain, and then a Thunder storm and torrential rain right before we were to go to bed.

We drove from Sleeping Bear Dunes to Holland State park it was 3-4 hours. Much in the rain. We stopped and climbed Port Bessie light house and we all made it to the top!!
We stopped in Manistee Michigan- home to my Seymour cousins but we did not get a chance to connect with them due to time.

When we arrived at Holland Sate park in between Thunder storms and wedged between 2 large RV's we made ourselves a home again. We figured out how to fit in our tent and dining fly and accommodate the pre-established Fire pit. This was an urban campground as beyond our bushes was a sidewalk with runners, bikers, talking walkers. It was all very interesting.





Big Red was majestic and after being windblown and sand blasted we searched out a Dutch bakery for tasty treats and headed into Holland. We ate our treats in Central park which had lots of lovely flowers and I can just picture it when it is full of tulips. It must be Breathtaking!!! We have some great doughnut eating pictures but they are not for the blog!





We then headed over to Blustery Windmill Island. We watched girls dance the Klompen and got a tour of this big Windmill- another height for us to conquer- some of us are height challenged. The outdoor flowers here were outstanding as well!!! again spring must be fantastic.







Then back to our Campsite 99 the great one- home away from home for Foot long hot dogs, smores and packing for an early departure in the AM, then right before bedtime as mentioned earlier a terrible storm hit.
Water in the tent, but not to bad- we were all glad to get in our sleeping bags and finish the Read aloud book
Lost on a Mountain in Maine
Up and off in the morning without a hitch! A lot of hours in the car and a stop at Cabellas and we were home!

Michigan part 3

Hoeft State Park - swimming in Lake Huron
Petosky State Park- Swimming in lake Michigan Little Traverse Bay
Fishermans Island State Park - great rocks and campsites right on the Lake
Leelanu State Park- Great views- Grand Traverse Lighthouse rocky shore
Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore

So we crossed the sate to the Michigan side stopped at Petosky Beach for swimming and fossil searching. We also stopped at Fishermans Island State Park- good rocky shore wonderful campsites but we did not camp here. Toliets are vaulted but it is worth the view.

We found ourselves driving down Fruit Alley much like Rte 104 by lake Ontario as we traveled to Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore

It always seemed our travel days were the sunniest.

Anyways once at Sleeping Bear we had to site hop the next day- yep walk your tent down the road to a new site. The campground was really nice. Quiet and mostly tenters where we were. We climbed the dunes- thankfully it was not a hot day- boys loved running down the Dunes. We did the scenic drive, went to a few more rocky beaches looking for Petosky Rocks. We did find quite a few but none big like you could buy!

We had a few more simple camp meals, Ham, rice,salad wedges, Blue berry buckle in the Dutch oven. pancakes and omelets one night. Mornings were cocoa and toast for the most part. Mornings were cold you can see your breath!! Days were very full of being outside and together. We hiked to Lake Michigan from our campsite and built a sand city. There was a lazy river here that you could boat or float down, if we had more time that would have been great!!

On to Part 4

Michigan part 1

The beginning of a trip around the Mitten State 2009

Twas Point State park
Hoeft State Park
Sleeping Bear National lake-shore
Holland State park

We stayed 2 nights in each one. We arrived late in the day set up. The next day we did something in the area, then we would pack up and travel onward to the next location.
This put us 4 nights on Lake Huron and 4 nights on Lake Michigan. We fit a lot in to say the least. In this installment you see Twas point light house that some of us climbed. We also were able to walk out to it at night right form the campground. That was pretty cool. We saw a bunch of Blue herons while here. The camping was wall to wall RV's which recinds my previous entry about Camping being all about it being simple . . . having your RV in tow you have most all of your comforts with you! It was cool and blustry while here and we did a cool driving tour of the Ausable River area and history of Logging in the area.

The sand Dune in this picture to the right is where they would stack up and then let loose logs that would roll down to the river. That is why it is barren of vegetation. We learned what a Wanagan is. They re-forested this area with 7 million red pines.

Field Trip Friday

Off to the Dentist and to Local Campout for this Friday!
Maybe the Lilac Festival for the non- campers we'll see!

This is a very lovely local spot that teh Boy scouts can go to. It is well preserved and relatively untouched.
There is a lot of poison Ivy there but you can get around it. last time I was there I saw a Great Blue Heron up really close.

The weather is not supposed to be terrific but adversity builds strength and teaches lessons. Cold and wet, you will learn what socks keep you the warmest.

I heard that Deep Fried Oreos are on the list for food/treat, that I can do without. I like simple foods but to 11-13 year olds I am sure that it si yummy!


Wherever you go or whatever you do this weekend, I hope it is terrific. Be sure to get outside even if the weather is not terrific- you will see or hear or smell something new!


These are photos from the rip to this location last year! ooh just gotta love it!