Michigan Loop
Fall 2022

Our introduction to (Dead) Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area was by the buzzards feasting on a raccoon carcass.

We went exploring in the Jeep and came across many covered bridges. Apparently Parke County is the covered bridge capital of the world and they have a festival in October to celebrate these structures. 

Walked the Centennial Trail down to Cecil M. Harden Lake. 

The Centennial Trail is a paved trail that goes from the campground store to the lake and has views of mature forest and steep ravines before reaching the lake.

Took the motorcycle out for a ride and saw more covered bridges and found the Thirty Six Saloon for an early dinner. 

The Indian was in good company with  the vintage vette. 

On the way back from South Haven we stopped by Covert Township Park where there are 63 sites for RVs under 35 feet and a close walk to the Lake Michigan beach area. 

We took a nice loop around the area including Frankfort (pictured above), Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,  Leelanau Peninsula,  and back to Traverse City for dinner at Firefly (great appetizers).

Leelanau State Park located  at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula (north of Traverse City). We scoped out site #27 and would love to stay here some time in the future. 

Today was a Jeep day around the Old Mission Peninsula. We visited the Mission Point Lighthouse and drove the winery trail.  The lighthouse was on the 45th parallel halfway between the North Pole  & Equator. 

Peering out from the top of the lighthouse. The stairwell up is very tight and steep and when you get to the top it is made for no more than two people. 

Along the wine trail we stopped at Mari Vineyards that had great bay views.

Nothing like enjoying the winery overlooking the bay on a Monday and there were probably 50+ other people with the same idea.  Afterwards we headed to The Tasting Room for dinner (delicious food and a lot of craft drinks).

The view from the RV driving over the Mackinac Bridge to the Upper Peninsula to the next campground. The bridge is currently the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world at five miles in length. It opened to traffic in 1957. 

There are many sites right on the water, this spot was #10, but 45, and 39 look great too for our rig. 

Our official first snowfall for 2022.  The weather was a little raw for a few days. 

Silent Night is a four site self-contained campground just outside of Munising, MI. 

Santa pointed out our campground on St Nicholas Avenue in Christmas, MI.

The Au Train Falls  is a set of two drops on the Au Train River – the Upper and Lower falls. The Upper Falls has a drop of about 40 feet and the Lower Falls is 10 feet.

The trailhead up Sugarloaf Mountain is a nice hike where you're rewarded with one of the best views in the Upper Peninsula.

Once you reach the top there is a stunning view of Lake Superior, Marquette, Hogsback Mountain and the large swath of forest between Marquette and Big Bay.

H-58: The Scenic HIghway along the Pictured Rocks Park from Munising to Grand Marais.

There were still fall colors and pine forests to enjoy on this motorcycle ride to Lake Superior Brewing Co. 

As we were looking for our next camp stop, we realized when we pulled up to Holtwood (about 30 min away from Green Bay, WI) that we were here nearly 20 years ago in our other RV.  

There are many river front spots and we were on R4 for the last week they were open.  This was just a few sites away from where we stayed in 2003. 

Lars is harnessing his camp host skills .

Another local eatery was the River City Diner where you can get a large helping of eggs benedict for breakfast and take some pie for the road.  Did someone say pie, it's pie for every taste...look at that list.

We took a motorcycle ride up to Door County on the peninsula where it's known for miles of shoreline, lighthouses, state parks, and small coastal towns. We ate lunch (Greystone Castle) in Sturgeon Bay and drove through Algoma and Luxemburg.

Devil's Lake facing north. Some say the original Native American name of the lake could have been translated as Spirit Lake, Holy Lake, Mystery Lake, or Sacred Lake. 

We hiked up and down the West Bluff trail across to the south shore boardwalk and around the lake back to the Quartzite campground area. 

Found some well presented sushi at Fujijama.

This little guy was soaking up the 70+ degrees sunshine by straddling the branch.

As part of the last karaoke night, the "ferris wheel" pizza was brought in from Alfanos.

One Pawz Pub on the corner of main in McNabb, IL.

In most states, a "move over law" is a law which requires motorists to move over and change lanes to give safe clearance to emergency vehicles, utility workers, and in some cases, tow-truck drivers and disabled vehicles.