Aug 13 – Up North and Under the Bridge

‘Up North’ is a common term used in Michigan to describe a region of the state. I incorrectly used it in reference to Michigan’s upper peninsula in a blog I wrote three years ago. To be clear, the Upper Peninsula holds a unique identity within the state of Michigan and is colloquially known as “the … Continue reading Aug 13 – Up North and Under the Bridge →

Aug 5, 2025 – Say Ya to Da UP, eh!

https://videopress.com/v/wDo7flke?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Our lakefront campsite on Lake Michigan. A) Aune Osborne Cpgd in Sault Ste Marie, B) Tahquamenon Rivermouth Cpgd (state park), C) Lake Michigan Cpgd, D) Township Park on Drummond Island, E) Straits State Park in St Ignace. I grew up in northern Michigan, about 30 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge. To the north … Continue reading Aug 5, 2025 – Say Ya to Da UP, eh! →

Sep 7, 2022 – The Third Coast

After 10 days near one of the world’s largest cement plant and limestone quarry on Lake Huron, going west to the Lake Michigan side was like traveling to another world. Parked on Lake Leelanau on Leelanau Peninsula between Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan, we were surrounded by a hilly patchwork of orchards and vineyards … Continue reading Sep 7, 2022 – The Third Coast →

Aug 28, 2022 – The Other Side of Michigan

Imagine traveling the United States in an RV going places you’ve always wanted to see. Think about those places for a minute – do they include Wamego, Kansas or Natchitoches, Louisiana? What about Alpena, Michigan? None of these on your list? Too bad because your travel itinerary may be lacking in a genuine American tour. … Continue reading Aug 28, 2022 – The Other Side of Michigan →

Aug 7, 2022 – Up North

“Up North - the magical land of cabins, fishing, beer, flannel shirts, and no cell phone service”. Anonymous When Vivian and I are in the north country, we relish in its thick canopied isolation. Hiking among the tall trees somewhere near Lake Superior, we stopped to inspect a tree we could not identify. Just then, … Continue reading Aug 7, 2022 – Up North →

Aug 4, 2021 – The Lake They Call Gitche Gumee

Before crossing the Mississippi River near its headwaters in Minnesota, we stayed one night on the river in an Army Corp campground. After spending months exploring the red rocks, white sand dunes, deep canyons, glacial mountains, plains prairies, and badlands, we were now in the Great Lakes region of the country - the great north … Continue reading Aug 4, 2021 – The Lake They Call Gitche Gumee →