Terri and Peter's RV Adventures

We loved our stay at Mill Creek Campground in Mackinaw City but there were definite downsides: too many people, too loud, too touristy, and the antithesis of getting away into the more ensconced-in-nature approach to camping. However, this campground got so many things right that it overcame these shortcomings. The access to the beach and Lake Huron were a minute away as was the 18 hole golf course equivalent of a dog park. Everything was nearby (including the neighbors and their music).

So, now, we’re back to camping basics at a county campground, Camp Pet-O-Se-Ga: deep in the woods, a 15 minute walk to Pickerel Lake which looks like the Atlantic Ocean during a hurricane compared to Lake Huron, and an ungroomed soggy “nature” trail that was more nature than trail. And, did I say we’re back in the woods? I feel a bit like a princess complaining and it reminds me of an Oscar Wilde quote (I think; I just heard it quoted by my parents and you can guess why and to whom): “As a rule, a man’s a fool. When it’s hot he wants it cool. When it’s cool he wants it hot. Always wanting what it’s not.” In other words, “Stop complaining and enjoy what you have!”

So, what we have, 40 miles southwest of where we were, is a wooded site with power and water, spaciousness (except for a couple on one side), a lake, river and open field 5 -15 minutes walk away, and no human sound. The only sounds are birds and the wind through the trees (oh, and the mosquitos but we’re sweating DEET these days so no matter). Considering it’s supposed to heat up this week and we don’t have air conditioning (unless I can reconfigure our RV to run one air conditioner on 30 amps), having shade isn’t such a bad thing.

Before our 40 minute drive here, we stopped in Mackinawak City at Kreuger’s fresh fish shop to feed our craving for fresh, local whitefish and trout. Then, we had lunch at Darrow’s, a family restaurant in business since 1957 (which suddenly doesn’t sound so long ago). While it was a short drive here, it’s fairly remote. You know, between the towns of Alanson and Indian River. Petoskey is 14 miles away and we plan to go there hoping Peter can dig up some information about his ancestors who immigrated here from Eastern Europe.

No fireworks are allowed here; a real plus for the dogs especially. We already got a preview of them at the last campground. I can only imagine what the actual night of the 4th will be like there. I’m glad I won’t have to find out.

We saw a couple of Trump flags on the way here and a kid was driving around in a golf cart flying a “1776 We the People” flag. I wonder who he thought “we the people” is. You know what I’d say about that so I won’t. I never thought the American flag would be co-opted in such a way as to make it a political statement reflecting one side and alienating or putting fear into the other side. I’ll try to avoid political reflections but it’s hard to ignore the influence and what I’m seeing.

We’re in for some warm, sunny days and I’m guessing we will be spending time at the lake. I chose this place because of my curiosity about the Michigan lake camping scene. This should give us a sense of that over the next four nights.