Possible Michigan GTG in August

[Liz]

Linda, I will definitely write down your location and keep your days off in mind. I was thinking yesterday that we needed to be reminded of your previous invitation. I think people coming to you should work fine.....besides you had my attention at the words kayaks and river..... Whether we come all together or like visiting Beth in AK, in small pods, we need to get there. Your description of the place sounds nice. I will PM you if and when I manage to get moving out of Ohio in August. I am still juggling a few responsibilities around here and trying to fit in mine and the dogs' appointments.

Yup, what Tina said. I will look you up too while in MI. Plans are all jello right now.

[bluepinecones]

I am still a strong maybe for this trip. Not sure how far north I might venture but would really like chance to meet some of you.

[carolb]

Congrats Sue! Yep, maybe this was the little extra nudge you needed to get your TT!! ....Okay, I finally looked at a map. I've found Montague, where Linda is, but where are you Sue & how far up in the UP are those other places you're talking about? And thanks for your generous offer to let me park in your drive... Montague looks perfect for me, since it's a almost a straight shot across from Port Huron, then it'll be a straight shot down to the Elkhart IN area where I have a friend to visit on my way to IL...So if an "actual" gtg is any further north, I'll be skipping that. Liz & Peg have more time, whereas I have limited time...so as I said before, don't make plans around me But I know it'll be a great time whatever time I have Sarah, glad to hear you're considering it too! Seems like a lot of you/us will be somewhere in MI during this time, so I hope to catch up with as many as possible...

[havingfunnow]

I could do Montague easily, since I'm about halfway between there and Port Huron. It looks like there's some National Forest near Montague, which would make a few nights affordable for me.

It's a pity you won't have time to go further north, Judy. Sue is right on the 45th parallel, and the world gets very beautiful about there -- different vegetation and clear air -- it's really lovely. Hartwick Pines is the last of the old-growth pine forests in the lower peninsula, and it's beautiful.

It sounds like you'll be taking I69 across the state, which means you'll be passing right through Lansing/East Lansing, a few miles north of me. The MSU campus is very pretty, and the new art museum there is really worth a look. I think that building will be famous one day. Lansing is the state capitol, and the capitol building has been restored to its 1860 splendour. I don't think there's good camping in this immediate area, but I know the county fairgrounds here in Mason sometimes lets people stay overnight very cheaply, if there are no shows in progress. I'd offer you my driveway, but alas, I live in an apartment, so there isn't one.

Liz, did you say something about seeing friends in DeWitt? That's in this area too, about as far north of Lansing as I am south of it.

I'd love to meet up with anybody passing through.

[carolb]

Louise, my map doesn't show the 45th parallel, so I still don't know where Sue is But, yes, I'll be on I69, so a "driveby" gtg near Lansing will work for me, even if others are on their way north from Port Huron--or I'll see you in Montague??? Jello plans for sure! I'll have to catch the UP on another trip...State Capitols are always on my "to see" list!

[havingfunnow]

Jello plans for sure! I couldn't see you passing so close without a quick meetup, even if it's just for lunch.

[Colliemom]

Carolb, I'm easy to find. Forget looking for the 45th parallel as it's not on the map anyway. If you cross into MI by way of Port Huron, just take I-69 till you get to I-75 and look straight north till you find Gaylord. There you have it. About 2 and a half hours north of I-69. I'm actually in Waters, which is just before Gaylord on the map.

[carolb]

Thanks Sue! I figured if I needed to find the 45th parl, I'd need to find my globe But now that I've found you, sorry to say I won't get that far north this trip. Louise, & Linda?? Did someone say there's a Natl Park near Montague which would be cheap camping--cheaper than your cg Linda? I'll be talking to Liz & Peg as the time gets closer, & will have a better idea of timing.

[PeggyinCT]

Good morning All. I googled Manistee National Forest and was over whelmed with all the campground information. Couldn't tell which ones were close to Montague. I randomly chose one and it was $14/night and a day use fee of $6. Couldn't tell if the Golden Age pass will provide a 50% discount. We could gtg somewhere near Montague and then head north for another gtg.

[Liz]

Pines Point NF cg near Hesperia looks to be the closest NF cg to Montague...about 15 miles away, located on the White River. $14 a night...being. nF cg, Golden Age Pass should be allowed, and if managed by the NF, there should not be a day use fee attached if camping.

[PeggyinCT]

Hi again, if I read Reserve America correctly, there are five campsites at Pine Points and they are available most days except the weekends. Monday and Tuesday work for Bikerchick.

[carolb]

Wow, sounds good! Two Mi gtgs!!!

[Colliemom]

Hmm, don't know if I could swing a NF campground or not. Battery won't hold for too long to run lights etc., if no electric available. Have to look this up. Otherwise could be in my plans too. Need to know some dates down the line though and just what everybody's doing so I can plan. Having just brought the TT home, need time to get organized and hopefully take a short "shake down" someplace. Most campgrounds around here are full up for the most part. Know I won't be going this coming week, too much to do and organize, plus need trip to Camping World But some of you ladies will be at Soos' ruckus anyway. And Louise and I are planning a meet up at Mackinac next weekend.

Carolb, it sounds like an ideal route for you to head over that way and then south. You had asked about some of those places in the U.P. where I posted my pictures of. That's in the far west central part of the U.P. west of Marquette. About 275 miles from here. Something for you to plan on some other trip as I know you are time restricted.

Sarah, would love to meet with you too. Hope it turns out that you can make it. Maybe you can follow CArol into the U.P. and home whichever way she is going. I might even tag along if you all head that way.

So we shall all keep talking and plotting and eventually we will get this together.

[carolb]

Oops, no genny in TT? I didn't know that...Well, one of these days I'll make it to UP! Peg/Liz, we'll be meeting in Syracuse on the 11th? When do you plan to get to MI? Sue says 4 hrs to Port Huron from Buffalo, if I remember correctly., but we'll want to take our time and see sights across Canada? I'm thinking of being in Elkhart by Aug 14/15, so if I need to go on ahead, that's fine with me. Linda, , I could meet up with you about the 13th? Louise, I'll do a driveby gtg on my way if you can't get to Linda's or the NF....whatever works

[Colliemom]

/carolb,

Will have to miss you on this trip, have appts. up here the week of 12th. Hopefully will catch you someplace else eventually. Maybe next year. But have fun seeing Louise, whom I hope to see this weekend and also Linda.