Possible Michigan GTG in August

[Colliemom]

Yes Carolb, there is a WalMart here in Gaylord and I see RV's all the time in the lot. So I'm thinking they allow overnighters there. And like I said, anybody who wants to boondock, my drive and yard are available.

I agree with you. The gas prices are crazy. Here it's $3.97 right now. Hopefully they will start dropping again. Heck, I pay less in the U.P. when I am up there.

[Colliemom]

Okay everyone,

I just came back from the Otsego Lake County Park and wanted to post this before I forget it all.

This park has two campgrounds. One is over toward the lake and the other is back in the woods, but I have to say, very nice back there. Sites in the North Campground (60 sites) are easy to get into with a couple of exceptions. Only 7 are actually waterfront, the rest are on the roads. The South Campground back in the woods (19 sites, 3 of which are hardtoped Handicapped sites requiring a Handicap Permit. All sites are dirt with those exceptions. The North Campground sites are nice but you are close to you neighbor. South's are spread out between with woods etc.

Now, you can make reservations for a campsite, but sites are on a first come first serve basis. If you have a reservation, you will have to go where there is a site available, meaning if you want to camp together, you won't be guaranteed you can do that. Rates are $25 a night, plus a $3 daily fee for your vehicle.

Now, the State Park issue again. Recreational Passport for vehicle will be $30 for a year. If you are towing a car, you will need a Passport for the car as well, but can purchase a daily permit for around $6 I think it is. That Recreation Passport on your vehicle will get you into any State Park, Recreation area and State Forest Campground in the state from that time forth. All you will pay will be the camping fee for a given park or rec area. The State Parks are reserveable and can be reserved Site Specific, so if you want to stay together, you can do so. You will have to go online and look up a specific park to see what's available as to sites for a given time period. August is coming and things will be slowing down a lot. So there should be plenty of sites open.

Otsego Lake SP has a number 156 campsites, all dirt with a few exceptions. There are 3 cement sites in the South Campground and also 3 hard topped sites in the North. Handicapped accessible. All other sites are dirt. Aloha State Park has 280 campsites near Cheboygan. All sites are grass with a few exceptions (very few) and also has a few cement sites as well. Otsego has 21 kaje front sites. Aloha has somewhere near 30 sites on the lake or close as well as 25 along the Boat Basin which is my favorite area. Those sites are BIG. Burt Lake SP near Indian River and right off I-75 has a number of nice grassy sites in it's first row of campsites. You can't get really close to the lake there cause of high water table making the ground to mushy. But it too is a nice park. Petoskey SP has about a dozne cement pads in their one campground, but you are sitting in behind the dune and can't see the water from there.

So just wanted to put this all our for you info. Gaylord is central in the middle of the mitten and within an hours drive of Traverse City, Mackinac area and points east. a bit over an hour to the Petoskey/Charlevoix area. Burt Lake and Aloha are abut 25-30 miles from the Mackinac area with Burt being the closest toI-75 and about 25/30 miles from Petoskey area. Aloha and Burt make it easy to go to Tahquamenon Falls, Sault Ste. Marie, and some other areas of the U.P.

So throw this all out for you to chew over and comment on if you want.

[PeggyinCT]

Hi Sue, thanks for checking out the Otsego Park. It looks like a good meeting point for people who are going north to the UP and for those going west to Traverse City. Timeframe... Liz, Carol and I will be meeting up in Syracuse, NY about Sunday, Aug 11th and going to Niagara Falls and into Ontario. Not sure how many days it will take us to cross Ontario and drive north to Otsego. This is my first trip to MI, and I find most things interesting, so I'm in no hurry. What dates are good for you and the others who are coming? The gtg is going happen! Peggy

[Colliemom]

My schedule is wide open for August with the exception of a dentist appt. on the 15th, which I can move.

I would recommend that everybody get some reservations in so that you will be guaranteed a campsite although by that time of August things are slowing down but the state parks are still on site specific reservations till Labor Day. Course you can do that while on the road too. Just let me know where you are going.

Also would suggest that those of you who are coming into MI from Canada, set your route so you come in across the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia to Port Huron. Windsor is a mad house and a big mess to drive through and so is Detroit. Port Huron will put you on I-69 which will bring you right to I-75. Also remember both Liz and I have vehicles, so once those motorhomes are parked we can jump into one or two and do what we want.

Peggy, you are headed to Traverse City eventually aren't you? I know CArol is and then she wanted to head for the U.P. from here.

I don't have an RV on this end yet. If you are going to be camping at Otsego, I will just run back and forth as it's only 5 miles. Now however if some of you decide to go exploring in the U.P., that might change my mind about getting the darn thing so I can go along. We shall see what happens here. And we all have "furry kids" too don't we.

[BirdbyBird]

Sue, after witnessing and listening to all your inner turmoil and mind changing regarding potential rigs and whether to even buy any RV because of the fear of gas prices, I hope that you don't go out and make an impulse purchase because folks are coming your way. The decision to pluck that much money down should come from what you want to do long term not just the August of 2013...., there are usually motels and cabins available. You just have never sounded all that sure of what and or how you really want to travel and spend your retirement....?

...but Good Luck with whatever you decide....

[Colliemom]

Tina, thanks for you comments. Yes, there are motels and cabins, but not all take dogs and that's where I run into problems. Plus I like the freedom of being able to just go where I please. I do want to do some traveling out of state, hopefully if all goes well, out to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons next summer sometime. Plus right now I am antsy to get on the road again and go someplace for a couple of days.

I've been looking at a 19ft Sportsman on and off since May. It got sold before I decided what I wanted to do and my friend bought a bunk house one from same dealer. She was hoping I would get a TT so we could go once in awhile next year. She's got a big trip out west planned for next month with a couple of friends.

Well, two more of that model have come in to the dealers since the end of June and today I went over and looked them over again. Fell in love with them and bought one. I will be picking it up on Friday. So now I am back in the RV business again. One of the things that was kind of holding me back was driving a lease vehicle with a 4500# weight limit, but my new TT is only 3500 GVWR, so way under the limit and I will be letting go of the Flex probably about mid summer next year, so can decide what I want to do as far as a tow. vehicle is concerned. Both my friend and I discussed the gas prices and we felt that these two trailers with their low weights and the ability to be towed by mini vans and small SUV's would work out fine cause those vehicles get good gas mileage. We will drop a little while towing but when parked and out running around, that's where we will save. I got a good deal on this TT cause both of us bought from this dealer and since I took her over there to begin with, he gave me a deal on mine too. So I'm happy. Just a tad over what I got for my old one when I sold it. So I've come out almost even.

So, are you coming along to the GTG?

[BirdbyBird]

I don't know what the remainder of August will actually look like after the puppies (minus 1) go back to KY around the 12th.

We are in the process of getting a new furnace with whole house AC put in, I don't know how far into the pulling the old pipes out (it was a boiler system with heat pipes along certain walls) and putting in the missing wood work the middle of August will bring us. I said I would replace the flooring if I could get rid of the old beat up metal radiators along the wall that bred dust bunnies and worst all these years. The boiler had been put in about 1964..... Don't make plans around me, I will either catch up with Liz and Peggy at some point or I won't...... I am still trying to contemplate when I am leaving in the fall for the trip out toward the Southwest......

Glad that you found something that will work for you....

[Colliemom]

Wow Tina, you have really got things going down your way. Well, if it turns out you don't have time or the green to get up here, will catch you someplace else.

Would those of you who are coming, let me know when you make reservations and if you are staying at Otsego Lake County park for sure or where you are going, so I can join you. Peggy, you mentioned that you didn't know how long it would take to get her from Niagra Falls. From Buffalo, it's about a 4 and a half hour drive through Canada to here according to a friend of mine who has an uncle in Buffalo. She says they go that way all the time when they go see him. Think the cross at Port Huron/Sarnia.

CArol and Louise. Are you two coming up at the same time? CArol, you mentioned prowling around the U.P. for a bit. How long do you plan ot be in MI?

[bikerchic777]

First off, thank you, Sue, for sending me the PM about this GTG I have been wishing for one in MI every summer! I have to admit that after reading all the posts, however, my head is spinning As most of you know, I'm workamping in Montague. I have Mondays and Tuesdays off. The UP is a long drive for me, and with MI gas prices, I shouldn't take Myrtle. Gaylord or Traverse City are doable. My friend, Ken, lives in Mancelona. I could stay with him at his house or we could take his truck camper. Of course, I would rather you all come to White River RV Park & Campground. Go to: http://www.whiterivercampground.com. If you would like, I could ask my boss if we could get a special rate It's right on the White River and I (and my friends) have free use of the canoe livery as one of my benefits. This includes kayaks, canoes, tubes, and rafts, as well as shuttle service. It is a private cg, so no passes or daily fees. Your pets are welcome, as long as you don't leave them tied out while you're away. I leave mine daily, but inside, and usually with the AC on if it's warm. There are also rustic and deluxe cabins if you don't have an RV, though pets are not allowed in them. I do have room for one dogless guest in Myrtle. Lots of neat little towns to visit on Lake Michigan, within a short drive. I'm right near the Montague-Hart bike trail. Free Tues. night concerts in Montague. Dune rides, lake cruises, festivals, U-pick blueberries, etc. a short drive away, too. Just throwing out more food for thought.

[carolb]

I'm game for anywhere, but don't make plans around me--I'll be on limited time, so will probably stop in for only 1 night. Would be nice if it's a convenient stop on my way to IL, though...Looking forward to meeting Sue & Linda, & any others. It'll also be my first "caravaning," & I'm looking forward to that with Peg & Liz (Sue, I think Tina's advice is wise )

[havingfunnow]

Sue, you got your trailer?!! I'm so excited for you! You're picking it up on Friday? Are you heading to a campground right away?

Any time in August is good for me, and I won't need a lot of advance notice. Soooo . . . whenever people are in Mi, eh?

[Colliemom]

That sounds good Linda. Will definitely put that one on my list. If any of the others want to head down that way, we can all make it a point to do so.

Carolb, you are welcome to boondock in my yard if you want. I have my vehicle here and you won't need to move your rig once parked till you are ready to roll out. Just thowing it out there again.

Louise, yes I am picking it up on Friday and no I am not heading for a campground right away. Need to reload my stuff from my old TT into it and get things organized before I head out. Am looking at possibly the week of July 29th or August 5th at either Burt Lake or Aloha SP's. Need to look at the reservation system and see what's open. Have a feeling it will probably be the week of August 5th. Mackinac City is having a "Rendezvous at Mackinac and 18th Century Market Fair" and I want to go up for that. Part of Mackinac City's Heritage Days when fur traders etc. were there. So had thought of camping a Aloha and spending the day up there. Will see how it play it out. That event is August 2-4th. Then Paradise is having their "Wild Blueberry Festival" the weekend of August 16,17,18th. Might go up for that depending on who comes up here to Otsego or wherever we wind up going. They are having Blueberry Brunch, Singers and storytellers of Michigan songs and legends, the usual eating contests, musicians, etc. Sounds like fun. Brimley SP and Tahquamenon Falls SP are close by and maybe a private campground too, have to check on that. You want to go camping, let me know.

[BirdbyBird]

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.

[Carolinagal]

Sue, I have no idea how long I will stay up there. I have several places I have family that I want to visit. I will go up hwy 23 to Mt Pleasant area first as I have an elderly aunt there, she is reason I thought of making this trip to begin with. Then Gladwin area, Alpena, then to west coast. In between, what ever I can see and do. I don't plan on a mad dash here and there type trip though. I would love visiting and meeting all forum Sistahs I can while doing all my other stops. A GTG around your area, sounds good. After I've visited all relatives I would like to, I want to go on up into the UP and take my time looking around there. Even have far off thoughts of coming back south through Wis. Most plans are still jello yet.

Good advice to Liz and others about coming into Mi. That's the route my hubby and I took years ago and it was nice then, but that's back in the 80's so imagine its going to be heavy traffic now too. The other way, with Detroit area, we drove through there yrs ago too, and I NEVER want to go near that place again. Glad we saw the museums etc there at that time. The interstates at that time, were full of holes, we were afraid of blow outs, as you could not dodge all the holes.

I'm sorry I can't give any dates I will be there yet, wish I could leave tomorrow, but ----------

I am anxious to see what TT you finally decided on though. Linda, your park sounds really good. I need to settle down and really study my route up and then where and how I might do and see things I really want to while there.

Need to get moving,
CArol

[grammynmaggie]

I love all this planning you girls are doing...someday I will be there
right with you all...donna