Empire, Michigan

Sept 14 – drove to Empire, Michigan.  Stayed at Indigo Bluffs Campground.

 The weather was perfect - spent 2 days dissecting the lakeshore and dunes.  Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in Leelanau and Benzie counties near Empire, Michigan.

·         The Dune Climb - Ascending the 300-foot-tall face of sand that is the Dune Climb is strenuous work, but Mother Nature was kind enough to reward those who scale the bluff with a stunning vista of inland Leelanau County and several lakes. This mainstay of the Sleeping Bear Dunes is a huge, sandy playpen: launch yourself off the dune after a running start, and land lightly in the sand after going airborne.

·         Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive – great scenic drive with a lot of stops for viewing or hiking.  Journey through the many ecosystems of the dunes: from beech and maple forests to rolling, shrub meadows and lastly to mountainous dunes overlooking Lake Michigan and the Manitou Islands. With 12 informational stops along the way (including the unforgettable #9 Overlook 450 feet above the water),

visitors of the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive are immersed in Dune-ology, and walk away with greater respect and awe for the ecology and beauty of the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Took advantage of the picnic area:

·         Empire Bluff Trail - Round trip is 1.5 miles.  This hilly trail leads to a high bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.

·         Glen Haven Historic District - Just 5 minutes west of Glen Arbor by M22, Glen Haven Historic District boasts a wealth of educational sites: the Cannery Boathouse Museum, a working blacksmith shop, the US Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum and the Glen Haven General Store. This living historical site is rife with cultural heritage—and the beach in front of the Cannery Boathouse Museum is among the best at the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

·         Pyramid Point Trail - Loop 2.7 miles long. With a spur to a lookout point high over Lake Michigan. Trail leads to a lookout at the top of Pyramid Point.

 Sept 17 – left Empire and drove across the Mackinac Bridge to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  We drove to Newberry MI.  Stayed at campground for two nights.

Sept 18 – drove to Tahquamenon State Park near Paradise, MI.

There's the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls...

From the Lower Falls there's a 4.0 strenuous hike to the Upper Falls.  The car was parked at the Lower Falls.  Why would we go back to the Upper Falls?

After seeing the waterfalls, we drove about 11 miles to the town of Paradise.  There we stopped at the Whitefish Point Light, a lighthouse in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

It is the oldest operating light on Lake Superior. It is arguably the most important light on Lake Superior. All vessels entering and leaving Lake Superior must pass the light.

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Sept 9 – stopped at a local brewery – Atlantic Brew.  Took the tour of the brewery and, of course, stopped for the free tasting.

Sept 10 – Saint Croix Island International Historic Site

In April 1604, a French group of 120 noblemen, artisans, and soldiers set sail to cross the Atlantic. With their leader Pierre Dugua, sieur de Mons, they embarked on this voyage to seek new adventures, profits, and settlements in a part of the world completely unknown to them. Upon reaching North America or the “New World" as they called it, Dugua and his company established a settlement on an island they called “Saint Croix.” Today, Saint Croix Island International Historic Site in Maine on the United States/Canada border preserves the stories, history, and legacy of this significant expedition and settlement, the beginning of the French presence in North America. Saint Croix Island International Historic Site, a unit of the National Park System, is located eight miles south of Calais, ME near the mouth of the Saint Croix River that forms part of the Canada–United States border separating Maine from New Brunswick.

Sept 10 – arrived in Medway ME, stayed at Katahdin Campground

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is a new national park unit spanning 87,563 acres of mountains and forestland in northern Penobscot County, Maine, including a section of the East Branch Penobscot River. 

In the Monument, there are several short and long-distance hikes from trailheads on the Katahdin Loop Road and Messer Pond Road.

We had a good time in Maine – a very scenic part of the U.S.  Acadia National Park is high on the top of favorite parks we have visited.  My only disappointment was I DID NOT SEE A MOOSE. However, we did see deer, coyote, eagles, a black bear and even had a wild turkey fly up and hit the windshield of the new RV! 

 

Sept 12 – Left Medway, headed south to MA.  Spent the night at Peter & Connie’s.

Sept 13 – headed west to Michigan.  Spent the night at Flying J Service Center.

Acadia National Park

Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park - Sept 5-10, 2017

Sept 5 – after a 2½ month stay at Salem Farms Campground we left Salem CT and drove north.  It was a 6 hr drive to Bar Harbor ME.  We stayed at Hadley Point Campground, about 5 miles from Bar Harbor.  Went to Stewman’s for dinner.  I had the fried scallops and Mike had the fried seafood platter.  Food and atmosphere was nice.

Sept 6 – Acadia National Park - 14^th national park that we’ve seen.

Acadia National Park is a 47,000-acre Atlantic coast recreation area primarily on Maine's Mount Desert Island. Its landscape is marked by woodland, rocky beaches and glacier-scoured granite peaks such as Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the United States’ East Coast. Among the wildlife are moose, bear, whales and seabirds.
Drove to top of Cadillac Mountain.  Couldn’t see a thing due to the thick fog!

Drove along a scenic road.  Stopped along the water’s edge to take some pictures. 

  

Sept 7 – beautiful sunny day.  Planned to hike 3 trails: Champlain North Trail, Great Head Trail and the Ocean Path .  Started out on Champlain North Trail.  Nice moderate trail.  Forked off to the Orange & Black Trail.  A bit harder, but fun and challenging. 

As we’re hiking, we were looking for another turn. The trail is getting narrower and steeper. We came upon a couple of hikers and asked them what trail they started on.  They were on “Precipice”.  They warned us not to continue straight – turn around!  So we followed them and found the fork in the trail we missed.  Well, we were now on the 2^nd half of Precipice!!!  OMG – this was the steepest, hardest and scariest trail we have ever been on.  The rocky paths were very slippery – wet from the rain during the night.   Come to find out we were on an expert trail.

We came across a warning sign that said one should not take this trail (Precipice) - for experienced hikers only!  We almost killed ourselves by taking the left fork instead of going to the right.  BUT WE MADE IT!  AND CAN SAY WE CLIMBED/HIKED THAT MOUNTAIN!!!

Needless to say, we didn’t hike the other 2 trails.  Went straight back to the RV and had our drinks!  Mike was so proud of our accomplishment and the fact that I didn’t once complain (I was too scared to say a word) he took me out to dinner.  Had dinner at Paddy’s (lobster and lobster roll)

Sept 8 -  another gorgeous day.  Drove back up to Cadillac Mountain to see the view.  What a difference from the foggy day and a clear day!! 

Went to Sand Beach and hiked Great Head trail.  What a great hike along the beautiful rocky Maine coastline.  

Back on Sand Beach I took my hiking boots off and waded into the water.  Holy Moly – the water was ice cold!!

Back to the car for our picnic lunch.  Then we took a bus to Otter Cliff point.  From there we got on the Ocean Path – a scenic walk along the water and woods on this path is Thunder Hole – an underwater cave - when the tide is right and when the waves come in there’s a thunderous noise.  This was a really nice 2 mile walk back to the car.

Sept 9 - nice sunny day.  Drove to the west side of Acadia.  Went to the Bass Harbor Lighthouse.

Also stopped for a couple of short hikes.  During the second hike the rain clouds came in. 

Started raining, so we headed back to the car.  Got back to “Flamingo” just in time before the skies opened up.  It poured and poured.  But we were inside, nice and dry.  Since this was our last night in Bar Harbor, we went out to a lobster pound, C-Ray Lobsters.  You place your order and they pull the live lobsters out of the tank and into the pot!

Had the most delicious lobster dinner w/ mussels, clams and corn-on-the-cob.

Last month in Connecticut . . . 

August 19 – an awesome day on Ellen & Jimmy’s beautiful boat.  Also onboard were Peter & Connie.

 

August 20 – annual Bellevue Place picnic.  It was so nice to be back on the street with our old neighbors.  There was a nice turnout of people and lots of food.

August 21 – the total solar eclipse.  CT did not experience the total eclipse, but we sat out and watched the partial one.  Mike bought a bunch of glasses for everyone.

Even sent some out to Amye.

August 21 – Dinner to celebrate Mike’s and Scott’s birthday.  Had a very nice time at Go Fish in Mystic.  Dinner with Mike & Mary and Scott & Cathy.

August 22 – the annual Shennecossett Women’s Member-Guest tournament.  Mary has invited me to be her guest for about 11 years now.  We’ve lost count. We fare well in these outings.  This year we placed 4^th in the Net division. Thanks, Mary!!

August 23 – call us “Crazy” but we bought a new RV!!  Last week when Mike took the Storm in to be serviced, he roamed through the dealer’s lot and looked at all the RV’s.  He comes home and tells me he saw the one for us! So, on the 23^rd, we drove back to Uxbridge MA, he showed me the Forza and we bought it!!

August 26 – enjoyed the evening out with friends, Nate & Maryann and Scott & Cathy.  We had dinner at the Sea Goose Restaurant in Westerly RI.

August 29 – got the chance to meet up with longtime friends, David & Kathy. We enjoyed a nice lunch at Dog Watch Mystic (formerly The Cove). The 4 of us share a huge interest in traveling and RV-ing.

August 30 – Birthday celebration lunch at OLIO.  Gathering of friends to celebrate Kristen’s special day! Always great to see everyone! And the food is so delicious.  Great to see Bob & Lynda, Vince, Ed, Frank, Kristen, Janet and Margaret. Sorry we didn’t think to take the picture when everyone was present.

Sept 2 – golf outing and lunch with the ladies from Shennecossett.  I had so much fun golfing with the Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday gals.

Had to show off the new Winnebago Forza.  Eileen, Brian, Ben and Barbara stopped by to see the new RV.  After golf & lunch, Jane and Mary stopped by to see it.

Sept 3 – Labor Day Weekend cookout at Peter & Connie’s.  Even though it rained all day, we had a nice visit with everyone. 

Sept 4 – last cookout and gathering of friends.  Mike & Mary, Scott & Cathy and Nate & Maryann wanted to see the new RV!

Sept 5 – the day we head out to Bar Harbor ME.  And our last visitor was Mary Ellen!  She stopped to see the “Flamingo”, as she has named it.