Pictured Rocks Lakeshore Trail

Lora and I decided to schedule my brother and his wife's vacation this year.  We picked out the Picture Rocks 42 mile Lake Shore Trail as the destination and told my brother to plan it out.  This is also part of the North Country Trail.  Oh yea, we gave them the dates.

We headed up from Murfreesboro on Saturday to their house in Michigan.  We arrived in time for a good dinner and started the packing for the trip.  The laughs started when Kathy pulled out an eye dropper sized bottle for our alcohol for the trip.  Sunday the adventure began as we headed to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan.

We crossed the Mackinaw Bridge in cold rainy weather and had lunch of white fish chowder and artichoke Parmesan spread on chips.  We continued our trip up to Munising.  We had rooms at the Terrace Motel.  After we checked in we went waterfall exploring.  We went to Wagner Falls, Alger Falls, Tannery Falls, and MNA Memorial Falls.  After which we had a great dinner at Sydney's Dinner.  Wonderful food and lots of it!

Back to the Motel for the night.  The next morning we had breakfast at Sydney's which was wonderful.  They had the best Rye toast ever.  We had picked up the permit the night before so we met our shuttle person Thomas, owner of Pictured Rocks Shuttle Service, at the Munising Falls parking lot.  Not only did Thomas pick us up on time, he also gave us four hours of information over the one hour drive to Grand Marais.  He even pointed out the porcupine crossing the road.  This was Lora's first porcupine as there is none down South.

We got on the trail and visited the Sable Falls first.  From there we hiked to the Visitor Center and started our day.  Thomas was supposed to give us a detailed map, but everyone was out of them.  We hiked pasted the Grand Sable Dunes, Log Slide, and camped at the Au Sable East campground.  At the Log Slide we met two other guys that were hiking the full trail.  They were staying one campsite beyond ours except for the last night which they were staying at the same site.  We saw them on and off all during the hike.  At the campsite we found that there are many many chipmunks and they are all people friendly.  You could not chase them out of camp.  There are also a LOT of red squirrels too.

After we set up camp, we decided to hike the half mile down to the Au Sable Lighthouse.  There a a few building on the site and we got to visit with the host that was moving in for a month there.  We found our first snake on the trail there too.  We headed back to the campsite and had a peaceful night. We had put in 9.1 miles.

Day two on the trail:

We headed out and past the lighthouse.  We chose to hike the shipwreck beach instead of the trail so we got pictures of the shipwrecks.  After we got back on the trail, Lora found us some red raspberries and further on some huckleberries.  Then we started our hike on twelve mile beach.  We did a little of it barefoot and this is where we saw our first eagle.  Steve had spotted one on the way to the trailhead, but we all got to see this one.  It was very warm out and we played in the water a few times.  Lake Superior was very calm the entire time we were out.  We passed one barefoot hiker who we scared to death as he was working on a project sitting on the beach.  He had not seen us coming up.  Finally we made it to Pine Bluff Campsite at 11.8 miles for the day.  It is quite a climb up to camp on the dune.  Steve and Kathy did it twice as they went for water as well.

Day Three on the trail:

We finished the twenty mile beach today.  While crossing the Beaver Creek bridge we met our barefoot hiker again, but this time he was in a canoe.  He had stories to tell and told us he was working on a turtle shell rattle when we walked up on him the day before.  Beaver Creek had a great log jam at the end of it which he said was left over from the logging days.  We got up on the bluff walls of lake Superior today where you could really see how clear it was looking down at it.  You could see the bottom way on out.

We got to see Spray Falls which dumped into to the lake and a couple of mile high beaches.  It was different walking out on a sandy beach 200 feet above the lake.  On one of our overlooks I met a man that looked really familiar and Lora started talking to the woman with him.  We met our Tennessee Trail Hiker friends Suva and Bob.  Now that was a surprise to see someone you know many states away on the trail.

We stopped to enjoy the water and wash our hair on Chapel Beach.  We saw Chapel Rock and Grand Portal.  Kathy and Lora saw another snake on the way down to the beach.  When we got to Mosquito campsite we had gotten in 11.5 miles.  The Mosquitoes and Black flies were out today to keep us moving.  More chipmunks!  When we opened the food storage box we found a note which read "Do not use!  There is a mouse nest in here.  The Bastards get in through the handle.  Use the poles. Sincerely the couple who found out the hard way."

Day four on the trail:

We crossed Mosquito Creek and headed to Miners Beach where we enjoyed the lake again.  We passed a truck in the parking area that had a cooler in the back of it.  Obviously, by all the trash around it, the raccoons had made quick work on the cooler.  They would not be happy when they returned.  We saw kayakers and an Amish family out in a canoe.  We also saw a Zach Brown look a like walking the beach with his girlfriend.

We went across Miner's Creek and up to Miners Castle where we saw another Eagle.  We had lunch at the picnic tables here.  This was also the day that Kathy figured out her blisters were from having the wrong pair of hiking boots.  She had grabbed a old pair by accident.  At the end of the hike we went to Munising Falls.  We got in 12 miles today.

A celebration dinner was had back at Sydney's.  We spent the night back at the Motel.

The next morning we headed South to Fayette Historic Townsite.  Named after Fayette Brown, the Jackson Iron Company agent who chose the site.  Fayette was once one of the Upper Peninsula's most productive iron-smelting operations.  Located on the Garden Peninsula at Snail Shell Harbor, Fayette grew up around two furnaces, a large dock and several charcoal kilns after the Civil War.  Nearly five hundred residents lived in and near the town that existed to make pig iron.  They also have great ice cream!

From there we went and set up camp at Indian Lake State Park.  After we got all set up we took a trip to see Kitch-iti-kipi Spring.  It was amazing to see such clear deep water and the largest trout ever! We had dinner across the road at Big Spring Inn.  We headed back to camp for the night.  We enjoyed a campfire and a show put on by a Loon.

The next morning we headed to  Seul Choix Point Lighthouse for a tour. After crossing the bridge we stopped in Mackinaw and toured the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum.  It is still the largest Icebreaker America has ever had.

From Mackinaw we headed back to Grand Rapids and had dinner with Kathy's mom, Betty. As always, we have a great time with her and got to check out her new place.  From here it was the drive back to reality after a great week.

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Dell Hollow Dam

Lora and I joined Mom and Dad on a campout at Dale Hollow Dam campground.  We got there in time to do some visiting before lunch.  After lunch we walked along the Obey river up to the dam. This was the first time I have ever camped under a dam.  After our walk we got the canoes and were going to float on the Obey river.  We backed down the ramp, Dad got out and Dad disappeared. We found him as usual laying on the ground.  The ramp was a little slippery.  After we got the canoes unstrapped, we hear the warning horns from the dam.  We pulled the car up the ramp to see what the river would do. It rose and it rose and it rose.  I had no idea it would raise about ten feet.  It was even over the fishing dock. If we would have been out on the canoes, we would have to have gotten out down town and got a ride back.  So plan B.  It started raining so we went back to the camper.  It quit later and after dinner we went for another walk.

Later we desided to have a campfire.  We drove up to the office to find out where to get the wood. Dad walked up to the office.  The guy inside closed the door and shut the blinds right there in front of him.  Pretty rude he was.  We had passed some fire wood for sale on the way in so we just drove there and got some. Then we went to the lake to look at the boat ramps there.

The next morning we desided to go to the lake for a canoe trip.  It was safer.  So we put in at the Pleasant Grove Recreation Area.  It is a nice ramp and they have a walking trail that goes around the island and across a suspention bridge.
 
We paddled for a couple of hours going down Kyle Branch and put in four miles.  On the way back to the ramp it started raining lightly and then quit again.  We headed back to the campground and had lunch then it was time to go.

Another great campout and visit.

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Barren Fork - Collins River

Lora and I went to McMinnville to do a little canoe action.  We put in at River Front park on the Barren Fork of the Collins River.  We went West three miles to the island, had lunch, and headed back.  There is a really pretty waterfall and probably another one in wet weather on the North bank.  We saw lots of turtles, geese, ducks, and deer.  Beautiful trip with good water for canoeing or kayaking.

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TTA Rock Creek 2014

After a late night at work, I got up early to hike with my chapter close to home. We met at the Lower Leggett Road trailhead, dropped cars and drove to the Upper Leggett Rd trailhead to start. 14 hikers and one hiking dog. I was carrying my full backpack, training for backpacking season. We got started trying to out hike the heat. It didn't work. It was sticky hot. We had to check out the overlook so we could climb back up. 

Most of us were only hiking 3 miles today but 3 of the guys wanted more so they did the loop back to the upper trailhead. And still beat us to the cars. Most everyone headed out to eat lunch; I headed home for a nap.

Good to see my hiking friends and meet some new ones too. 

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Cumberland Mountain State Park

We met Dad and Mom at the Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville.  They brought their motor home over and we parked in the campground for an overnighter.  After a good visit we headed over to the boat house to rent some kayaks.  When we got there the boat house was closed so we went to the visitor center and found that the pool and boats were closed due to manpower during the week and where only open on the weekends.  So we headed to the trails.

We walked the Pioneer short and long loops for a five mile hike around Byrd Lake and creek.  We saw lots of varieties and colors of mushrooms and wildflowers. We saw fish, lots of frogs, and one snake. It was warm and quite muggy so we didn't mind when we got a light rain towards the end of the loop.  We headed back to the campground and grilled out some steaks.  It was a nice evening to sit around the campsite visiting.

The next morning, after breakfast, we hiked the 2.1 mile Byrd Creek trail and .5 miles of the Cumberland Plateau nature trail.  Again more flowers and mushrooms with a treat of ripe persimmons.  All the trails were in great condition with lots to see.  We stopped by the park store for an ice cream and after a grilled out lunch we packed up and headed home.

Great weekend!

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Dale Hollow Lake - Star Point Marina

Lora and I went to Dale Hollow Lake for an overnighter.  We put in at the Star Point Marina on Jouett Creek.  Our reservation was for campsite #29 Jouett Point.  We paddled out following the lake shore out to our campsite.  After setting up camp we headed across the lake going through the gap by County Line Island and headed up the East Fork of Ashburn Creek.  There were lots of boaters and jet skiers out today!  We saw lots of wildlife including deer, turkey, waterfowl, fish, and turtles.

It was a good night sitting around the fire watching the boats go by.  The next morning we woke up to the crows overhead crowing.  We got up and after breakfast we got loaded up knowing that we had until noon before the rain came in.

We headed across Jouett Creek and went up the shoreline exploring up to Muddy Branch.  Then we headed back to the Marina.  We miss calculated by about twenty minutes which yes, we got really really wet!  We made entertainment for all of those boaters at the marina as we paddled by in the downpour.

We got in 10.6 miles the first day taking 3.2 miles to camp.  The second day we got in 6.8 miles.

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Dry Branch - TN River

Lora and I headed back to the TN river for a canoe trip.  We put in at Cottonport Road boat ramp off Hwy 30 again.  This time we headed to the TN river and went North a mile to Dry Branch.  It was time for lunch as we entered so we found a tree to hang out under and had our picnic.  A fisherman came by that we talked to and he headed up stream.

After lunch we headed up Dry Branch and ended up at yet another yacht club.  Again there were no boats? We paddled around the lake and then headed up McKinley Branch.  We passed by the fisherman and then the creek opens up to a very large lake.  We spent some time exploring, but never did get it all in.  We got in around five miles.

This is a great place to explore if your out with a kayak or canoe.  We swam in the the main river and headed back to the car.

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Cummings Falls / Burgess Falls TTA

I met the Plateau TTA group at Cracker Barrel in Crossville and we carpooled 17 hikers to Cummings Falls State Park. I haven't been there in a while so the area looked a lot different. A huge parking lot has been built plus bathrooms. Signs posted and a decent trail to the creek. There are a couple of ropes in a steep section of the trail. Steps would work better, but we appreciated the ropes. They said last time they were there the water was thigh deep and only 3 hikers could cross so they gave up. Today the water was no more than ankle to knee deep. The falls were beautiful, no swimmers this morning yet. It is a popular place for the locals and college kids.

We departed the park headed for Cookville along the backroads of Tennessee. One missed turn made for a scenic route. We had lunch at Cinco Amigos; good food, and then visited the Railroad Museum. John's birthday gave us a good excuse to visit the ice cream shop across the street. I scream, you scream,......
I had Loaded Butterscotch ice cream and OMG it was good!

On to Burgess Falls. The hike down was not too bad, but the hike back up made me pay for all the calories consumed. I told the Plateau folks they get a lot of hikers for the waterfall hikes, they said they get a lot of hikers for the lunch included hikes. I understand.

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Goodfield Creek - TN river

Lora and I did 5.8 miles on Goodfield Creek of the Tennessee River.  We put in at the boat ramp on Cottonport Road off of Hwy 30.  We went under the bridge and looped around the lake counterclockwise. We paddled up Goodfield Creek as far as the water would let us.  While cooling off in the creek a young boy came up on his four wheeler and we talked a bit about his hunting and fishing.  He was trapping Coons, but had a opossum in his trap.

We ate lunch in the creek and then continued back to the lake and finished our loop.  We went back under the bridge and explored the sloughs on the Northern side before going out on the TN river.  We then headed back to car.  There were some young kids jumping off the bridge when we got back to the boat ramp.

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Wisconsin 2014

We headed up to Oconomowoc Wisconsin for my nieces' High School graduation party and a family get-to-gather. We got up there Friday night to start with a pizza party and bonfire.  The following day was the graduation party. We got to visit with a lot of family and friends.  She starts Michigan State next month.

The next day, the visiting continued after church and then we headed to Delafield for the Derby Days festival. We watched a parade, enjoyed a couple of different bands preform, and watched some of the frog jumping. We got some card playing in as the "shark" sharpened her skills.

Monday was a hiking day.  The ladies went shopping, except Lora who did some hiking with us in the Kettle Moraine State Forest.  There was a lot of cross country ski trails and we visited the observation tower.  Lots of wildlife and wild flowers.  We climbed the second highest peak in Wisconsin.....Not too high.  Afterwards some of us headed over to see McKinley's horse riding training.

Tuesday we headed we headed out to the Nemahbin lakes area and did some kayaking.  We paddled a few different lakes connected by creeks doing lunch on the shore.  We checked out six different kayaks to get the feel of them. Dad put on a show for us and was surprisingly the only one to flip over.  Mom finished up being towed back to port by Steve.

Steve, Kathy, and Betty left Wednesday.  We had a down day and did a little shopping.

Thursday we attended the Oshkosh Air Show.  We had a great day for it and they had a great show for us. The highlight included the Thunderbird's, and a wing walker who tweeted while on the wing.  Lots and lots of airplanes.

Friday was clean up day and headed down to Golden lake for some swimming and a boat ride.

We managed to get in chicken and sliders and the homemade beef soup traditions.

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