Cedar, MI - Cheyboygan, MI

 June 27 - 29, 2025

On Friday, June 27 we arrived at Waterways Campground in Cheboygan, MI for three nights.  We have 30 amp electric and water, and it's $41.00 per night.

It's right next to an old railroad bed that has been converted into a hiking and biking trail.  We were going to go on it but yesterday we were gone sightseeing and today it's raining (again).  But we did walk a little on it.

I thought the sunset view was pretty.  God's creation is so beautiful!

On Saturday we went to Historic Mill Creek. Around 1790 Robert Campbell constructed a sawmill on the site to provide lumber for nearby Mackinac Island (much of it built the Grand Hotel).  He also operated a farm with hay fields, cattle and an orchard.  A gristmill was added, and in 1819 the mill and farm were purchased by wealthy Mackinac Island merchant Michael Dousman.  Abandoned in the 1830s, Mill Creek was rediscovered in 1972.  After extensive archaeological work, the site opened in 1984 and features reconstructions of the sawmill and other structures.  The site covers 625 acres.  Originally the land was cleared all the way down to Lake Huron.  I imagine it must have been a beautiful view, but it's all grown back now.

This is the pond that feeds the dam.

The waterfall has a sound almost like a steam engine.  I've never heard water going over a dam that sounds like this.

The mill.

The water gets diverted to run the paddle wheel on the left, which powers the saw.  The wheel on the right makes the log goes backward.

With the turn of the wheel and a lever the saw blade goes up and down and cuts the lumber.  It was quite interesting how they used the knowledge they had and did things we take for granted today.  Before the mill they had to cut boards by using a sawpit (15 boards a day).  With the mill they could cut ten times the lumber as using the sawpit.

Then we went to the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.

The lighthouse was established in 1889.  The fog signal went into operation in 1890, and the dwelling and tower were completed in 1892.  For over 60 years, four generations of lighthouse keepers and their families lived at this station.  The newly completed Mackinac Bridge made the lighthouse unnecessary and it was closed in 1957.

The view of the keeper's quarters and lighthouse from the south looking north.

They had two lighthouse keepers and lodging for both of them.  They were fortunate that they were in a town.  Many lighthouses were isolated on rock islands in the water, or points where there wasn't anyone near.  

The sitting room.

The dining room.

Left side of the kitchen.

Right side of the kitchen.

It all looked very comfortable.

The fresnel lens.

I knew there were different 'orders' of fresnel lenses, but I didn't know how they were rated.

The lighthouse keepers through the years.  They were held to high standards and had to keep the lens and windows clean, which in the early days could take several hours.  They had to keep records, keep the grounds clean, keep the buildings in good repair, and welcome visitors when they had time.  It took two of them with help from their families to get it all done.  If they failed they could be discharged.

There were other buildings on the property: the fog signal building (entrance and gift shop), the warehouse (Straits of Mackinac shipwreck museum), barn (shipwreck movie and movie about the lighthouse), and the oil house (for when the light used oil).

A tour to the top of the lighthouse is available but we chose not to do that.  They did a demonstration of the foghorn and that was interesting.  The young man doing the demonstration said people on Mackinac Island can hear it.  (See video on Roving Walkers Facebook page.)

View from the north side porch of the keeper's house.  Of course the bridge wasn't there back then.  I could get used to that view every day.  I love the different colors of the water.

View from the north looking south.

We were there!

We were there too!

View of the Mackinac Bridge.  We'll be driving across it in a few days.

We stopped at a fish market on the way home and bought some fresh whitefish.  John put it on the smoker and we had it for dinner.  It was very mild and delicious. 

This trip has had more rainy days than sunny days.  Everyone I ask about it, no matter where we've been, has said that this year has been very rainy.  But we are thankful to the Lord, and grateful that we can take these trips.

Soon we'll be...

Roving on...

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3

Clyde, OH - White Lake, MI - Merrill, MI - Cedar, MI

 June 18 - 26, 2025

On June 15 we drove into Michigan and set up in our dry camping site at Highland State Recreation Area in White Lake for one night.  With the reservation fee it was $28 per night.  I didn't get a picture because it rained so much and we weren't there anyway.  It was very humid.

We went to dinner at Karen and Doug's house on a lake.  I used to work with Karen and we've kept in touch.  They've done a lot of work on their house since they bought it and it's beautiful!  The view out the back looking over the lake is amazing.  It was our 49th wedding anniversary and we had steaks for dinner.  So good!!  It was so nice to see them again and a wonderful way to spend our anniversary!

On June 20 we drove to Lake of Dreams Campground in Merrill, MI for 3 nights.  It was $41.20 per night for 30 amp water and electric. It's a family campground with lots for kids to do, and it was really busy Friday and Saturday.  Sunday it started emptying out and was quiet.  It was in the 90s, windy, and humid (think blast furnace).  

Lake of Dreams Campground

On Monday, June 23 we drove to Leelanau Pines Campground near Cedar, MI for 4 nights.  It's $90 per night for 50 amp full hookups.

Somebody please tell me why this is worth $90 per night!  I asked and they said it's a premium site because it has 50 amp electric.  That's what happens when I wait too long to make reservations and I have to take what I can get.  Most of the campground is seasonal but it's very nice.

It's on Lake Leelanau, which I can see through the trees as I sit at my desk.

The reason we came here is to go to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  First we went on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.  A man named Pierce Stocking worked as a lumberman in the forest.  He loved the woods and wanted to build a road through the woods and dunes so others could enjoy it.  It took 7 years from planning the road to opening it in 1967.  I'd say it's worth it because it's beautiful!  It's a one way 7.8 mile loop and worth the time.

The first stop is the Covered Bridge.

The next stop was Glen Lake.  I thought these flowers were pretty.  I have no idea what they are but I like them.

Next was the Dune Overlook.

As you can see it's a very steep drop off,  Let just say it would be a lot faster going down than up, if you could even get up on your own.

From an overlook, more dunes.

From Lake Michigan Overlook.

We finished the loop drive and went to the Visitor Center to get my National Parks Passport stamp.

From there we went to Sleeping Bear Dunes and started climbing up.  I got part way up and decided I was done.  John agreed and we took a selfie,...

...took a picture of the dunes from where we were and said we did it.  Surprisingly I didn't get any sand in my shoes.

From there we followed M-22 north to Grand Traverse Lighthouse.  It's located at the top of the mitten 'thumb' of the state.  The shape of Michigan looks like a mitten and that's where the term comes from.

This was the beach in front of the lighthouse.

Looking from the beach to the lighthouse.

For $8 each you can go to the top of the lighthouse and see the keeper's quarters but we decided not to do that.

We headed south and back to the campground.  Tomorrow we'll be

Roving on...

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3

East Montpelier, VT - St. Johnsville, NY - Eden, NY - Clyde, OH

 June 8 - 17, 2025

On Sunday, June 8 we took the Mount Washington Cog Railway to the top of Mt. Washington.

This is our train coming down the mountain.

I thought it was interesting how the cog mechanism works to make sure you don't come crashing back down the mountain.

These trees and bushes look like they're growing crooked, but it was because the railway car was at an angle.

The weather towers and visitor center at the top of Mount Washington.

From the top.  The clouds were rolling in but you can still see the mountains in the distance.

The Appalachian Trail goes through the top of Mount Washington.  Although there's not much of a trail; it's just piles of rock cairns to guide them.

On the way back down.

The building was level but we were not.  The reflection is of our car.

Another car going up.

It was something I've wanted to do for a long time and now I can check that one off my bucket list.

On Monday we went on the Kancamagus Highway through the White Mountain National Forest.  We stopped at the visitor center in Lincoln to pick up some maps and more information, which was very helpful.  We also used our Guide Along audio tour along the way.

This is a panorama at one of the overlooks.

We took the Sabbaday Brook Trail to the falls.

Part of Sabbaday Falls.  It started at the top as a stream, then went down several drops through a gorge.  It was beautiful!

We stopped at the Albany Covered Bridge and walked across.  I love old covered bridges!

Interesting architecture.

View from the bridge.

This drive was also on my bucket list.  It was really pretty but I'd like to come back in the fall someday.

On Wednesday we left Twin Mountain, NH and drove to a Harvest Host location in East Montpelier, VT for one night.

It was at a maple sugar house location.  They had a store and although I didn't buy any maple products because I had bought some at the last maple farm, I did get a t-shirt.  We also got some Cabot cheddar cheese and John got some maple ice cream.

The next day we went drove on to St. Johnsville, NY.

We stayed at St. Johnsville Marina and Campsite for 2 nights.  It was $45 per night for full hookups.  The manager was super nice, let us pick from available sites,  and gave us some information on the area.  It wasn't the quietest location as many trains went by fast at all times of the day and night.  At least they didn't sound their horns most of the time.

This was the view from the back of the trailer.

It was right on the Erie Canal/Mohawk River.

There's a paved bike trail next to the river so we decided to bike the five miles to the lock on the Erie Canal.  As I've mentioned before my balance isn't as good as it used to be so John got me some stabilizer wheels and put them on my bike.  Unfortunately about two miles down the trail the left one popped and went flat and the right on was about to.  So I partially rode without them on the way back.  He's now on Wheels 2.0 and working on making it better for me so we can do these beautiful trails all over the country.

On Saturday we went to a Boondockers Welcome location in Eden, NY for one night.  They were super nice and even brought us muffins for our breakfast the next morning.

A nice quiet night.

Sunday we were on the road again.  We went through Pennsylvania for a short distance...

...and stopped in Ohio.

We're at Leafy Oaks Campground near Clyde for 4 nights.  It's full hookups for $60.63 per night.

I've been working on trip planning since we've been here.  Since I didn't plan ahead very well for the July 4th holiday I had a time finding some places, but the Lord provides!

John said one of the cables on the bedroom slide snapped, so he's fixing that the best he can without all the right tools.

Soon we'll be...

Roving on...

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3