Boyne City, MI - Day Five

7/19/2021

I knew that today was going to be a tight schedule. I got up at 5:30am. Had breakfast and coffee and packed up camp. I left by 7:30 and made my way to Platte River canoes. I have been looking forward to kayak Platte River. Having my own kayak was extremely nice. I arrived upon opening. I unloaded my kayak down at the Bay and paid $12 for a shuttle service in which I then drove down to Lake Michigan beach and waited a few minutes for the shuttle to arrive. There were only a few other girls doing the same. Shuttle came and took us back to the main office. I looked around the shop, nope, no more tourist things for me! But I always still look. I got in my kayak by 8:45 and away I went. 

side note, I will miss hearing the loons at night

Platte River is the most beautiful River and being on it as early as I was, was a great choice. I saw a Red herring. A Blue herring. Huge snapper. Lots of large fish. I am not sure if they were trout, bass and well I know one was a carp. I also saw a beautiful spotted doe. The River was filled with large sized perch. I made my way peacefully and alone down the River which led me into Loon Lake. Another lake I wish I had time to explore. Being in a time crunch I only pursued around for about 20minutes before following back into the river. Some of the other folks on canoes and paddle boards caught up to me. 

Our paddle came up to one of the first tube entrances on the lower river. A huge group got in. There goes my peace? I paddled quickly around and past them. Peace is back. This happened at two more launches. Despite the tubers getting on, Platte river is divine grace. And the water is clear throughout most of the way. Taking my time I searched through the water for life. Watching small and big fish pass under me. Looking at the homes of these animals as I float atop them. I couldn’t have asked for a better morning to start my day. I paddled right out onto Lake Michigan and docked my yak on its sandy dune beaches. I walked around with my toes in it’s white sand and the morning sun resting upon my face. I had 10 minutes to spare before I started my long journey to the next camp. 

Platte river is rated one of my favorite rivers I have traveled on. Such grace and beauty and the end trip is even better. Views from a far of dunes that reached for the sky. 

I begin my two hour trip to Boyne City to my final destination at Whiting Park Campground on Lake Charlevoix. As I was leaving I passed through Traverse City and saw the sign welcome to downtown Traverse City. I realized where I was before, by the state park. That was not downtown Traverse City. And they had some better looking side beach parks too. A City I thought I disliked, because I was not in the right part to begin with. Needless to say, I am coming back with my brother for a late bday present for a Beer tour. So I’ll have another judgment of the City then. I am curious to explore where I haven’t seen.  

I am 45mins out from my destination and I am getting hungry on the drive and extremely tired. I’ve been awake since 5:30 and breakfast at 6:00am. All I’ve had since then were granola bars. I always bring trail mix with me, and I try not to bring ones with chocolate. I reach back for my mixed bag, reach in, famished only to find my fingers surrounded by gooeyness. I didn’t look down because I thought it was warm raisins. Excited to take the handful, I pull up to my mouth at see my fingers covered in melted chocolate while bits of sunflower seeds stuck to my palm. I look around for a napkin, too far for my arm to reach and no way to pull off to the side of the road I decided I only had one choice. I had to lick my fingers clean. Not my finest moment. I proceeded the rest of the way without eating.

I finally got to my campsite , unloaded and looked at the dozen missed messages. One from my best friend. Excited to see the text I soon realized it was a business question. One that could have waited like the rest.  I was not amused. I needed a shower since I haven’t showered since Friday night upon Leaving Camp Cartier back in Ludington. 

After my shower I needed food, like badly. I googled the place I wanted to visit. Trattoria Stella. I had the restaurant listed under my Charlevoix list and when I googled it I realized it was back in Traverse City. I was pissed. I put it on the wrong list. I broke. Hungry, tired, annoyed with unwanted texts and a campground with a weird unfamiliarity. I broke. It seemed to be a trend because when I went to the U.P I broke down on day five as well. 

So I found a top rated restaurant 20minutes away. I thought it was in Charlevoix City but I was soon to find it was not. But it was close. The Landing Restaurant. I pull up and there was a Ferry!! What the heck!?! What is going on!? I watched a couple cars get on then I decided to turn around. I’ll find another way. Google maps clocks it’s at 45minutes to get into town. I look back and see that restaurant is right there. Right across the bay. What am I waiting for? Am I really this scared? What if it’s expensive?!! Screw it.  I pulled closer only to see it was only three dollars. I loaded onto the ferry. Creeped and excited. My car was up front and a car behind me. And two cars to the side. Lady walks up to my car as they’re locking the gates to the ferry. $3 please. I hand her my card and she’s like sorry we don’t accept cards. Um…😳😧😬….oh wait!!! I have $4 in my wallet. Omg 😱 😆 what would have happened if I didn’t have the money?? I couldn't get off! We already started moving! Ey! As we moved across the waterway I saw a mobile app where you can pay via mobile. Oh thank the good graces! I downloaded the app because I would need the ticket to get back. There’s no way I am driving an hour back to camp when using the ferry cuts that time more than half. 

The restaurant was lovely. Absolutely amazing. Food was divine. I’ve always wanted to try a restaurant located right on the water and one where you can just pull your boat up to and eat at the dock of your boat!  Amazing. Just amazing. An accidental experience of a lifetime. But I still was not in Charlevoix just yet. I googled how far it was from me. 9 minute drive. Score! This Ferry business is no joke for cutting corners of driving time. I stopped at a cafe. Even did my usual window shopping and by jolly I actually bought some things. Never would I have thought! Nothing I bought says Charlevoix but they’re things I would utilize and put to good use. Okay they were 2 graphic shirts half off, and camping stickers for my water bottle with a simplistic vintage line drawn design. I found myself by the beachside to watch the waves before heading back to camp. Normally I would read. Reading on vacation is the only thing I look forward to. It’s honestly the only time I read. But I wanted to start a blog. I would write in it 10 days a year. Unless I start to take more vacations. Maybe change up my writing layout. 🤔 we will see how this goes. 

by the way the moon is bloodshot red and beautiful tonight!

Interlochen, MI- Day Four

7/18/2021

I woke up with the mindset of Torch Lake. I made a fabulous breakfast. Egg bagel and a side hash. My favorite seasoning was the everything bagel - jalapeño flavor. I Topped the sandwich with tomato, one leaf lettuce, and avocado. I was going to start my day right. I text the mom good morning and a picture of my breakfast s as I’ve been doing since day one. 

Torch was an hour and a half away from camp so I started the drive at 8:30

From reading Facebook pages, I hear the North End was the dock to go to because it was quieter and easier to deal with. So I started there. It takes 30 minutes from bottom to top of Torch Lake. And by the time I get there, I really had to…💩. I didn’t see an out house at first so I decided to turn around and use another dock. $5 entry fee….okay? So I drove all the way back down, which took longer than 30 mins because of all the road bikers, which frustrated me. I had to go to the bathroom. No gas station or restaurant. This side of the lake was all homes. I get to another dock. No parking lot. No out house. Where the 🦆 is all the boat trailers for those who launch here!?! I step out of my vehicle and see them scattered throughout town. If I didn’t have to 💩 sure. But nope. Drive to the sandbar. Scenic area. At this point it is 11am. And the crowd was gathering. I couldn’t get onto the lake because none of the docks had parking. And I don’t want to park and carry my kayak around town or leave it at the dock. And when leaving the lake I would have to Walk back to my car only to wait hours ( exaggerate) to get back into the dock just to pick up my kayak. Absurd. How can a popular lake have such shitty boat docks/launches with no reasonable parking? Put a large lot across the street damn it! Something!  I started traveling and ready to give up, I saw a truck with a boat turn down a street in my review mirror. I wanted to follow. Maybe he knew something I didn’t. As I did the U turn, there was a launch sign! How the 🦆 are you going to put a launch sign on one side of the road and not the other! I was led down a dirt road which soon led me to a private drive. A DNR boat launch tucked off to the side. I knew this lake was no longer Torch. Yes I have a sense for direction. Could this be Elk? Please be Elk! Yes it was Elk Lake! 

And they had an outhouse! Hallelujah. And a map of Elk and Torch where I noticed there were two…TWO! kayak launches near the sand bar on Torch! Why…why are these not properly marked on their lake! I just don’t understand. The most popular lake in Michigan and the most poorly marked and least amount of parking. Where are these secrets I don’t know to be found!?
but furthermore…

Elk lake was massive and beautiful and full of glory. There were not many homes around the lake and it had about 85% less boaters. I was surrounded by divine beauty, crystal clear water where I could see straight to the bottom and beautiful rock shores with substantial space in between houses of just land and shores. I spent 3 or more hours swimming and kayaking that massive beauty. Elk Lake moved up to my favorite Lake. 

But I still wanted to know what the hype was about Torch. I drove back to the North end boat launch and sure enough tucked away in front of the entrance hidden with trees was the outhouse. And so far I was glad I didn’t see it. I unloaded my Yak and got onto torch and realized that this lake scored lower than Gun Lake in lakes I Dislike. Houses everywhere, no shoreline to park. Yes crystal waters but Elk was more beautiful and less congested with human life. I can’t image what the south end of the lake looked like. I remember when I drove by the main boat dock near the rental place, the sandbar was packed around 11. All I could think was gross! My party beach days are over. I enjoy quiet peaceful trips where I am wrapped in the arms of nature’s beauty. Torch Lake I will not visit you ever again unless I rent a boat to what…drive around the lake drunk to park and drink? Pass. Been there and done that. 

Next I decided to see what Traverse City had to offer. It was bumper to bumper. Nope, I guess I am not visiting the town. But like I said before, I don’t need another tourist shirt, or shot glass or nicknack. I am good with not walking around the town. I went to the state beach and I barely got in. Only to stick my toes in the water and decide…. I don’t like Traverse City. 

I decided to hike one of the two trails on my list. It was 5pm, I was hungry so I picked the one closer to camp. Lost Lake Pathway. 

I lathered up in Poison Ivy block and bug spray. But man oh man. Those bugs were awful. Spinning around my head and diving into my face. I had to sprint a couple of times just to get away. I came across a few lookouts into Dumont Lake. Absolutely beautiful and I wish I had time to explore the wonders of that lake. The trail nearly side by side the entire time while the hike- in camping sites of the state forest were on the other side of the trail. I soon realized that camping out here would be rough because of all the Ivy and those damn bugs who like to circle my head! Lost lake trailhead was supposed to lead you to a hidden lake called Christmas lake but the one and only view spot was kind of awful. Guarded by large trees and overgrown bushes I could barely see and as I started to explore more I got swarmed with three large flies which practically chased me out and off the trail back to my jeep. That’s enough for one day I said. 

Sunday was the most disappointing and stressful day. But I bottled it back only to explode later. 

Ludington MI - day two

7/16/2021

I got up early and was excited to cook once again! After making my hearty breakfast I decided to kayak the lake our campground sat on. Lincoln lake. I went as far out as I dared, being a rather large and heavily earthy lake; I didn't want to paddle too far, so I let myself float with the current while I drank my coffee and read a book. 

Next I walked around the town. Now camping, I am not a shopper. Who am I trying to fool? I hate shopping all together. Food and accessories. I’m not a materialistic gal. I guess that’s one thing that separates me from most women. I spend so much money on gas, Ice and firewood, when it comes to leisure spending it’s extremely hard too. Same with going out to eat. I have to drag myself and the tooth and nail to go out and enjoy food. Harder when I know I make damn good food myself. You think being on vacation it would be easier to go out to eat, but it’s not. Not a shopper or out to eater.

When rating Ludington for it’s scenery, it is top notch. You can drive a few miles to the state park, and park off the side of the road to climb a dune and get into the beach before even reaching the state beach. Or on the other side of the road, climb the endless sea of dunes. The amount of lakes,  dunes, and hikes are endless and absolutely beyond its beauty. I have yet to find a town to surpass its supreme outdoor activities. Everywhere you turn there is something fun and worthwhile. 

When rating the town of Ludington, as far as shopping I would give it a low 2. There are not many shops, and there is almost really just one road of shops and they all have the same things. I don’t need another tourist shirt in my closet. I don’t need another shot glass, keychain, stickers or nicknacks. I don’t really need anything at all. This purchase has to benefit me as a camper and out in my daily life. Either that it has to be cool enough and resonate with me in someway for me to buy and that can be hard to come by. I’ll go into every shop and not buy one thing. 

When rating food in Ludington, we’ll I can’t say much because I’ve only been to one restaurant and that was a year or so ago at House of Flavors. I do hear that Keepers Fish Shack is good. But I don’t ever really travel for food so rating a town for food is something I can’t really do. 

I kayaked the little Au sable River that leads right out into Lake Michigan. I wanted to kayak Hamlin lake, but getting to the boat dock was impossible and it wasn’t until my hike where I saw kayakers parking and dragging their Yaks to the beach through the grass. So Lake Hamlin and Au sable River are separated by a beautiful damn. A ton of people float in tubes down the River and if the current is okay, the rangers will let you stay and float into the big lake. Otherwise they make you get out and walk back to your vehicle. Being a kayaker I parked at the beach and walked through the sandy land and climbed a couple dunes and walked into Lake Michigan. Such a beautiful spot to be. But first, how I got into the River. Right after the dam there’s a spot where a trail leads from the parking lot to there. It’s not a long walk, but it’s not a short one either. It’s all pathed and trees along the sides. Not much for dragging the kayak. So I carried my yak. It took me only a few minutes but my yak is heavy and I had to make two trips. One for the yak and the other for my stuff. 

Afterwards I took the trail along Lost Lake. 

The trail was partial woods and partial walking along the water lines of Hamlin Lake. An outstanding beauty and full of life. It is definitely a place to visit. The trail has so much more going on than I had time for. I am just glad to got to see what I could and hike what I could hike. 

By the end of the day I was ready for my new adventure but part of me just wanted to hike more dunes. But it was time to go onto my next adventure. Days like these make me wish I had a trail bike, exploring at a more at a faster rate. I think it would work well with my go, go, go attitude. 

One of the things I bought on Amazon, my solar charger. I used one full charge and then it just stopped working. The lights kept flashing on and it wouldn't shut off. And well, what I thought was going to be useful tool turned out to be a waste.