September 10, 2025 (Wed.) - Rainy Day Reset
Today was a quiet one. After two jam-packed days, we decided to take it slow—especially with travel day coming up tomorrow. The weather didn’t argue; it was another dreary stretch, with intermittent rain from morning through night.
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We both slept in, and it wasn’t until Kirk took Otis out that we finally got moving—around 11 AM. Lynn spent the day catching up on laundry, blogging, and a few other odds and ends. Kirk used the dry spells to get Otis out for walks and repair the mud flaps on the truck (he had a little fight with a pole back at Lake Lenwood… oops). The rest of the day was spent relaxing and recharging.
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We were glued to the TV for a while, shocked and saddened by the news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. A sobering moment. May he rest in peace.
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The evening brought a change of pace with a rewatch of Somewhere In Time, a beloved 1980s film that Lynn hadn’t seen in decades. It was Kirk’s first time watching, and Lynn wanted to revisit it before their upcoming visit to The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, which features prominently in the movie. Thankfully, it was still streaming on Amazon Prime, and Lynn found it just as enchanting as she remembered.
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No photos today—we didn’t do much, and that was perfectly okay. Sometimes, a quiet day is exactly what you need.
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Note: We’ve added a new feature to the blog’s Home Page—“The Best Of” tracker, highlighting our Top 5 RV Sites, Sightseeing Spots, and Food Finds. Honestly, we needed it… we keep forgetting where we’ve been and what we loved most. At this point, we’re lucky if we remember what state we’re in!Â
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Weather – High 69*, Low 54*. Wind 4-13 mph. Rain. No humidity.
Traffic – None. Didn’t go anywhere.
Food – Nothing to report. Ate in the RV all day.
Notable – Sad news about the death of Charlie Kirk.
Screen Time – Somewhere In Time (1980).
September 11, 2025 (Thu.) - Travel to Mackinaw City, MI
Lynn was up bright and early at 6 AM, as is tradition on travel days. Kirk rolled out around 8 AM, and the morning was mostly routine—packing up and prepping the RV. Kirk took a little extra time to check and top off the tire pressure on the RV tires, making sure everything was road-ready. With our next destination less than 100 miles away and check-in not until 1 PM, we weren’t in any rush.
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We hit the road by 10:15 AM, with an ETA of 11:35 AM for the 83-mile drive. To kill some time, we planned to stop at a rest area along the way—and we’re glad we did.
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At 11 AM, we pulled into a rest stop in Naubinway, MI, and it might just be the most scenic rest area we’ve ever visited. It sits right on the edge of Lake Michigan, with a gorgeous beach and crystal-clear blue waters. We walked Otis along the shoreline, though he had zero interest in the water—except to drink it, of course. With shaded picnic tables, a lake view, and even a foot wash station, it was the perfect place to stretch our legs and soak in the scenery.
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Back on the road by noon, we reached the Mackinac Bridge by 12:30 PM. It’s an impressive sight, and crossing it felt like a milestone. The toll for our rig was $10 (plus cc processing fee), and we finally cleared up the mystery (per Google): whether it’s spelled Mackinac or Mackinaw, it’s still pronounced the same—with a “w” sound (“MACK-in-aw”).
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We arrived at the campground right on time at 1 PM. It’s a massive place with 600 sites, and we opted for an XL site with full hookups. No lake view from our spot, but it’s just a short walk to the water, and you can see the bridge from there. Our site (#590) is spacious and private, bordered by trees on three sides. The campground is so big, you could easily get lost! One perk of these larger campgrounds is the on-site store, stocked with groceries, firewood, and essentials. Cost for our stay = ~$64/night.
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After setting up, we took a walk with Otis to explore the grounds—spotted the Mackinac Bridge, found the store, pool, restrooms, and even bike rentals, which would be super handy for navigating this sprawling place (although bikes are not Lynn’s friend so we’ll skip that). It’s clearly designed with families and long stays in mind.Â
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Now that we’re officially on the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, we realized we’ve hit three of the Great Lakes! Our current campground borders Lake Huron, adding to our list that already includes Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. Each one is immense and stunning in its own way—hard to believe they’re all part of the same region. We’ve gone from “Yooper” territory to “Troll” territory, and we’re loving the local nicknames. Folks in the Upper Peninsula are affectionately called Yoopers, while those in the Lower Peninsula are known as Trolls—because they live “under the bridge”, a nod to the iconic Mackinac Bridge that connects the two halves of the state. Love it!
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By 5 PM, we were on the hunt for dinner. With our grocery stash running low (especially meats), we didn’t have much to cook beyond side dishes. We tried Darrows, which had great reviews on Yelp, but it was packed, so we moved on. Back in the village, we landed at The White Buffalo. It was just okay—a bit overpriced for what you get, but it filled the gap. After dinner, we wandered through Mackinaw Crossings, a quirky outdoor mall with fun features like a giant Bumblebee Transformer, winged sculptures, and other whimsical art pieces. A fun surprise!
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On the way back, we stopped at the campground store for firewood, then wrapped up the evening with a cozy campfire, some adult beverages, and a well-earned rest. Between the rest area stroll, campground wandering, and village exploring, we clocked in over 12,500 steps! It got a little chilly, but it was the perfect end to a full day.
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Weather (Mackinaw City, MI) – High 67*, Low 57*. Wind 5-11 mph. No rain. No humidity.
Traffic – None other than more ‘one-lane road’ closures and stopping at the bridge to pay tolls.
Food – Nothing notable.
Notable – Naubinway Rest Area, Mackinac Bridge, Campground.
