October 4, 2025 (Sat.) - Around Birch Run.
We kept things low-key today. Since Frankenmuth is a popular tourist destination, we decided to avoid the weekend crowds. Even Friday felt busy, with tour groups arriving by the busload. We’ve noticed that things quiet down around 3 PM when the buses start heading out. One of the perks of retirement is being able to explore during slower weekdays—though it seems plenty of other retirees have the same idea!
Instead of diving back into Frankenmuth, we opted for a drive to check out the surrounding towns. We didn’t hit the road until noon. Lynn spent the morning tackling chores, paying bills, and catching up on journal entries—she’d fallen a few days behind.
Armed with the Roadside America app, we set off in search of quirky roadside attractions. While there weren’t many must-sees, we did stumble upon a few fun finds: a smiley-faced water tower, an old Mobil gas station, and a Robin Hood statue. That was enough for us without venturing too far. Along the way, we rolled into Otisville—a name that instantly reminded us of Otis, so naturally, we had to snap a few photos of “his town.”
Afterward, we made a quick grocery stop at Kroger and headed back to camp.
By 6 PM, it was time to unwind. We opened the bottle of Brys Estate Cab/Merlot we picked up in Traverse City, Michigan and settled in by the campfire. Lynn threw together a semi-charcuterie board with whatever we had on hand: cheese spread, crackers, breadsticks, nuts, honey, sausage sticks, and chocolate. Not quite Bry’s signature spread, but still delicious—especially the dark chocolate with sea salt, which paired beautifully with the wine. Lynn, who usually struggles to finish a single glass, managed to drink over half the bottle! Needless to say, we polished it off. Should’ve grabbed a second one!
The evening wrapped up with a glowing sunset and a cozy fire. Not a whole lot of pics today but we enjoyed exploring together.
Weather – High 86*, Low 58*. Winds 3-10 mph with gusts up to 19 mph. No rain, no humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing to report.
Notable – Exploring, Wine, Campfires.
October 5, 2025 (Sun.) - A Day of Rest and RV Fixes.
We didn’t have anything planned today—just a chance to relax, catch up on a few chores, and enjoy the campground.
Lynn had a slow start after last night’s wine. She slept in until 9 AM, which is definitely later than usual. Once she got going, she eased into the morning with a cup of coffee outside, soaking up the sunny 66° weather.
Kirk was up around 10:30 and made us a late breakfast in the RV. While getting the bike out, he noticed an issue with the tailgate—the top edge, which acts as the base of the ramp, was pulling away from the trim. He spent the afternoon inspecting it and figuring out a fix. He also took his bike into town for a much-needed wash with stops at Camping World and the hardware store to find parts for the repair.
Lynn spent most of the day doing light chores—blogging, laundry, and enjoying the outdoors. It was warm, but the shade and breeze made it a perfect day to sit outside and take in the fall colors. It wasn’t until about 2 PM when she finally got out of her pjs and got dressed for the day.
We wrapped up the evening with a movie and a quiet night in.
Weather – High 85*, Low 60*. Winds 6-14 mph with gusts up to 24 mph. No rain, no humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing to report. Ate in the RV all day.
Notable – Relaxing.
Screen time – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Entertaining enough.
