September 2, 2025 (Tue.) - Quiet Day and Kirk's Back Troubles.
Today was a quiet one, which worked out perfectly since Kirk woke up barely able to move—his back was in rough shape. The culprit? A bit of heavy lifting with the bike during a minor mishap on Sunday while unloading it from the RV. He powered through Monday’s ride just fine, but the pain decided to make its grand entrance today. Retirement adventures definitely come with their own set of surprises.
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Still, Kirk was mobile enough to drive us to breakfast at Cafe Floriana in West Bend, a cozy little coffee shop with light but satisfying fare. It hit the spot. With departure day tomorrow, we swung by Piggly Wiggly to stock up on groceries. Kirk hoped that walking and moving around might help loosen things up, but unfortunately, his back wasn’t having it.
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The afternoon was spent knocking out chores, blogging, and resting up. With our next site offering only electric and water hookups, we made sure to tackle laundry while we still had full access. Kirk spent most of the day taking it easy, armed with a lidocaine patch and a remote, hoping to feel better by morning when we hit the road for Michigan.
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Fingers crossed for a smoother start tomorrow.  Not many photos today, just a quiet day of prep and recovery.
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Weather – High 75*, Low 49*. Wind 3-8 mph. No humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Cafe Floriana.
Notable – Kirk’s stiff back.
Screen Time – Until Dawn movie.Â
September 3, 2025 (Wed.) - Travel to Michigan!
Travel day! Today we made our way to Bark River, MI, a brief stopover en route to Germfask for some troll hunting adventures. The drive was about 200 miles—roughly 3.5 hours—to OB Fuller Campground, where we’ll be staying just two nights before moving on.
Lynn was up early, as usual, sipping her coffee indoors while the gloomy skies and chilly air kept her bundled up. Kirk was up by 7:30 AM, ready to start packing despite a still-stiff back, though thankfully not as bad as the day before. And of course, right on cue, the rain began just as we started prepping to leave. Kirk threw on his rain gear and tackled the outdoor tasks while Lynn and Otis stayed dry inside. Lynn handled the interior pack-up, settled the electric bill with the front office, and by 10:45 AM, we were on the road. This site charged electricity separately—$40 for 7 nights (~210 kWh).
The drive was classic Midwest terrain—peaceful, scenic, and traffic-free, with a few rest stops to stretch our legs. We crossed into the Eastern Time Zone just before reaching the campground and arrived around 4 PM EST. What a surprise—our site was gorgeous, with plenty of space and a direct view of Lake Michigan. Quiet, serene, and nearly empty, it felt like a hidden gem. While Kirk was busy unloading and hooking up the RV, Lynn chatted with the camp host, who pointed out a hawk perched on top of our rig—’a rare sight’ she said, especially with us standing right there. Definitely a magical moment. During the chat, we also got a fun dose of local lore. Turns out, we’re officially in the U.P.—Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Folks from this region proudly call themselves “Yoopers” (short for U.P.), while those from the lower part of the state are affectionately known as “Trolls”—because they live under the bridge (referring to the Mackinac Bridge). We love picking up these quirky regional tidbits—linguistics, legends, and local charm always make the journey richer.
Food options are limited in this area, so we headed to Ford River Pub & Grill in Escanaba. A light rain followed us, but it gifted us a beautiful rainbow—though the camera couldn’t quite capture its brilliance. Kirk ordered the fried Walleye, and Lynn went for the deep-fried pasty (pass-tee) with gravy—both were delicious. Kirk also tried some butter pecan ice cream, which was just okay.
Back at the RV, we were greeted by a stunning moonrise over Lake Michigan—a perfect end to a travel day filled with rain, wildlife, and peaceful views.
Weather (Bark River, MI) – High 64°F, Low 46°F. Rain. Winds 8-22 mph.
Traffic – None.
Food – Ford River Pub & Grill – very good.
Notable – Lakefront site, gorgeous view, peace and serenity.
