September 5, 2025 (Fri.) - Travel to Germfask, MI.
Travel day again—already? It feels like we just settled in at OB Fuller, and honestly, we wish we could’ve stayed longer. That site has been our favorite so far, with its gorgeous lake views and peaceful ambiance. But the itinerary marches on, and today we’re headed to Germfask, MI, home of the Dambo Troll “Benny the Beard Fisher.” Troll hunting awaits!
Lynn was up bright and early at 6:15 AM, greeted by cold rain and 55°F temps, so no chance of enjoying the outdoors. We were both jolted awake around 2 AM by pounding rain and 45 mph winds rocking the RV. Lynn managed to drift back to sleep, but Kirk was up most of the night, thanks to the noise and motion. Lynn had hoped to finish a blog post before we hit the road, but the winds knocked over the Starlink, leaving us Wi-Fi-less. Oh well—blogging can wait.
Kirk had asked for a wake-up call at 8:00 AM, but didn’t emerge until nearly 9:00. Understandable, given the lack of sleep. Thankfully, we weren’t in a rush—check-out at OB Fuller wasn’t until 3 PM, and check-in at Big Cedar wasn’t until 2 PM, with only a short drive between.
By 11:30 AM, we were packed up, stopped at the dump station, and ready to roll. The rain paused just long enough for us to get everything squared away, and while it was still chilly, the sun peeked out and gave us a brief window of warmth. Within 10 minutes of hitting the road, the rain returned—but hey, our timing was spot-on.
The drive was mostly uneventful, aside from a stress-inducing GPS flash warning of a “low bridge.” Kirk barely caught it—it blinked for a second and vanished. You’d think they’d leave those warnings up long enough to actually read them. Luckily, the bridge was 14’-3”, plenty of clearance for us, but those fleeting alerts always spike the blood pressure.
We stopped for lunch at McDonald’s in Manistique, MI around 1 PM—partly to give Otis a break, partly to refuel ourselves. We’d missed the only rest area along the route (it was tucked on the left side of the highway, and we caught it too late to cross over), so this was our best bet. Conveniently, there was a huge empty parking lot across the road, offering plenty of space for the rig.
The McDonald’s turned out to be one of the nicest we’ve visited—clean, with a view of Lake Michigan, and a quirky twist: paper menus in booklet format! No overhead menu boards, just kiosks and printed books. An elderly couple came in and opted for the booklet, skipping the tech altogether. It was oddly charming as they pointed at pictures and said “I want this one”!
We arrived at the campground at 2 PM. The site is wooded and spacious, though it sits right next to the highway. Thankfully, it’s not a major road, so the noise is minimal—but it’s no OB Fuller lakeside. Still, it’s quiet and mostly empty, which we appreciate. Lynn got a kick out of the handout they provide with pronunciation guides for Michigan place names. Much needed—we’ve been butchering them left and right!
The rain continued on and off all day, so we spent the evening indoors, relaxing and planning our next adventures. Troll hunting starts soon… and we’re ready.
Not many pics today, just road and campground pics.
Weather (Germfask, MI) – High 55*, Low 47*. Winds 12-27 mph. Rain. No humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing to report.
Notable – “Michigan Places Pronunciation” handout!
