hatchhanlon
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Re: Where in Western MI with 3 tweens/teens
Stay at Holiday Park Campground South of Traverse City in July, a Top 100 National Campground. Get reservations by phone asap in January. An excellent jumping off point to numerous places within an hour or so. Grab some Moomer’s Ice Cream at the real deal location, and eat while watching the cows that some say provide the milk for the scoops. Take a canoe trip down the Platte River from Riverside. Bring lunch and watch other people tip over at the fish weir. Or go to Ranch Rudolph to canoe or ride horses around the Boardman River. Drive up Old Mission Peninsula and look for Petoskey Stones in West Bay on your way to the tip, stopping at Old Mission Store for a cone on the way back. Visit Elk Rapids and wade in the creek, then play pickleball at the City Park, finishing up at Chef Charles for pizza. Bike the Betsie Valley Trail, go into Frankfurt and eat at Dinghys, then head over to Gwen Frostics on the return for an art infusion. Walk, drive or bike around the Crystal Lake Area and get sandwiches at L’Chaim Deli. Eat in the City Park, while wishing that you had money to live there all year long. Go to Charlevoix during festival time and walk around the “Hobbit” stone houses. Then, travel to Petoskey and buy some Art. Eat at Cormack’s Deli. Travel to Manistee and view the Painted Ladies Victorian Homes. Get some donuts and eat them at Orchard Beach State Park North of town. Drive up to Portage Point and hang out with some of the 1%. Do Crystal mountain in one way, shape or form. Drive to 7 Bridges for a hike on your way to Alden for shopping. Hang out at the sand bar on Torch Lake. Wander to Suttons Bay for a look see, then head over to Lake Leelenau to ogle the natural beauty. Go North to Glen Arbor for a stop at Cherry Republic or an Art’s burger. Drive over to the Homestead and see how you wish you could do vacation. Bike around “One of the most beautiful lakes in the world”, Big Glen Lake. Work your way over to Empire and plant yourself at the Lake Michigan beach in town, or the warm water area across the parking lot on South Bar Lake. Don’t miss the Empire lookout. Get a burger at Joe’s Friendly Tavern and digest it up the road at the Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear. Drive up M-22 and find someplace to get a sticker for your car. Go to Interlochen for a concert or just walk the campus for the musical vibe. Do pizza at the Karlin Inn, while playing pool. Head up to Leland’s Fishtown for some smoked chubs at Carlsons, then eat at the Cove. Go into Traverse City, if you don’t mind traffic.555Views0likes0CommentsRe: Winter area
Holiday Park Campground, Traverse City, MI. Just south of town. Feels rural. Archery range next to Park on quiet road. Mega fishing in lake, especially Bass. Grounds have different feel, e.g., forest, tree lined, pull thru, etc., in various sections. Hiking is beyond description on the nearby State lands, which have trails next to beautiful lakes and streams. Full hookups, but not a lot of extra activities offered. Large shopping mall or semi-wilderness within a 7 minute drive, you choose. Walkable town, tons of food, many events and festivals. Make your own fun, and there is plenty to be had. Maybe that's why I've been going there for 40 years.507Views0likes0CommentsRe: Do I want a 5th wheel?
As a present owner of both, TT to Florida in winter and 5W on owner lot in summer, I believe that a person has to weigh the pros and cons, just like any other decision. Aside form the issues of space, weight, construction, tow ability, etc., there is one factor that is usually missing in the comparison of fifth wheels and travel trailers. That unaccounted for variable is view to the front. I spent summers for 15 years in an Airstream. As you know, these units have lots of windows, including ones that wrap around the front. But it was, even at 34feet, quite small in terms of available living space and really lacked storage. So I decided to get a 40’ fifth wheel, which solved two problems, but created another. We own the lot, lake in the back, with roadway and park in the front, and we became accustomed to watching people pass and kids playing outside our front windows. Although we gained a terrific space at the rear of the fiver to look at the lake and view sunsets, there is definitely a big component missing without that view to the front. It’s really a big deal. In summary, if you watch a lot of TV in your lounge chairs or often entertain friends across your dining room table, it doesn’t really matter what you buy. On the other hand, the design of most modern fivers can cause a claustrophobic effect, which can catch people off guard. Fivers with a front window can be found or one could opt for a rig with a front living room, but these options might be considered as niche markets and models like these may limit your buying choices. Just something to keep in mind for those that think buying a fifth wheel is “moving up.”460Views0likes0CommentsRe: Possible snowbird next year.
Your post contained four paragraphs, which to me dealt with about the same number of questions. Because we are on somewhat similar trajectories, with me being a couple of years ahead of you, I offer you this advice. First, focus on the Gulf side of Florida. You can go to Texas, Arizona, or California, but I believe that South of a line from Tampa across the State offers the best weather and snowbird experience. Second, your best friend should become RV Park Reviews. Decide what level of accommodations that you prefer, e.g. resort, campground, cost, traffic, shopping, etc., and then do the research. To me, recreational opportunities, both in and out of the park, were important factors and my selection was influenced by these interests. In our locale, you would need reservations six or more months in advance for better or any lots in the months of January and February, but folks start leaving in Mid-March and April is very empty. We pay over $1,000. per month for a medium-grade site on an extended stay plan, but I have friends that camp in areas close by for $700. Third, since we have grandchildren and because my wife dictates the holiday schedule, we leave the day after Christmas. If it were up to me, I would head South the end of October and come back North for a week in late December. I am lobbying my four kids and DW to hold an early Christmas on the Saturday of Thanksgiving week, and then stay in Florida until April 1. Still working on it. Lastly, I am part of the minority as far as size of rig is concerned. Although we have a late model 40’ fifth wheel, we travel and stay in a 25’ travel trailer. The fiver is for our three month stay during summers in Traverse City, you know where that is, and the TT is our choice for the winter, due to a variety of factors. We also have two Golden Retrievers, but since we are active outside, the space really isn’t even an issue. We are not big TV watchers or lounge chair users, so you will have to decide what amenities you need for the quality of experience that you are seeking. Good luck, the search is half the fun.159Views0likes0CommentsRe: Carpeted ceiling
Lots of good info on the chemical solution side of things. Here is another perspective from the mechanical side. I have experienced excellent results from scraping/combing our carpeted ceiling with a "fine tooth" 90 degree dog comb. Our fan/ac deposits a lot of dust and grime on the ceiling and instead of spraying and dabbing, I just scrape it off with the dog comb. Works great and you may get good results, too.625Views0likes0CommentsRe: Apostle Islands in Wisconsin
I have direct experience with the poster’s question and I hope to provide some feedback that may be helpful to all who are interested in this area. Bayfield is a small “burg” of a place, which caters to the water/kayak crowd. My wife and I did take our inexpensive plastic kayaks out into Lake Superior, but we stayed close to shore. This area has a lot to offer the kayak enthusiast, but one needs to be experienced in open water trekking and it’s not a place for a big box cheap boat. There are a few good restaurants, which attract people from all over the place. We enjoyed eating in casual style and recommend some of the eateries, which can be searched on Yelp. Aside from the above mentioned two pursuits, there is not much else happening in this area. I would compare the location to Grand Marais, MN., which we also visited on the same trip. We stayed at Apostle Islands Campground just south of town. I would attest to the grumpiness of the owner, but he runs a good business and you can bank on an enjoyable stay. The cycling in the area leaves a lot to be desired, especially routes just outside the campground. The hills are real beasts and after our experience, I would not bike the area again. Overall, unless I was a very experienced kayaker, a onetime visit may be enough for the average person, but staying only for a day or two. Of the five places we visited on our 40th anniversary trip, which also included the two locations mentioned above, plus Door County, WS, Peninsula SP, WS, and MI’s UP, I’d rate Bayfield the lowest of the bunch. Just my opinion and YMMV, but have fun and camp on.280Views0likes0CommentsRe: Do you have goals, aims or neither in life?
This is my kind of post, especially due to the absence of comments about tires, weight, or black tanks. Speaking of which, some days your intent is to have a hell of movement and other days it may be simply to raise hell. A lot of what stirs or satisfies we humans, in my opinion, may be in direct correlation with our ability to forecast outcomes and apply our energies toward some perceived personal gain. At the same time, research has shown that we are not the best predictors of our future and can fail miserably, due to factors we did not anticipate or were beyond our control. As the pajama posters have stated, motivation has a lot to do with context and our state of being. Whether goal, aim, or objective, it seems to me that the hidden operative term in this dialogue is “anticipation” of a projected outcome. Regardless of how the terminology shakes out, in the RV world, don’t forget to pack your tool box. “Best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Robert Burns226Views0likes0CommentsRe: No Slide Out Travel Trailer
Here is my contribution to the mix. I have two RVs, a 40’ Montana FW and a 2005 Bigfoot (BF), 25’ TT with no slide. The smaller unit replaced our 16’ Scamp and is our traveler and the larger one sits on a seasonal lot, during the warmer months. My wife and I have two Golden Retrievers and recently spent the month of November traveling together, while visiting between Natchez MS and Fl. The day we left Williston Fl, it was 29 degrees, demonstrating that I have some firsthand experience with hearty environmental conditions. First, staying in any type of RV for any length of time when the weather is 45 degrees or less takes a certain kind of person to make the situation work. Mind you, I love camping, but I try to avoid extended periods of cold weather, then again, your mileage might vary. Second, temperature control is indeed one of the primary considerations, when the weather drops below the aforementioned level. From my direct experience, we could heat the TT to whatever internal temperature we wanted, without propane. We used a Vornado electric heater 24/7 and the parks we stayed in did not charge extra for electric. This TT was purchased as a four-season unit without a slide on purpose, because in my estimation, slides add a host of complexities that are not worth the tradeoffs in colder weather, at least to me. Plus, the BF has storage galore and the most comfortable walk around Queen bed that one could ever imagine. No kidding. Third, I should be the Poster Boy for Bigfoot, because I am sold on this brand. After living seasonally in a 34’ Airstream for over 15 years, I can attest that the desirability of the BF for quality, workmanship, and environmental capability. My unit when loaded is approximately 7,500 lbs and I tow it with a ¾ ton diesel PU. It is not a lightweight and consists of a fiberglass top and bottom, connected in the middle. The one big tradeoff is that the dinette is your couch, desk, eating area, etc. Search my posts for a workaround. Lastly, camping for many days, in other words living in a unit, is the same as camping for one day. Your satisfaction depends on your mettle and adaptability, a lot like over-wintering in a small cabin in the deep woods. Some people are not cut out for those conditions, but as far as the feasibility of your desired RV plan, its way doable, at least on paper. You will have to decide if you are the type of person, who has the wherewithal to pull it off.362Views0likes0CommentsRe: Rain Water in Black Water Tank???
I suggest the use of the scientific method, otherwise known as “guess and test.” There have been several good ideas presented thus far, poop pyramid, roof leak, backup, etc., but you will never know what is causing the issue, until you run simulations. The easy way is to take it in for service and pay the man. Lots of good people let the pros handle issues pertaining to black tanks. However, there are those individuals who are, ah, frugal, and relish the chance to play detective and are pretty good at solving RV holding tank problems. If you are in the latter category, you may want to start by emptying the holding tank, while making absolutely sure it is dry. Next, determine if you have a gunk buildup. If so, by using a stick or dowel, approximate the displacement of the gunk and compare it to the volume listed by the manufacturer. Angle the probe, if necessary and spin in a circular motion. After ruling a pyramid as in or out, use the stick to measure the depth of the water in the holding tank, while running a scenario on the most likely culprit, first. Then try the next possibility. You do have some insight as to where to start, after rain caused a rise in water level. Where does rain come from? Up! I’d start there with a hose and a five gallon bucket. For example, tape off an area so that the test water is only applied to a very small space. Fill the bucket and pour it on the site. Test for effect or more precisely, how much of the five gallons can be found in the holding tank? Give the matter a half hour, because leaks sometimes run slowly. Also, it is important to be meticulous in only applying water to the target area, especially since liquids don’t always run straight down hill. Importantly, all roof penetrations should be suspect, including doors, windows, and awning attachments. Search Phred’s Poop sheets and “Handling Moisture in RVs.” After five RVs, I have come to the conclusion that loose or the wrong type of caulk is the most likely suspect for leaks and this is especially true on antenna installations and above an entry door that has pulled away from the wall over time. This situation can be remedied and if it were me, I would not go the storage area route. An experienced RVer would not let this test of his integrity be settled without a fight. And the only way to get experienced is to fail until you pass. Good luck.462Views0likes0Comments
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