Michigan Folks

“Sunshine -

Keep me and my pary in mind for Isle Royal next year. That's on our list for next year.

Everybody else -

Have fun and be safe. Good trails to you all. Again, sorry I can't make it. Also, let's keep in mind a the Manistee River trip in late summer/early fall!”

“Hyper - I called Brighton Rec. They said it wouldn't be a problem for the first person to arrive to "hold" the five sites. This way we can try to have five together.”

“Hey ... this sounds like fun. Looking foward to meeting everyone.”

“Le Subtil, that's great you'll have your daughter and friend, but now you'll need LOTS more chocolate! Have fun you all, I wish I could go.”

“LOL LyndyS! I hear ya! I'm gonna run out and buy more cholcolate and lots of chips & dip. :o) Too bad you can't come. Where are you located?



laqtis, Sounds great! Have you ever used Maptech software? I bought their Isle Royale package. I haven't downloaded it yet but will soon. I should be able to get great maps and info from it. I can e-mail you info if you'd like but I'm not sure if you need the software to receive a map. I'll check it out.”

“Sunshine, in NJ. We almost moved to Michigan, though. I liked the Saline and Ann Arbor area, but my husband transferred to a group that stayed in NJ. Now the Houston area or Raleigh area are possibilities. We never actually move, but are always waiting for the rumors to materialize. The slow economy means things will be quiet for a while.”

“Bummer, LyndyS, you would have been my neighbor. I drive through Saline all the time to get to Ann Arbor.

Oh, BTW, no bears around here - at least not yet.”

“Maybe you have lots of current farmland, not farmland trying to be forest, lol! You all sound very nice.”

“Actually, yeah, farmland preservation is the big deal around here.

But almost all current Michigan forest is second-growth from 100 years ago. A few years ago, a bear made it to Clarkston - in the suburbs of Detroit.

We have real problems with deer and turkeys.

Come on, LyndyS, reconsider. We'll leave a lighthouse on for you.”

“General Custard - Glad to hear you're coming as well. Hope to see you guys at the campground.

RL - when did we have a bear in Clarkston??”

“Tarabull,

It happened two or three years ago. The bear (all natural, not an escapee) apparently followed the I-75 right of way into Clarkston from farther north.

After neighbors called the DNR, they set off after the thing. It made it all the way to the tip of the thumb before being caught and relocated to northern Michigan.

This isn't really that crazy. Bears are occasionally seen just north of Grand Rapids and Lansing. As they expand their range, it'll be interesting to see how we live with them.

More stories:

Someone let a 7-foot alligator go in the Maumee River near Toledo earlier this year. Police said it would be too hard to find and didn't look for it. A woman with expertise in these things when out in a rowboat and caught it underneath the I-75 overpass with a friend.

Oh, and a bear got loose from captivity last year here in Lenawee County. For a week, the thing nosed around neighborhood garages until it was recaptured. It made my heart proud to think a bear was out there.

Oh, and in the last year or two, a wolf was hit by a car on I-94 between Milwaukee and Madison, WI. It had a tag that said it came from the UP of Michigan.

You never know what might be out there.”

“I called Brighton. The ranger said that the horse trails were for horses and the bike trails were for bikers.

I wasn't satisfied with the answer, so I called the DNR Parks & Rec. Division and they said that pretty much all trails are open to hikers. Hiker ethics, anyone?

Oh, and I found out from a mountain biking bulletin board that the Appleton Lake loop exists as a renegade trail near the campground. I believe it's 5 to 7 miles. So, no rules? We can hike there.”

“Sounds good to me!”

“I'm wondering if five sites are gonna be enough what with their crazy 2 adults or one family rule? I got the reservation cards in the mail today. After all the hubbub about having to have seperate adult names for each site they assigned them all in my name! We'll probably be getting out there around five. If anyone gets there before us and can't get their site because of the name deal try mine...Joy Harvey.

We're having a hard time finding a dog sitter for the night. Hyper might end up coming out later than Abby and me. It's also possible that we won't be hiking with yall. :( I'm afraid if we bring them along they'll flip out and make everyone's time utterly miserable. Who knows, maybe we'll try it. Worst case senario we drive them home and come back out.”

“To help with the campsite dilemma, The General and I will not be there Friday night, we'll hook up for the hike on Saturday morning. I know there are some that aren't camping on Saturday night, so hopefully this will even things out.”

“Did you reservation card say 2 adults per site? Usually, the state park rule is 4 adults (two tents) per site. If it's 4 adults per site, we shouldn't have any trouble.

Did we agree on a time for the hike? 11? 10? Will 11 be easier for you out-of-towner who aren't coming till Saturday morning?”

“Buddha, General - don't stay back on Friday cause of the campground issue. We can always reserve another site.”

“We don't want to arrive at midnight, and make a ruckus setting up our tents. We figured all the kids would be sleeping by then, and didn't want to wake them up.”

“My 13 yr old kids would scream bloody murder if I had them sleep by midnight LOL.”

“Buddha - Do what you want. But, we'd be happy to have you at any time!

I, for one, will probably still be hanging around the campfire at midnight.

Which reminds me... I will see what I can do about firewood. Not sure I can fit too much in my car. Any of you other locals have any firewood you can bring? (And the right transportation to bring it in) I really hate to buy it. It's way overpriced, usually. Just a thought.”

“Hey, there is a volunteer trail trimming event at 9:30AM at the Bishop Lake/Penosha Trailhead (Brighton) on Saturday morning.

It's sponsored by the MMBA (Michigan Mountain Biking Association). It'll probably be on the designated mountain bike trails, but who knows.

Would anyone be interested in creating some goodwill with the mountain bikers?

BTW, I hiked in Brighton today. The Penosha took about 2 hours to hike. It was a pretty easy hike, with average forest scenery. The horse trails look interesting. The bike trails might be dangerous on a weekend.

There are, of course, lots of other trails in the area.”

“I'll bring the wood. Look for the van with a tree strapped to the top of it. That'll be me.

Just kidding. I'll bring wood. I just have to remember to pick it up.”

“We've got some nice seasoned maple. We'll bring a bunch. We're gonna end up taking two cars so there'll be plenty of room.

The cards don't specify how many adults per site. When I made the reservations the dnr rep said that two unrelated adults may share a site or one family. I wonder how closely they watch that type of thing? We could all become relations. It'll be one big reunion! Long lost relatives?

Budda Bear, Abby'll sleep through just about anything. Pull in when ever ya want, we'll make room.”

“If you see a Ford F-150 pullin' up with some Replacements blarin' from the radio, that'll be me and the General. We may come, but it'll be a surprise.”

“I'm ready for this. I wish it was time to go now. I wanna get out of this !@#%^ cubicle and into the woods.

I haven't car camped in a long time. It'll be nice to dust off some of the old heavy camping gear.”

“LOL Le Subtil, I haven't car camped in three years. I actually invested in lawn chairs!

Say little prayers for me. So far this week...

Sliding door came off van.
Battery died.
Today, replace starter??

My sister is sending me off with her cell phone. Let's hope I make it. :o)”

“I am all for early in the morning to o a hike, we will leave here quite early, It is now me roomate and cousin going. I got off work woohoo! we will be at the campsite around like 9:00 am I look forward to meeting you all!”

“Ditto Le Subtil. I'm ready.

Sunshine - where in the UP are you? I may be in Marquette for business in mid-October. If I do go and you are close by, I may want to borrow you for a day hike or something!”

“tarabull, Sunshine's in the Keeweenaw, about as far from Marquette as I am. If you will be there on a weekend, let those of us in the vicinity know, as I am a former resident frequently back in Marquette to visit family (still have a family house there). There's a nice hike up to the top of Hogback Mtn. (sometimes spelled Hogsback). It would be great in October. Downwind Sports on 3rd Street is a good place to go for info and gear. Any other info on Marquette needed, give a holler.

If the days are right, it could be a good Yooper TT event.”

“Thanks Pekka. I will let you guys know if it comes to be. It is a tentative meeting as of right now. If it does happen, I THINK it will be on Oct 17. So I would plan to spend the following weekend.

BTW Pekka - where are you in WI? I'm looking at a map right now and am curious.”

“Rhinelander. Right on the Wisconsin River. Just about 50 miles south of Sylvania Wilderness/Watersmeet, 55 miles north of Wausau.

I make it to Marquette in about 2 1/2 hours on a good trip, 3 if the weather or traffic or deer are bad.”

“I've washed the dust off the iron skillet! smokey links and bannock for breakfast! found someone for dog sitting. all 3 of us will be there around 5. cannot wait!

Sunshine and Lesubtil, look out! Hyper had a brilliant idea for next summer and it involves both of you.”

“All packed here. What's a bannock, no, don't tell me - show me on Saturday.

I'm looking forward to that hike, and possibly helping the mountain bikers.”

“Reformed Lurker:

Still planning an early morning hike on the 17th to see the Tall Ships?

I found their website and they won't be going through the Straits until about 2 weeks after that.”

“I'm hiking Wednesday morning. But, Pekka, if I were you, I'd wait to see them near the Straits.

Pointe Mouille is nice for Detroit area - I was out there today - lighthouse, freighters, Detroit skyline, and I got buzzed by a bald eagle. But, you can find better and closer places.

I actually will probably be up north when they pass. I have a conference in the Soo from the 29th to Aug. 3. If you want to get together, I'm game.

BTW, I scouted Appleton Lake campground. It's pretty good and rustic. There are showers at a different campground. There is a beach nearby and a boat launch. Oh yeah, bring lots of BUG REPELLANT. I'll probably be there by noon.”

“I heard a blurb on the radio that the tall ships are coming to Bay City also - just down the road from me. Didn't catch the date, but I'll find out and post it later.”

“I'm working on my "pathetic" look to try and get my boss to let me leave early today. I'll ask right after they hand out the paychecks LOL.

Got the food all
packed ready and to go. Just need to throw it all in the truck and hit the road...”

“lol le Subtil! I take it you are a programmer (based on Phil's Phot Page & some of your posts)”

“Actually, that pic was taken at the High School computer lab during open house. My kid was playing with their digital camera. That's the only self-pic I could find. All the photos I take are of scenery more pleasant than my own ugly mug.
I design industrial machinery. I split my time between hardware and software design.”

“Yippee. I'm leaving work now. Gonna go pack up the car/dog/etc and wait for John to get home. We should be there around 7 - 7:30

See you kids tonite!!”

“Somebody leave a sign for us that it is the TT group. We don't know what anybody drives or looks like! I will be in a 92' Dark Gree Ford F-150.

See ya there!”