Trip #4d Warren Dunes State Park, MI (27-30 Aug 2017)

A bit about travel

Warren Dunes State Park is about a 280mile drive from Alum Cave, a manageable distance but getting closer to my person limit. You learn as you go what your limits are in the RV(ing) world. Everything is different than your normal driving experiences. During some of our pervious trips, I was pushing to drive longer distances more in the 400+ mile range and driving pretty close to 70mph when possible. It’s just a hold-over from driving without a trailer. You start to come to grips with a significant increase in stress during driving. Then after a long driving you’re backing a trailer into a camp site. I now drive closer to 60mph max, and limit driving time to 6-7 hours. Therefore, as part of planning process we try to ensure no-back-to-back long driving days as well.

We pick Warren Dunes to get on the western side of Michigan along the Lake. The park had some nice reviews about their hiking trails, and a dog friendly beach section. We found the park to be incredible with lots of wonderful white sand dunes. Great beach and lovely weather with a refreshing 71deg water temp. It was a great start to an amazingly beautiful state.

The Beach Trail started from campground with a steep climb up to the top of a dune.

 

Looking down from the top of the dune. Really hard and sleep ramble to the top.

 

 

More views along as we hiked to Lake Michigan 

Pippy, a day on the beach

Trip #4c Alum Creek State Park, OH (25-27 Aug 2017)

After departing Jackson Center, we decided to spend a couple days camping and exploring a state park just north of Columbus. We our Airstream back around 3pm that Friday paid the bill and drove the 70miles to Alum Creek. Alum Creek offered a top notch mountain biking track of about 6miles, DISC golf course, and some nice trails. Our campsite was very nice and close to the creek/reservoir.

Very challenging Mtn Biking trail we rode on Saturday. As a whole maybe not a must revisit park or location, but help us create a great starting point for the journey to explore Michigan. We got an early start Sunday for the 280mile drive to Warren Dunes State Park located in the SW corner on Lake Michigan.

Trip #4b Airstream Plant @ Jackson Center, OH (22-25 Aug 2017)

After having the camper out for a bit last April, we decided to take to the factory for repairs to external seals, the door, and ties. We ended up have a few additional items added. We were scheduled for one full on Wednesday the 23rd, but ended up extending until Friday. Great service department with everything getting resolved. They provided a RV camping facility where each morning around 7am they would pick-up your camper do work on it that day then bring back so sleep right there.

RV Camping Area next to the plant

 

Some many Airstream including some of the first

Hanging out around Jackson Center favorite location town of St. Marys for walking, exploring and DISC golf.

  

Trip 4a Total Eclipse viewing, TN (19-22 Aug 2017)

What an epic events, seeing Totality ranks at the top of any natural phenomena I've experiences. Next up, Northern Lights maybe this trip to the UP. Mickie and I were hosted by Will (number one son) who grilled and provided timely technology point for remote TV/Movie viewing as travel in our RV.

Drove and parked Airstream in front of Will's house in Lebanon. Relaxing with Will and Brady with a visit the Wilson County Fair included.



Saturday night at the Fair

A few of my photo attempts not easy to capture. It's best to observe and taken it all in. Next up 2024