Scenic State Park, Bigfork, Minnesota

With the time change on my side, I arrived with time enough to set up camper and discover the state park that does live up to its name, Scenic State Park of Bigfork, Minnesota. The many rivers surrounding the park were partly frozen over in varying degrees but still beautiful.
After a brief hike around the park, I settled in for the evening to a relaxing dinner and went to sleep that night to the sound of rain pounding on my roof. only to wake up to snow. By mid afternoon most of the snow was gone and the sun made an attempt to come out, giving me an opportunity for a hike and some more exploring. My hike was short lived though, as I came across some Timberwolves tracks and even though I was told wolves fear humans, I thought better of continuing on alone. Tomorrow, Easter Sunday, is suppose to reach 62 degrees and Monday 65 with a slight chance of rain. I should be leaving for North Dakota in the morning.
I failed to mention that I am the only camper in the park that has 110 campsites, myself and a gray squirrel that probably doesn’t believe that he has company in April.  Photos to follow.  TC...

                                           Frozen lake Coon.

                                          Morning snow suprise.

                                      Timberwolves stopped this hike.

                                            Roosevelt at his best.

                                                            

                                                           

Traveling In Michigan

My visit with my friend Laura in Rockford was fantastic.  Three weeks of good food, conversation of the outdoors and the places we have traveled, hiking and fun.  Laura is a camper, hiker and outdoors person extraordinaire.  Her father is also a legend in the dog sledding community and Laura was kind enough to give me  a copy of his book "Tracks I've Left in the Snow".  Anyone who knows anything about dog sledding knows who Frank Howard Hall was.  Now deceased, his reputation and the many innovations in the sport lives on, as well as the love of the outdoors that he instilled in Laura.
From Rockford, I was to head north to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which interestingly enough is not part of Michigan at all, but part of Wisconsin.  It is only part of Michigan by it's attachment of the Mackinaw Bridge.
Because of a prior three day snow fall in the U P, all the campgrounds that I planned to stay in were closed, so I continued on Rt. 28 west until I arrived at yet another hotel for the evening in the small town Negaunee, where a warm room was waiting for me.  Negaunee is only about 149 miles to the Wisconsin border and my plan was to continue on 28 until it turned into Rt 2 through Wisconsin and into Minnesota  the next morning,and then a stay at the Scenic State Park in the town of Bigfork, MN. That entry to follow.  For now enjoy some photos of Michigan.TC...

                                                             

                                                                        

                                                         Laura

                                                Beavers at work.

                         Snow in April is not that uncommon in Michigan.                    

                                                                       



                  

                                                                  
                                                          

                                                          

Rockford, Michigan

                                                                                         
After 6 weeks in Rock Hill, South Carolina I was antsy for the road. The plan was to head up to Rockford, Michigan, passing through North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia,Ohio and into Michigan to stay with a friend.  With the threat of snow on the first night of travel, I deceided to do something I have not done in all my travels to date, that was to get a motel for the night, which I did in Athens, Ohio. I didn't want to wake up the next morning to the thought of packing the camper in the snow.  As it turned out it didn't snow, but it was cold, so it all seemed to make sense anyway. After a total of 838 miles I arrived in Rockford the next afternoon.  So far the weather has not been great and right now as I write this entry I am watching the snow fall, really hard.  According to the Weather Channel, more of the same, along with rain is to follow.  Speaking of weather, while planning my Canada trek west up to Alaska and into Denali National Park, I noticed in my camping books from the AAA that most of the parks from Ontairo to British Columbia do not open until May 1st. because it's too cold to camp.  So, as I am not going to stay in Rockford until May, I will look for camping in northern Michigan or maybe as far as the Upper Peninsula.  I have found several that are open all year and I am looking forward to enjoying them, if the weather breaks that is. Those entries to follow. TC...
                                                          
                                                                                                          

A Campground Visit From Family

I had the pleasant surprise of a visit from my daughter Lisa and my granddaughter Sydney here in Rock Hill, South Carolina. As Lisa in only 38 miles away in North Carolina, it was an easy ride for thenm to come and spend a fun afternoon. Pizza lunch with ice cream for dessert and then some fun on Lake Wylie, feeding the ducks, geese, seagulls. And of course the playground. Enjoy a few photographs. TC…

                                                                                                                        
                                       

And So It Begins

After three restful and enjoyable months at my daughter’s home, I am, as the Willie Nelson song goes, “On the Road Again”. The original plan was to stay with Lisa, Chris and Sydney till the end of March, but as Chris’s mom wanted to visit for a while and too enjoy her granddaughter and family, my room was no longer available. G-pa had to hit the road.
Rather than heading out for Michigan, where I will visit with a friend for a while and then up to Canada and west to Alaska, I decided to go to South Carolina and camp in a county park on Lake Wiley in Rock Hill for several weeks and wait out the cold weather up north. It’s been cold enough here so I could only imagine what camping would be like there. I am now comfortably dug in with full hook up consisting of water, electric, and sewer. A nice private view of the lake and a very reasonable daily fee of $10 may just keep be here for a good while.
My stay with family was wonderful, and as an added bonus Daniel and Ashley drove up from South Florida for a four day visit at Christmas. We even had snow for the occasion. As I have expressed before, my granddaughter Sydney is an unusual child, very bright, funny, determined and most adorable. She has captured my heart. I will miss her.
So, the plan is to head up to Michigan after my stay here in South Carolina then to Ontario and west through the other provinces in Canada consisting of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, north through the Yukon Territory, Alaska and Denali National Park for an extended stay as my final destination. Canada is packed with National Parks so finding an amazing place to camp should not be an issue. There are so many places I would like to see, but as I am not on a schedule and as I always say, “you can’t see everything”, I will fly by the seat of my pants and just enjoy what I can when I can. Stay tuned for entries to follow and enjoy with me my Alaska adventure, but for now enjoy some pictures of my stay in North Carolina. TC…

                                                      What a face!

                       Yes, that's correct, I am only three years old.               

On behalf of my country and all the little people, like me, I'd like to thank you for your interest and continued support.

                                              Playroom fun.

My birthday party at my favorite place.

For me?

You said THAT?!

Smile, you're on Sydney Camera.

Yes, we made that beautiful child.

                                    Family fun in the snow.

                                                  Lisa and Ashley.

                                    Daniel and Lisa.

                                                                    

                               Working on snowman with uncle Dan and Dad.

Ummm, he reminds me of someone.