We’ve only been on the road since Friday morning, but I feel like there is so much I want to share! In fact, I still want to share some of the neat times we had at Lake Ann Baptist Camp and with our friends there. Alas, time is marching on, and here it is Monday night and I haven’t even told you about Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island, and the Big Mac – the Mackinac Bridge. (Oh, and just so you know, it’s always pronounced MackinAW whether it’s spelled AC or AW). That area is the quintessent tourist mecca. It is the number one tourist destination in Michigan, and you’d be hard pressed to find any job in that city that is not tied into the tourist industry. Hotel, after hotel aside, it is a very picturesque area and well worth the visit. We took the ferry over to Mackinac (remember, say Mackinaw) Island, which likewise is lovely. No cars are allowed on the island, so we took our bikes (along with throngs of other people doing the same thing) and checked out this untouched by modern man island. Very very pretty – but very very pricey! We spent two days in that area – seeing not only the island, but also some of the historic forts and villages in the area. Sunday night we took a Vespers Cruise sponsored by the Resort Ministries. It was an exceptional 1 1/2 hour cruise under the bridge right at sunset. They share the gospel message in a very brief and not threatening way, and we were also entertained by a southern Gospel group – The Master’s Touch Quartet. They were great! It was an wonderful way to end the Lord’s day. I took many many wonderful pictures – but haven’t gotten them posted yet, so stay tuned for that!
Well, tonight we are still in Michigan, but what a different area this is! We crossed Big Mac, and headed north through the Upper Peninsula. It was beautiful countryside, but not very many people! We stopped at the Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point, near where the Edmund Fitzgerald sank (along with countless other ships). It was very interesting. And I got to stick my feet into Lake Superior (they went into Lake Huron earlier in the day!).
Today we also stopped at the Tahquamenon Falls which were beautiful. Again, the pictures will have to wait for another day (and faster internet connection!). And tonight we are in Grand Marais at a local campground right on the lake. It is very beautiful, but I can’t imagine how cold and blustery it must get in the winter! And talk about a switch from Mackinaw City….=) A gas station, two general stores, a local bar and grill, and an ice cream stand! They love tourists here too, though so we’re happy to share some of our tourist budget with them!
Tomorrow we continue east along Lake Superior and will be taking in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and maybe even another boat ride! We’ll see!
This is very beautiful country. Come and see for yourself! (I’d recommend summer!)

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(I just posted pictures from last weekend – fair warning to those of you with slow connections!)

Well, the second week of the project has drawn to a close. We have been blessed with beautiful sunny weather (although the area could really use some rain), lots of interesting projects to complete, and great fellowship. We ladies have set up our sewing machines in a room in the welcome center so we can spread out for sewing a variety of curtains, plus some of our own projects. That has been great! The guys are still working at the wood shop, and although the work is pretty repetitive, the shop has such cool tools that no one is complaining. It’s been a grand week!

And this weekend has proved to be likewise! Friday we all went on a tubing expedition. Yes, all eight of us oldsters climbed into big ol’ rubber tubes and floated down the Platte River right into Lake Michigan. It was a sight to behold! The day was sunny and clear – the water was warm and crystal – and we made it all the way to Lake Michigan (where the water turned significantly COLDER!!!). We can now officially say that we have swum in Lake Michigan. A good time was had by all!!!!
Today (Saturday) has been mostly chores – Gary has some projects he needs to get done before we head out next weekend, and I have laundry and housecleaning to do. Yes, it will be hard to leave this beautiful place and the dear friends we have made here, but on we must go. Lara is quite sure we’re never going to make it to California!

And yes, I’ll probably get this weekend’s pictures posted by next weekend. But, hey – did you check out the new grandbaby pictures? =)

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Well, we finally made it to the National Cherry Festival. The day was beautiful, the setting lovely, but we were just a tad bit disappointed by the Festival. It seems we did indeed pick the one day that had about nothing going on for activities. We taste tested all things cherry (from jam to salsa), watched a fun Lumberjack show, and chose not to hang around for the pie eating and pit spitting contest that was scheduled for two hours later in the afternoon. There really were lots of fun things happening during the Festival – we just happened to come on a “quiet” afternoon. Oh well, we can’t make it to every fun event on the calendar.

But Saturday was a different story. Saturday we enjoyed a picture perfect day at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan. My-oh-My – what a beautiful spot! There are these huge sand dunes (many of which you can climb) and beautiful lakes. We took a long walk through the dunes (boy, are we out of shape!), and just enjoyed the scenic drive through some of this beautiful countryside. And we ended the day with a piece of cherry pie (with black cherry ice cream) at the Cherry Hut – a local legend in Cherrydom. Yummmmm.
Well, actually we ended the day by playing a couple rounds of Pegs and Jokers with our SOWER friends.
Sunday we worshiped with our friends, ate a meal together at a local restaurant and then enjoyed a quiet afternoon in our air conditioned home. Since it was over 90 outside, that was a very good plan.

All in all – a lovely weekend in a lovely area. Good friends, good food, beautiful sights – all reminders of God’s wonderful blessings to us!

When I get to a fast connection I’ll get some pictures posted. Promise!

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The camp where we are working has a “Happy Camper Guarantee”. If someone does not have a good experience here and writes a letter explaining that “unhappy camper” experience, they get a full refund. From the kids I’ve seen this week (all 350 of them) and the kids we saw last week (all 540 of them), I don’t think this camp gives back much money!
The guys have been busy at the wood shop – and from a guy point of view it sounds like a pretty amazing shop. Lots and lots of great tools! Monday was a little different, though. It was a (much needed) rainy morning – in fact the power at the entire camp had been out for about an hour. Not a great way to greet the 300+ campers that were expected around 9AM. Well, the power came on and the rain stopped before any campers arrived. Gary and the guys got to drive tractors/trams to deliver the kids and their stuff to their cabins. I don’t know – Boys and their Toys – I think it’s gonna be a good month! (and next Monday they get to drive those fun tractors again!)

We “girls” are doing a variety of things. We’ve worked in the office, done some weeding and today we went shopping for fabric for curtains for the new health center. Three of the four of us are quilters, so yes, I think it’s gonna be a good month for the girls too!!!!

This weekend we head to the Cherry Festival. I know, I know we’ve already missed the cherry pit spitting contest and the bed races, but I’m sure they’ve saved SOMETHING fun for the last weekend. Aside for that rainy Monday, we’ve been blessed with great weather, so we’re looking forward to exploring this beautiful stretch of country. There’s lots to see and do – I’m sure we’ll have a great time!

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Yes, dear friends, this IS STILL Gary & Stephanie’s RVthereyet web page. Lara is working on making it better than ever – and I am trying to figure out how it actually works. Please bear with us as we work together to make it work! I’ll post insights on how to make it user friendly when I figure out just what those insights are!

For now, tho, we are really enjoying our time here at Lake Ann Baptist Camp, just outside of Traverse City, MI. This week is the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City (the 79th annual one at that!) and we are torn between going into town to check out the festival (and the extra 200,000 people) and staying here where it’s nice and quiet. Since the festival lasts all week, I think we’ll wait until next weekend to “do” the festival, and just enjoy the peace and quiet here. Actually, even that will end soon as 300+ campers are expected tomorrow morning. Ah, the beauty of summer camp!
This really is a lovely area with lots to see and do. We’ll be filling you in as the weeks go by about our happenings here.

But for right now, I just need to figure out just how this new website works!

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