End of the Month Catch-up

I'm back at the Lake Michigan Recreation Area for the week leading up to July 4th boondocking in some great weather, although kind of warm.  I originally reviewed the Rec Area here:  Lake Michigan Rec Area Review .

Lake Michigan

I got here early and snagged the last campsite that has open views of the sky with only a few blocking trees so solar and DISH TV are both working really well!

Even running the DISH and TV while charging my phone the battery stays at 100%.

On a sadder note my 35 year old Ibanez electric guitar finally gave up the ghost.  I loved that old guitar but over 35 years I really beat the Hell out of it.  So I got a new one!

It even came with a nifty guitar stand.  Thanks Amazon!

This campground is one of my all-time favorites and it's pretty packed which isn't surprising given the holiday next week.  My campsite is nicely isolated from the sites to either side so I can't see or hear my neighbors which is great.  You can even get decent Verizon reception if you use a cell booster.

Part of the Manistee National Forest.

Thanks for reading!

Breakfast at Big D's Pickford, MI

I'm spending a week at the Glen Gough Memorial Park in Pickford, MI.  I previously reviewed the park here:  Picford Township Park Review.  When you stay in Pickford eating at least one breakfast at Big D's Diner is MANDATORY.

The Meatlover's Omelette!  About a pound of goodness.

One of the daily specials is the Meatlover's Omelette which must have at least a half pound of cheese, meat and eggs in it -- I challenge you to finish it!

As far as I got.

Fortunately Big D's provides "To Go" boxes because as you can see I have another meal left over.  Diet, what diet?

Thanks for reading!

Campground Review: Midland County Fairgrounds Midland, MI

When I visit my family in Midland, MI I used to park the Mini at the Four Seasons RV Park and bite the bullet and pay their $38 per night camping fee because there really isn't a lot of RV parks in the Midland area.  This year I wanted to visit my Dad for Father's Day so I did some research on non -$38 per night venues and found that the Midland County Fairgrounds charged only $20 per night so I tried the fairground camping out.

87 degrees!  So much for escaping the Southwest heat.

The RV sites at the Fairgrounds are informally laid out on grass pull-thru's where the electric hookups are supplied by centrally located poles where about 6 to eight receptacles are hung.

The Mini parked near a "power pole", water is available from spigots like in the foreground.

Here's the Midland County Fairground data sheet:

Hookups:                                             20, 30 & 50 amp, water                                             

Fire ring:                                              No                                                                              

Water Access:                                     No                                                                  

Fresh Water:                                       Yes                                                     

Trash Service:                                     Yes                                                                 

Toilets:                                                Yes                                         

Showers:                                             Yes                                                     

Dump station:                                      Yes                                         

WiFi:                                                    No                                          

Level sites:                                          Yes                                         

Laundry:                                              No                                                      

Store:                                                   No (Across the street from a Mall)                            

Pool:                                                    No                                          

Shade:                                                Yes                                         

Verizon reception:                               4G, 4 Bars                                          

Internet reception:                               4 bars

Cost:                                                    $20 per night

There are several very well cleaned bathrooms around the Fairgrounds, one has showers for campers.

The flower-lined shower house at Midland County Fairgrounds.

As I mentioned in the Data Sheet you could not be any closer to shopping when you stay at the Fairgrounds, the Midland Mall is right across the street along with a Walmart, Home Depot and a bunch of other stores.  The Fairgrounds is also only about a half mile from my Dad's house so that was also convenient.

The campground office is thru the glass doors then immediately left.

The county really does a nice job of keeping the Fairgrounds up and litter free, it really enhanced the camping experience.

Even the Dump Station is lined with flowers!

I enjoyed my 3 days camping at the Midland County Fairgrounds and I enjoyed saving $54 dollars over what I would have spent at Midland's "other" RV park even more.  The Fairgrounds is now my default Midland campground!

Thanks for reading!