Ahhhh… I’m sitting here sipping on my water bottle this morning, the last piece of My Socialist Independence Day Vacation: it’s filled with the deliciously pure water from the D.H. Day Campground just outside of Glen Arbor, Michigan. Anne and I spent the past week there and I always return refreshed but also reminded that one of our greatest national […]

=10:00 a.m. on the Crystal River ====== When you arrive back in Glen Arbor, you see this on the side of one of the kayak liveries: Me and Eclectablog reader Lisa Nordby who works at the Cherry Republic ( yum) ====== Whale-watching on Lake Michigan with the Wisconsin Alps in the background. Only saw two today. And a proper one […]

Just outside of Cedar, 10 a.m., going in search of the Cedar Creek Just another day in paradise The Most Beautiful Place in America. ====== Found it: a natural cedar bonsai tree, sharing a stump with some moss and fungus. Just saw a river otter chomping on a crawfish. First one I’ve ever seen in the Lower Peninsula. ==== Coming […]

Click image for a larger version As I ramble about this most awesome place with my best friend, soulmate, lover and wife (all the same person, fortunately for me), I’m reminded that this this amazing place belongs to all of us. That’s the beauty and strength of the National Parks — they are owned by all of us collectively, a […]

Our first real view of Lake Michigan. Just north of Empire near North Bar Lake. A view north from the beach: Adding… Did I mention that they have 3G data coverage throughout the whole park? === Here’s the (only) sign that marks the trail to this beach: ====== North Bar Lake, just one small dune away from Lake Michigan. Click […]