Let’s see…last you knew I was hanging out in Mackinaw City waiting for it to stop raining so I could continue on over the bridge to my next adventure.

Yep, I was feeling pretty good. Almost kinda certain that I had gotten some decent Milky Way shots at my last location. Of course I didn’t really know, but was feeling good about it.

And I was so excited to be heading to a new (to me) location to find more dark skies. I had a campsite booked for three nights at Fayette State Park which is located at the bottom of the “Garden Peninsula,” a piece of land jutting down into Lake Michigan from the southern edge of the UP. Should be perfect, right?
Well…wrong. When I arrived at the park about 4 p.m. and drove to my site I found a very small site (not necessarily a deal breaker) that was entirely sloped, about the size of 2 cars, and totally a mud pit.

I sat there in the drizzle for the amount of time it took me to say”H*LL NO,” and then I drove the long 14 miles back up to civilization where I sat beside the road and searched the internet for a cheap hotel.

Along the way, down and back up, I did note that the Garden Peninsula itself was beautiful. With lots of barns and windmills and such.

So that made it a bit easier when I had to drive back down there again to formally check out of the campground that I never camped in so that I could get a refund for the other two nights.

A sixty dollar refund was worth the drive too. I should have just checked out the evening before when I decided not to stay but I was so freaked out by the campground I just ran.

I made reservations at another state park, Indian Lake, which pretty close to the town of Manistique. It was a much nicer place, with larger camp sites and grass. It wasn’t full my first night so I had a distant view of the lake, though the second night someone camped behind me. Still, I had plenty of room.

And it was only three miles away from the lighthouse where I spent a lot of hours waiting for a sunset and hoping for a chance at a decent Milky Way image.

Did I get that image? Well, as usually this post is getting too long, and I still have lots of images to edit. So I guess you’ll have to wait and see.

I just had another 2 hour lesson from my Milky Way teacher and I now know more about what I don’t know. I guess I need to get out there for another practice session!

Oh darn.
September 2, 2022 at 11:54 pm
Oh man… I remember those days of arriving at a campsite and… just. No.
Glad you were able to find another much more betterer 😉 one (and get a refund).
Look at that face on Harlo!
Can’t wait to see your even more magnificent photos.
LikeLike
September 4, 2022 at 3:50 pm
I think it’s particularly hard in a tent. Some sites just don’t work with a tent. Mud is one problem, sloping site is another…no place for tent AND car is a third issue so it wasn’t worth trying to make it work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Oh, I agree wholeheartedly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 3, 2022 at 12:43 am
Your posts are not too long! I love them. I sit here in the evening and look forward to every one of them. The more the better. Good on you for not accepting that mud pit as any kind of a campsite. That place was just dumb.
Oh, a delicious barn! And a lighthouse. And the Milky Way. And cows. 🙂
LikeLike
September 4, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Glad you enjoy them. I always think people get tired of reading about stars and barns and lakes. But maybe not.
LikeLike
September 3, 2022 at 12:21 pm
Oh, double darn! What one has to go through to just get a few pictures of the milky way. And barns. And another thing or two.
LikeLike
September 4, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Right? Such a sacrifice to go out there and find beautiful things! LOL
LikeLike
September 3, 2022 at 12:54 pm
I’m glad you backed away from that muddy campsite. Ick. Your photos of the countryside are a soothingly pleasant contrast to the aforementioned icky campsite. Nice doggo, too.
LikeLike
September 4, 2022 at 3:52 pm
Yes Harpo was a good boy. Though once when they forgot to hook him up to his line he popped into my tent to say hello while I was sweeping it out. We were both startled.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 3, 2022 at 3:23 pm
So sorry for that mud pit, but you seem to have made the best of things. I wouldn’t have stayed there either!
LikeLike
September 4, 2022 at 3:53 pm
It was disgusting. I stayed at a so so hotel…thought “OH GOOD! I can take a nice long hot shower!” But the hotel’s hot water didn’t work. Ah well…the next campsite had a great shower!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2022 at 6:29 am
I’m glad you were able to find a motel—that they weren’t all filled up. It’s also good to see you out exploring and taking beautiful pictures. I am downstate now visiting Mom and family and enjoying the beauty of the Thumb,
LikeLike
September 4, 2022 at 3:53 pm
I think I got the last room at the Econo-lodge! Nothing fancy but a place to sleep and no mud! I’m glad you’re with your mom! But apparently you’re missing some amazing Northern Lights up there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2022 at 11:17 am
Thank you. Enjoyed your post and it does look as if you are having a wonderful time on your adventure. I love seeing your photos.
LikeLike
September 4, 2022 at 3:54 pm
Thank you too! I’m always glad when people are having fun coming along on an adventure or two. Or three. Looks like there have been amazing northern lights since I’ve been home. Of course. But SOMEDAY I’ll have photos of those too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2022 at 2:53 pm
Harlo reminded you of the departed Princess, didn’t he? Gosh, your eyes must be leaking again. Camping, while fun for you, must bring back so many wonderful times with your girl. Just know she’s with you in spirit! Love the lighthouse and the barn — and I can’t seem to get enough of those wind farm thingies! I don’t blame you for fleeing that first site — and good for you, returning for your refund!
LikeLike
September 4, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Yes, most of the time when I’m camping now the neighboring sites have dogs and I’m wistful. Harlo seemed to want to come spend time with me. In reality I think he was just a regular guy who needed to keep watch on everybody anywhere near his people. He did come visit me when they forgot to hook him to his lead. I had two dogs on the other side of me too, also interested in what I was doing. I think their people were just boring and I was more interesting. My eyes leak every day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2022 at 7:11 pm
{{{ HUGS! }}}
LikeLike
September 4, 2022 at 2:54 pm
Glad you were able to find a better campsite. I’m sure you got some good pictures. I never did get to see the Milky Way this summer, the days are too long, I couldn’t stay up long enough.
LikeLike
September 4, 2022 at 3:58 pm
Well, there’s always next summer! I’m taking a class from a woman in Nova Scotia, she’s got to be further north than where you are, I think? ALl we have to do is find a location an hour or so near you and go shoot stars next summer! 🙂
LikeLike
September 4, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Actually Nova Scotia is further south than Ontario. 😊 When we were posted back to Canada from Montana, my dad would surprise our American friends by saying we were moving south. I’m thinking Hocking Hills in Ohio next year and places in between. Won’t be as long a trip because the Danube awaits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2022 at 5:41 pm
I have a friend who has family in the Hocking Hills area. Actually I have two friends with family there. It’s supposed to be beautiful. Hopefully dark!!! I bet we could find somewhere to see the MW there.
LikeLike