Some Nostalgia and a Little Bit of Crazy

TUESDAY, AUGUST 6 –
From the Woodchip Campground in Byron Center, MI last Sunday [4^th], and by way of Rt. 131 N (through Grand Rapids) and I-96 W, I went back to the shoreline near Muskegon and turned southward once again on Rt. 31.

The highway eventually merged with I-94 W and I was passing signs for Detroit, Chicago, and South Bend – all familiar names and very much a part of my past.  We lived in South Bend from 1961-1968; I went to the Lutheran School for the Deaf in Detroit for one year in 1961; I went to a Yankees game in Chicago one day with Dad and [older brother] Welby, when I was maybe 12 or 13.  I also later saw signs for Indianapolis, and that’s where I spent five happy and productive years at the Indiana School for the Deaf.     

Spotting the telltale brown and white state park sign on the approach to Sawyer, MI, I was pleased to note that it was not yet noon.  At the entrance to the Warren Dunes State Park I was dumbfounded to see two long lines of about 50 cars.  This was totally unexpected!  Feeling uncertain and not wanting to get boxed in, I quickly turned around and kept driving on the Red Arrow Highway for about three miles.  STOP!  I told myself.  Stop and think about this.  Pulling into a gravel parking area in front of an antique store, I sat there for a few minutes.

Two points I considered:  Today is Sunday, a day when most people are not at work.  And those were all cars at the entrance; I did not see any RVs.  Isn’t it more than likely all those people are going to the beach and not to the campground itself?  Only one way to find out.  I turned back.

As it happened, there was a private RV Park across the road from the state park and I decided to stop there and inquire.  I first apologized to the owners for preferring the state park over their place, but they were A-OK about that and happy to confirm that those cars were indeed beach-bound.  The lady looked towards the entrance and with a flip of her hand said, “Oh, that’s not a long line at all!  Five minutes tops!”   

Now there were three lines and they did move quickly.  Those cars turned left to the beach and I turned right to the campground.  At the registration office I further discovered that there were plenty of spaces available.  I also learned that the campground is situated about a mile from the beach.  Not a problem.  I decided to pay for my site, grab a bite to eat, drive over to the beach for the afternoon, and then come back later and settle in for the night.

There was plenty of parking at the beach as well and that stretch of beach included a concession stand and a gift shop.  A high dune, dotted with people at the top, or working their way up or down, stood to one side and the beautiful blue Lake Michigan was on the other side.  The sun shone but it was also very breezy.  The red flags were on display, indicating hazardous swimming conditions.  There were people in the water regardless but I stayed on the beach with my book.   

Walking around later to take pictures and video, a series of flashing lights alerted me to the presence of several emergency vehicles nearby.  Unavoidably, I became a gawker and watched them rush to put two boats in the water.  Those boats ran, what I guess was a grid pattern, and then returned to the beach some 20 minutes later.  I don’t know what that was all about and didn’t linger any longer to find out.  It was 6:15 p.m. when I returned to the campground and this time there was a line of people waiting to go inside the registration office.  The first thing through my mind?  “Good thing you turned back when you did, MAP, ole girl!”

People on a high dune at the Warren Dunes State Park, Sawyer, MI

People on the beach, along with the ever present and food-seeking seagulls.

Just another view of Lake Michigan through my truck's window.

It turned out to be overcast, yet again, yesterday [Monday 5^th] but I’m very happy that I had a great beach day on Sunday at Warren Dunes - my final Lake Michigan state park in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.  I’m not finished with Michigan yet!  There’s the Upper Peninsula to visit later this month.

Getting back on the Red Arrow Highway, which soon became Rt. 12 S, I crossed into Indiana!  My first stop – the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Visitors Center.  They also have a WIFI hotspot so I lingered there for a while before heading out to the Dunewood Campground.  There are no hookups at this campground.  Reservations are not accepted.  It’s first come, first served.  You select your site and you self-register.  There were plenty of sites to choose from and, with my Access Pass, I got mine for $9.00.

The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, located between Michigan City (IN) and Gary (IN), is about 15 miles of beach, dunes, marshes, bogs, forest, and a wide variety of birds and wildlife make their home there.  There are eight access points to the beach and each has its own parking lot, the largest with 600 spaces and the smallest with 26.  The National Lakeshore also shares a section of beach and dunes with the Indiana Dunes State Park.  Unfortunately, there’s an eyesore right in the middle of this long stretch of shoreline.  Its name is “industry.”  There are two steel mills, a power plant, the Port of Indiana, and railroad tracks.  Thanks, however, to the diligence of long ago environmentalists and conservationists, and the wisdom of several state and federal legislators, much of this ancient and irreplaceable landscape was designated a national lakeshore before industry could do more damage.

Today, Tuesday 6^th, I took a route diversion from Lake Michigan (via Rts. 20 E and 331 N) to get a site at the South Bend/Elkhart North KOA in Granger, IN.  Shortly after I arrived I started doing some laundry, checked emails, and watched some TV.  I’ve relatives to visit in South Bend tomorrow!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7 –
Around mid-morning I got back on the highways that I had been on the previous day, reversed direction and drove towards South Bend – heading there to visit Uncle Bob (Mom’s brother) and Aunt Jan.  Since I was a bit early, I drove around and managed to find our house on Woodmont.  I traced the route I rode my bike on when I went to the drug store to buy Superman comic books or a chocolate soda.  Except for the Kroger, it’s all different now, what with all the chain stores and restaurants. 

I got to Bob and Jan’s by 1:00 p.m. and had a most enjoyable 90-minute visit with them.  They’ve lived in the same house for nearly 60 years - the same house where they raised all three of their children - and the familiarity of that cozy home was exceptionally comforting.  It was good to see them once again.

Uncle Bob and Aunt Jan, South Bend, IN.

Heading next for Chesterton, IN, I got there by way of Rt. 2/20 W and I-94 W.  The sky had been threatening rain all day and just as I got back on the road, it poured!  It was a torrential downpour my wipers were barely keeping up! 

Following the directions to the Sand Creek Campground I found a roadblock.  It was still raining and I was tired, mostly from the stress of driving in the rain and straining to read street and road signs.  My “grey matter” was all tuckered out and my sense of direction in this kind of weather usually goes kaput.  I looked around and decided I’d find help from somebody in the nearby Animal Hospital.  I found help alright and with new directions in hand, arrived at the campground in no time.  I was told to pick any spot on the big grassy field and just as I set up the camper and sat down at the dinette table, the sun came out.  It was late afternoon and the sun’s rays were angled just right it made the raindrops on the bright green grass and leaves glisten.  It was so pretty.  It was also short-lived.  There was a boom, I jumped, and it poured again. 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8 –
This morning I decided I had better go to a RV service facility and get the camper’s rear lights checked out and fixed.  I found out last week that not only was the right-side brake light still malfunctioning, the back-up light on the left side wasn’t working either.  The fella assisting me discovered that the plug for the back-up light had disconnected and the prongs on the plug for the brake light were dirty.  He cleaned both, we tested both, and they checked out OK.  No charge, he said.

Back on I-94 W, heading for Chicago, it wasn’t long before I was surrounded by trucks – more trucks than cars, it looked like!  Since I don’t have GPS, and I had a stop to make in Chicago, I accessed Mapquest online a few days ago and copied directions for the journey through this metropolis.  It was quite a sight, the Chicago skyline to my left and Lake Michigan on my right.  It was beautiful to see and I was so glad it was a beautiful day as well.  Not a drop of rain on this day! 

I was doing really well with my directions…until I missed a merge onto Lake Shore Drive, which follows the shoreline of Lake Michigan.  Now I was in downtown Chicago, me and my hulk of a truck camper among this tight horde of swarming cars and people!  Relax, Hon-Bun.  Just stay north and turn east towards the water.  Lake Shore Drive will materialize somewhere.

Back on track I soon reached Greenview Avenue, parked nearby (now that was a lucky find on this narrow one-way street!), rang the doorbell, and received a warm hello from Jakob, the Archivist at the Leather Archives and Museum.  He was expecting me, based on earlier email correspondence, either today or tomorrow. 

Traveling with me, from the very moment I left home on June 2nd, and securely tucked away inside my truck, were items I was now getting ready to pass on to LA&M.  There were materials my friend Philip wanted to donate and, knowing that I would be driving through Chicago on this camper trip, he asked if I would drop them off for him.  Additionally, since I was the recipient of leather and denim vests that had belonged to my deceased friends, Ernie, Bill, and Justin, I agreed with Philip’s suggestion that I donate these vests to LA&M as well.  I had had these pin-studded (and quite heavy!) vests since 2004 and parting with them today was quite emotional.  But they are now in good hands and in a good place! 

Jakob said I was welcome to see the exhibits in the museum – no charge!  So I walked around (and learned a thing or two, too!) and Jakob even showed me the [Staff Only] Archival area, including a room full of donated leather vests.  In response to my question about the pins on the vests, he said everything will be left intact, including the name tags.  Nothing will be altered, removed, or sold.  What a wonderful place and a fascinating visit this was!  Thank you, Philip, for the suggestion! 

On my way once again, and looking for Sheridan Road, road construction screwed me up and I was making a series of wrong turns here and there.  I also had a hairy moment when I approached an overpass that measured at 12’6” – the height of my truck camper comes to just under 12 feet!  On Sheridan, finally, it was a most lovely drive – long and winding through Chicago’s northern suburbs.  I couldn’t see Lake Michigan but it didn’t matter because I was treated to miles of big, beautiful homes along both sides of that road.  They looked like mansions really!

I soon reached Zion, IL and got a site at the Illinois Beach State Park.  I’m now on Lake Michigan’s western shoreline where, instead of the sun setting below the water, the sun rises above the water.  To see that, I will have to get up early.  I’m not too sure that’s gonna happen for this non-morning person!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 –
Aw, I missed the sunrise…by about an hour, give or take.  It was about 7:30 a.m. and at the beach there was me, some folks walking their dogs, and several small groups of teenage runners and joggers.  There was also a man close by who might have been their coach.  A summer camp group?  High School track hopefuls?  I don’t know but I enjoyed watching them sprint on the sand.  

Lake Michigan's shoreline on the Illinois side; Illinois Beach State Park, Zion, IL.

Early morning sprinters, graced by the morning calm of Lake Michigan.

I learned something yesterday.  When I registered for my site at the state park I asked the lady in the office if she knew whereabouts in the area I’d find a WIFI hotspot.  She said McDonald’s.  Dang!  All this time I’ve been traveling and McDonald’s is everywhere!  I had no idea!  Yesterday I had a Chocolate Chip Frappe while checking my emails.  It was pretty good.  This morning I had a mocha coffee.  I really should avoid the stuff at fast food places so maybe Diet Coke should be my beverage of choice in the future. 

I got the truck fueled up and then about 10 minutes later, on Rt. 32 N, I crossed into Wisconsin and headed towards Milwaukee.  Route 32 cuts right through Milwaukee’s downtown and northern suburbs and this turned out to be one wild drive.  The streets in Milwaukee are in terrible shape and my zigzag of a route took me through an assortment of potholes – some patched and some not - road detours, road work areas, bumps and more bumps, parked cars and bicyclists on MY lane, a raised drawbridge, and one overpass that measured 12 feet plus some.  YIKES, but I made it under and through that one and, once my heart steadied, yelled at myself “Don’t do that again!”  I drove as slowly as I could and hit the brakes many times, but every friggin’ bounce made me cringe.  I was muttering under my breath – “I’m sorry, Truckie.  I’m sorry, Lancie.  You’re crazy, Mappie!”  On the plus side, I got to see downtown Milwaukee and many more big beautiful homes north of the city…and the occasional glimpse of Lake Michigan off to the right.

Eventually, I got on I-43 N and then Rt. 33 W, heading for West Bend, WI.  As I had done on so many weekends in Michigan, I decided to do the same this weekend - leave the shoreline and stay somewhere inland.  I have a site for tonight and tomorrow at the Lake Lenwood Beach and Campground, in West Bend.  Their lake looks like a pond to me, but they have a beach!