Packed up and headed up the Upper Peninsula for Traverse City. We are booked there for 3 nights in the State Park. We had been booked for 2 nights, but we called and extended an extra night, as we figure between exploring Sleepy Bear Dunes and the city itself, we will need the extra night. Took Hwy 31 the whole way, about 165 miles north from Holland. Nice road, working its way mostly along the coast.
2011 Vacation Day 6 - Wednesday: Herman Miller day...
Up early, got the coffee going and a bite to eat for breakfast. Headed over to the comfort station to have a shower. As you are now well aware if you have been reading this blog, one of my ways to rate a campground is based on how they handle the comfort station. This one is just fine. What I refer to as indestructable. Very similar to how Ontario Parks has set theirs up.
2011 Vacation Day 5 - Tuesday: Such a pretty town... Holland
This morning we headed out for Holland State Park in Holland MI. Our main destination is Saugatuk, but there are no campgrounds around there to stay at. Holland is only a short distance above, so it will work out fine as a starting point. Holland is a Dutch town, found by immigrants from the Netherlands and their architecture and ambiance is Dutch. An easy drive, which took us about 3 1/2 hours.
2011 Trip 8 - Vacation: Michigan Royal Oak / Upper Penninsula / Lake Superior - Aug 2011
Day 1,2,3,4
Headed out on vacation Friday morning. We are driving to Toronto, actually Brampton, to attend the wedding of Dale's cousin's daughter. Took Hwy 7, then cut above the 401 to catch the 407. Smooth trip, not much traffic. Arrived at the hotel, got changed, then went to the wedding. It was held at a golf course in Brampton, and the ceremony was outside. It was a really nice setting for a lovely wedding. Great funny speeches, a great time for Dale to catch up with her cousins.
Saturday morning we headed to see my cousin in Burlington, before travelling to Michigan to visit my brother and family for a few days. As always, had a great visit there, lots of conversations, laughs and of course food and drink. Got caught up on all the news here.
Headed out on vacation Friday morning. We are driving to Toronto, actually Brampton, to attend the wedding of Dale's cousin's daughter. Took Hwy 7, then cut above the 401 to catch the 407. Smooth trip, not much traffic. Arrived at the hotel, got changed, then went to the wedding. It was held at a golf course in Brampton, and the ceremony was outside. It was a really nice setting for a lovely wedding. Great funny speeches, a great time for Dale to catch up with her cousins.
Saturday morning we headed to see my cousin in Burlington, before travelling to Michigan to visit my brother and family for a few days. As always, had a great visit there, lots of conversations, laughs and of course food and drink. Got caught up on all the news here.
2011 Trip 7: An amazing stretch of river...
Deep River - July 2011
Friday...
Another long weekend, gotta love em. Heading to Deep River this trip, as we will be seeing our friends Mark & Donna. They rent a cottage there every year, on a great stretch of the Ottawa River, boasting numerous huge tracks of white sandy beaches. Traffic really heavy, though not unexpected. We can see some storm clouds off in the direction we are heading, hopefully nothing too severe. Finally pulled into our campsite around 8:30, a slow trip.
Friday...
Another long weekend, gotta love em. Heading to Deep River this trip, as we will be seeing our friends Mark & Donna. They rent a cottage there every year, on a great stretch of the Ottawa River, boasting numerous huge tracks of white sandy beaches. Traffic really heavy, though not unexpected. We can see some storm clouds off in the direction we are heading, hopefully nothing too severe. Finally pulled into our campsite around 8:30, a slow trip.
2011 Trip 6: Back to our favourite County...
Sandbanks PP - July 2011
Thursday...
The yearly trip to Sandbanks is one of our camping season highlights, not only for the beach but because it is our yearly trip with our long time friends, Helen & Paul, and also our yearly reunion with long time friends Geoff and Joey who live in the area. The plan is for the six of us to meet on Saturday night at a local gourmet restaurant for dinner. Turned this trip into a long weekend by taking the Thursday and Friday off work. Always a good plan as it is a bit of a drive and the extra time is nice as there is lots to do in the County.
Thursday...
The yearly trip to Sandbanks is one of our camping season highlights, not only for the beach but because it is our yearly trip with our long time friends, Helen & Paul, and also our yearly reunion with long time friends Geoff and Joey who live in the area. The plan is for the six of us to meet on Saturday night at a local gourmet restaurant for dinner. Turned this trip into a long weekend by taking the Thursday and Friday off work. Always a good plan as it is a bit of a drive and the extra time is nice as there is lots to do in the County.
2011 Trip 5: Boondocking ... well, sort of.
Rollins Pond SP, New York - July 2011
Thursday, heading out.
Going to Rollins Pond State Park, in the Adirondacks area of New York. We have heard lots about this park, and the one right beside it called Fish Creek Pond. We booked Rollins as we have been told it is quieter and less busy, with no larger motorboats allowed on the lake, perfect for us and our kayaks. Should be about a 3 1/2 hour drive, although we tend take our time and explore the towns along the way. Heading out on the Thursday, which combined with the July 1 holiday, gives us a nice 4 day break.
Thursday, heading out.
Going to Rollins Pond State Park, in the Adirondacks area of New York. We have heard lots about this park, and the one right beside it called Fish Creek Pond. We booked Rollins as we have been told it is quieter and less busy, with no larger motorboats allowed on the lake, perfect for us and our kayaks. Should be about a 3 1/2 hour drive, although we tend take our time and explore the towns along the way. Heading out on the Thursday, which combined with the July 1 holiday, gives us a nice 4 day break.
2011 Trip 4: Paddle makes it good...
Lake Opinicon - June 2011
First trip this year with the kayaks. Pulled them out from under the deck Wed night and loaded them up. A little dirty from being under the deck all winter, but we will take care of that this weekend. We find the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is indeed magic. Always thought there was something super toxic in those things to allow them to clean the way they do, but in fact, that assumption is a myth. A little Googling discovered that they are actually a super fine micro pore abrasive. Literally scrapes the dirt off things. On a smooth kayak surface, they work wonders. Sorry, I digress...
Friday night traffic is light. Snacked on our sandwiches, a new routine we have we can just concentrate on getting set up when we arrive, rather than doing it while we are starving for dinner.
First trip this year with the kayaks. Pulled them out from under the deck Wed night and loaded them up. A little dirty from being under the deck all winter, but we will take care of that this weekend. We find the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is indeed magic. Always thought there was something super toxic in those things to allow them to clean the way they do, but in fact, that assumption is a myth. A little Googling discovered that they are actually a super fine micro pore abrasive. Literally scrapes the dirt off things. On a smooth kayak surface, they work wonders. Sorry, I digress...
Friday night traffic is light. Snacked on our sandwiches, a new routine we have we can just concentrate on getting set up when we arrive, rather than doing it while we are starving for dinner.
2011 Trip 3: It's a jungle out here...
Murphy's Point PP - June 2011
We were here, in a tent, probably 30 years ago. All I can remember about this Park is that we arrived on a Friday night in the pouring rain, and set up the tent, a big canvas one, by the lights of our little Honda Civic. I recall the entire weekend it rained, and that is all I remember. No recollection of the Park at all. Traffic was light this evening, sailed right out of the city no problem. This park is just past Perth, about an hour and fifteen away.
We were here, in a tent, probably 30 years ago. All I can remember about this Park is that we arrived on a Friday night in the pouring rain, and set up the tent, a big canvas one, by the lights of our little Honda Civic. I recall the entire weekend it rained, and that is all I remember. No recollection of the Park at all. Traffic was light this evening, sailed right out of the city no problem. This park is just past Perth, about an hour and fifteen away.
What's inside those wheel hubs?
The brakes were doing a lot of squealing this spring, so I figured it was time to take them apart and give them a good cleaning. Also a good reason to satisfy my curiosity about just how these things actually work.
Bought a little bottle jack to raise the Alto, as my attempts to use the screw jack from the Santa Fe proved awkward. A recommended purchase, for those times you need to use it to change a tire. This will make the job much easier. You can also see a small jackstand there, which is a wise safety precaution, and easy to keep in the car as well.
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Inside, it is pretty much a normal drum brake, except what expands the shoes is a magnet, rather than a hydraulic When energized by the brake controller, it grabs the inside face of the drum, and as it gets pulled along by the rotating drum, the lever the magnet is attached to, twists a cam which forces the shoes out to make contact with the sides of the drum. The more voltage applied, the harder the magnet sticks to the face and the stronger the leverage on the shoes. Pretty ingenious.
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When the drum gets pulled off the spindle, the outer wheel bearing, held in place by the spindle nut, comes out of its race. Lots of grease everywhere, which is a good thing. Next spring, the job will include a full repack of the bearings.
Bought a little bottle jack to raise the Alto, as my attempts to use the screw jack from the Santa Fe proved awkward. A recommended purchase, for those times you need to use it to change a tire. This will make the job much easier. You can also see a small jackstand there, which is a wise safety precaution, and easy to keep in the car as well.
When the drum gets pulled off the spindle, the outer wheel bearing, held in place by the spindle nut, comes out of its race. Lots of grease everywhere, which is a good thing. Next spring, the job will include a full repack of the bearings.
