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The cityscape picture is us going through Chicago en route to Warren Dunes State Park (where we were 10/23 - 10/25 of 2018) - site of the great sand dunes. You'll note in one of the pictures that we can dimly see Chicago across Lake Michigan. Then, we drove across to the southeast of Michigan where we stayed in at the Sterling State Park in Monroe, south of Detroit. This is where all the Canada geese spoiled the beach on Lake Erie! We went to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn (near Detroit)
We gave pretty short shrift to places that would have been fun to explore - Chicago, for instance - as we hustled home through increasingly cold, rainy weather and campgrounds that were closing up as winter approached. Our time at Warren Dunes State Park in Sawyer, Michigan was a happy respite weatherwise - we had a sunny, warm-enough day to climb the huge sand dunes that make up the entire coastline, and frolic on the shores of Lake Michigan. Driving westward on route 12 took us to through shoreside towns with swanky lakeside houses and fun watering holes like The Stray Dog, where we stopped for lunch, a beer, and this picturesque view across a protected little harbor. http://thestraydog.com/w7vw1r66wq7c5vw2g3fq4lyxvxlwjd
Man and beast are both equally surprised by the mysterious stick levitating before their very eyes.
The path from the campground to the lake shore. The dunes here are high, wide, and often tree- or grass-covered.
We crossed southern Michigan and stayed at the Sterling State Park in Monroe, Michigan, a bit south of Detroit . Beach frolicking on Lake Erie was not on the agenda, both due to the rainy, cold weather and the masses of Canada Geese... 'nuff said, right? But this area afforded the highly recommended Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, where you can see everything Americana from the Oscar Mayer Wiener mobile to the JFK car to Charles Kuralt's On the Road bus to Buckminster Fuller's Jetsons-like Dymaxion House. Be sure to allow a LOT of time for this great museum!
If this picture allows closer inspection, you will see that *none* of the geese are wearing diapers. All animals in nature should wear diapers. That's just obvious.
Would we come back?
Would we come back?
We would definitely come back. Lakes are good. We like good things. Lake Erie is a lake and therefore something we like. QED.
Warren Dunes State Park was interesting and an education in itself about the geography of the Great Lakes but it almost doesn't count as a park on the lake because the lake is such a hike from the campsite. Still, if you accept that, it's a fairly typical state park, with a reasonable amount of space between sites. Nothing special, though, except for its location by the dunes--which you cannot tell are dunes to just glance at them, by the way. They are disguised by trees, even mature trees, and shrubs and grass. The trail to the lake has been cut through to the sand by many hikers, though, so you eventually figure out that you're hiking across a giant dune.
Sterling State Park was right on the lake. So much so that it was easy to imagine the wind pushing enough water onto the shores to flood our camp site. No actual flooding occurred except in my late-night imagination as the onshore wind shook the trailer. It was a nice park. Very flat, and the sites were a bit crowded for a state park, but I imagine lake shore real estate is at a premium so close to Chicago. And if you want to be right on the lake, Sterling State Park puts you right there. And... OK, I'm just going to say it. The other author of this site has skirted delicately around the... the "Goose Problem." Due to my noble dedication to Journalistic Truth, I am forced to be less delicate and just say it. Pippi eats goose poop. There. I've said it. It's like ice cream to her, but maybe better. So it was hard to take her on a walk to do her business. Who has time for that when you've been dropped into a veritable field of ice cream? Dog walks were... difficult. Nice park overall, though, except for the site density.
Would we live here?
Would we live here?
Speaking broadly of this entire area, including Chicago, we have discussed spending the Spring and/or Summer season on one of the Great Lakes. So seasonal living is a possibility, but the winters there come with a lot of snow and not enough hilly country to ski. Generally, though, when we discuss places to live, the Chicago area is still pretty far from entering into the conversation, even though one could definitely do worse.
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