Author: austinsonwheels

Tribute to Markin Glen

Indiana, Michigan Leave a comment

It is said you never really appreciate what you have until you lose it.  I think I did appreciate Markin Glen Campground while we were there.  We started this adventure there on May 8th and we ended our Michigan time there on October 9th.  Including the month that we camp hosted, we were there for 106 days during our 5 months of “practice” being full-time RVers.

Markin Glen has clean bathrooms and showers.  The sites are always checked over and mowed before the next camper comes in.  The staff were friendly and helpful.  The manager, Josh, is a great guy who takes his job very seriously.   He is always around to help with any issue and keeps the entire Markin Glen area in great shape.  Even when busy, he takes the time to chat with campers.  Just the type of person  you need to manage a park.

For us, we made some new friends that we saw numerous times at the campground.  They kind-of adopted us in their little group.  They even came to see us off when we left in October.  We have plans to see them again next memorial day weekend and share stories.

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Garry Judy Madelyn Millard

Because we enjoyed our time in Kalamazoo’s county park, we thought we would try one on our way south.  Driving into the park , I noticed the trees are larger here, and the park is much larger too.  The bathrooms are clean.  Showers are disappointing . As you push in a tiny button to turn the water on, it runs for a short time before it shuts off and you start the process all over again.  Not convenient but doable.

What I really notice is that the hook-ups for our trailer are on the cement slab of the trailer behind us.   That means as they walk out their door, our sewer hose is maybe 6 feet from their trailer door.  Oh yes, their picnic table is also on this cement area.  At the present time, we have no one on the left side or right side  of us.  But, guess what happens on the second day we are here.  Yes, we get neighbors to our right.  So now , we have a sewer hose about 6 ft from our trailer door.  And, yes, our picnic table is in this area too.  Guess we will be spending time inside the trailer and outside the park.

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After neighbors

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Before neighbors

Our kids have always said we started out in the Cadilac of campgrounds.  We knew that. But, I never felt it so deeply as I do now.

Keep it up Josh.  Your park is the best.

JA

Plans change, okay?

Indiana Leave a comment

The best laid plans of mice and men……..,  oh well!  Right from the get-go we were confronted with real life.  Plans to visit Jackie’s cousin in Illinois were withdrawn due to death of a close friend of the family and church he is pastor of.  We altered the plan out of respect for his need to spend time facing the loss and honor the friend.  We’ll reschedule a visit down the road. God’s plan trumps “mice and men” plans.

Implementing a plan change was complicated by the Covered Bridge Festival taking place in the western half of Indiana which left no room in the “inn”.  I selected Lost Bridge West State Park campground southwest of Fort Wayne. We traveled there by way of US 131, Indiana 5, and Indiana 105.

I began to notice a minimum of highway signs, businesses, and traffic as I traveled south along ever-narrowing roads.  Farms were right and left and fields were being harvested.  I felt grateful to the farmers who supply the food chains I partake of daily.

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Farmers first as I learn patience and appreciation

At our destination we selected a site near two bath houses, a water spigot, and on a high level gravel site.  With only electric hookup we’re learning to manage water and waste carefully to avoid unnecessary teardown and setup.

A teardrop rally group were camped nearby so we walked through the display of authentic restore and retro-repro trailers along with some cool tow vehicles.

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The next day we traveled to a site near Marion, IN to view a “reenactment” of a battle in the War of 1812.

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IMG_3697The location was well staged with period correct camps of the British soldiers, American soldiers, Native Indians, militia, villagers, and pirates along the Mississinewa river.   The battle was narrated as it smoked and blasted our senses.  A huge cast of performers and props made the well attended event take us to a place back in time.

Back at the state park we checked out the Salamonie dam that creates the lake we were on. Salamonie Lake Recreational Area is a multiuse park and pretty well maintained.  It served us well for our initial landing after finally launching into our travels.

-LA

Do we have a plan? Do we have a plan!

Uncategorized View all 2 comments

Many ask if we have a plan for where we will travel over the next two to three years and we certainly do. There’s an over-all plan developed through conversation, compromise, and common interests. There’s a logic to the plan based on typical weather and practical navigation. The plan is a guide that allows for responding to changes as needed. The near future is more fully planned in detail while the far future is a more general concept without specifics. So lets lay out the plan.

We will leave Michigan at the end of this week and head to Rockford, Illinois to visit with Jackie’s cousin and family. The next stops will be in central Illinois, southern Indiana, and Goodletsville, Tennessee. Exploring the Nashville area and enjoying the Grand Ole Opry are our intentions.

November will be spent in the Knoxville, Tennessee area with intentions to explore most of eastern Tennessee. December will include a jaunt to northern Georgia for a visit with friends and a couple of weeks in Michigan for Christmas gatherings.

January, February, and March are to be in central Florida in four different locations, including one near the house we had built when we lived in Florida from ’94 to ’96. We’ll also spend time with family and friends who will be in Florida when we are. Then the plan begins to become less defined.

We will probably drift out of Florida near the end of March and into Alabama and Mississippi by April. A slow trek to the north in line with weather trends will bring us back to Michigan by May. There’s a graduation to attend and relationships to relish and restore.

Sometime during June and July we desire to take a northern peninsula/northern Midwest trip returning to our hometown area for the month of August.

September 2016 should launch us into our long-awaited northeastern U.S. color tour through Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. We shall then travel through the Atlantic states checking out the eastern seaboard and the Civil War era sites. Weather will determine pace and positioning at times. Uncertainty begins to surface in the plan about now.

As we reach the south Atlantic we may head west to consider wintering in Texas. In the spring of 2017 we would follow the weather north through the states west of the Mississippi River, visiting relatives along the way. The fuzzy future looks like we may flow up and down the rocky mountain states, winter in the southwest, then explore the west coast states in 2018.

Are we there yet?

Whether the plan of travel continues remains a subject for another day.

-LA

Bittersweet

Michigan Leave a comment

 

Today has been a bittersweet day for me.  It is Sunday, October 4th.  We are set to launch (leave this area) on Friday, October 9th.  Four more days to get ready for this great adventure.  There is excitement building. However, there is also a sadness.

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First thing this morning we said our goodbyes to Crissa, Mike and Miranda.  They have been on the road for 5 years.  They don’t say goodbye, they say see you down the road.  Because our paths of travel are not going the same way for the foreseeable future, it was goodbye for me.  I should be used to this by now but I’m not.  It’s always sad to see them drive away.  I will miss them.

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After the first goodbyes, we headed to worship at our family church.  We have been part of this “church family” for over 38 years.  We have a lot of history there.  A lot of good friends. Pastors and their families that we love.   As I stand to worship and sing with our leadership band, it hits me again .  This is bittersweet.  I have grown to love our service band.  They are lovers of the Lord and they bring that passion into our worship every Sunday. I look around the room and see so many faces that are near and dear to my heart.  This is hard .  I know we will meet other believers as we worship on the road.  But, Brandon and Caitlyn, I will miss you and the band.  You have brought a new energy to worship for me.  Haven will always be our home church. I will miss you all.

Tonight, we had a delicious dinner with our close family Bob and Diane.  They are family (as in cousin’s of Larrie’s). And they are also part of our Christian family from Haven.  Our families have grown up together.  We have shared many ups and downs of life with each other.  And now, we are leaving for a period of time.  This too is bittersweet.  We will miss them along with other family members and gatherings.  In case you do not know it, you are both very special to us.  Please come visit us this winter in Florida.

Leaving Michigan to explore has been a dream of ours for some time.  I am grateful we are able to do this.  There is so much to see and do.  I know we will meet some great people if we just open our eyes and our hearts.  We plan to do both.  Still, you all have played an important part in our lives and we will miss you.

JA

PS… these next 4 days are filled with many activities to be ready to leave on Friday.  One of these things is to say goodbye to our other daughter Cathy , her children, Amber and Mitchell and a grandson in Holland, Harrison.  Talk about bittersweet.  Larrie, keep the tissues ready.

Markin Glen Camp Hosting

Michigan Leave a comment

In October of 2014 I mailed in an application to be a camp host at Markin Glen Campground in Kalamazoo.  Now that was positive thinking as we had not bought a trailer yet.  Still, we knew we were going to do this starting in May of 2015.  We also knew that there are only 5 1/2 summer months that they would need a host and they would receive a lot of requests . I think it was about March that we received a phone call from Josh, the campground manager.  He asked us a few questions and then said he had an opening for the month of August.  We happily said yes.

Markin Glen Campground is a county park in Kalamazoo.  It really is a hidden gem that many local people are not aware of.  The campground has 38 sites.  Every site has a cement slab, with full hook-ups.  The trees are on the small size, yet they do provide some shade.  Bathrooms and showers are kept very clean. Connected to the campground is a wonderful recreation area. It  includes a swimming lake, fishing area, tennis courts, 3 pavilions, and a black-topped path around the whole area to walk on. Even if you are not camping, you can pay a daily fee to come in and enjoy the park for the day.  Many people come to fish.  Although the swimming and fishing waters are on the small size, we have seen many people leave with some nice sized fish.  Another nice feature is the connection from the walking path to the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail.  If you like to walk or bike a longer distance, this is a great place to do it.

Your job as a camp host can be many different things depending on the park you are hosting at.  At Fort Custer State Park the host provides coffee on the weekends.  They also help with some fund raising by working on a pancake breakfast or a chicken dinner. Some parks provide children’s crafts on the weekends. Others, you help keep bathrooms and showers clean.   Our daughter’s family were camp hosts in a couple different states over the last few years.  They helped in the office, worked at the front gate, staffed a small museum, etc.

At Markin Glen your job is really very easy.  We walk around to meet and greet our camping “neighbors a few times every day.  If there is bad weather in the forecast, we let campers know where they can go for safety.  We “leave the outside light on” at night so if there is a problem, people can come to us for help.  Since the staff go home late at night, we are the come-to people for any issues or problems. That’s about it.

We did sponsor a children’s Nature Adventure on one  weekend.  Our daughter, Cathy, is a teacher at Western Michigan University getting her PHD.  She teaches science and provided kits for the kids to dissect owl pellets.  We had 20 kids and 10 adults show up and they all had a great time.  They also learned how to make ice cream which was a tasty treat.  That evening we setup a projector outside and showed a family Disney movie.  Overall, it was a fun time for all who attended.

We started this adventure in May camping at Markin Glen.  We have been here a lot of the summer and will probably end our Michigan time at this park.  Hopefully, we will be back next summer and can again host for the month of August.

JA

Every day life

Michigan Leave a comment

 

For those of you who have been following us …….I am sorry we have not written much on this site.

I thought when we started this adventure that I would have all kinds of fun, exciting things to write about.  The reality is , we really have not started our adventure yet.  Oh sure, we are living in our trailer and getting used to what works and what doesn’t work for us.  But, in real life, our life is still the same as when we were living in the Skyrise.  Larrie is still working 3 days per work.  We are still involved with our kids, grandkids, and extended families.  We still attend our home church and work on responsibilities there.  Our cars are still breaking down and need to go in for repairs.  The list could go on and on.  Not too exciting is it?

We have had some wonderful moments in these last 3 months.  Like the first rain storm we weathered through.  Rain hitting a metal trailer has its own sound.  A rhythm that is somewhat soothing .  Of course this  last storm had some pretty good wind gust .  And the thunder you could feel in the floor of the trailer as you walked.  Still, it was a new experience to enjoy.

Another nice part of this adventure is the new people you meet.  Local people , like us, who just want to get away from the busyness of life.  People from other states who tell us of their adventures in our beautiful state of  Michigan.  Sadly, they have seen places that I didn’t know existed  (we have started a list to explore next summer).   Back in May, over Memorial Day weekend, we camped next to  two  wonderful  couples.  They had camped together for over 30 years.  We shared a fire and they shared stories of their camping adventures.  We saw them  over the 4th of July and they are camping this weekend in the same park we are.  Again, we are welcomed in like family to share time and stories with them. Thanks, sites 22  and 38 . We look forward to meeting up with you in the future.

We are glad that we choose to live in this area for a season in our  “home on wheels” before we really hit the road.  There are a lot of new things to learn, living in a trailer.  How do we hook up the hitch and stabilizers? Who connects the water and electric? More important who connects the sewer? Where do I stand so you can see me when backing up and what hand motions help?  Remembering all the things to do before you hit the road is important.  Otherwise you might have to pull over on the side of the road , in the rain, and add the extra mirrors you needed (right Larrie?)

Overall, we are having a great summer as “Austins on Wheels”.  We know we are more than ready for the main event to begin.  In fact, Larrie is so ready that he is moving his retirement back a month.  We are trying to fit in as much time with family as we can.  We will miss them.

So, keep looking for a new blog.  The real adventure begins in just a few short weeks!   JA

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Wet

Michigan Leave a comment

Today it rains… again.  We have been in our home on wheels for 40 days now.  I think it has rained at least 30 of them.  Maybe more.  Some days have just been light sprinkles.  Others have been wind and pour down rain.  Either way, it’s wet!

Of course we are dry inside.  Not like those who drive in with the pop-up campers or tents.  I feel so sorry for them.  A short weekend to enjoy getting away from it all and out in “nature”.  They are smiles as they setup but by the next morning, when the rain is still coming down, the smiles are gone (we’ve been there and done that many times when our girls were young).

No, the rain is not getting us wet on the inside.  It’s just that I planned the lofty goal of walking every day. Anyone who knows me knows how hard that is for me to do. And did I mention I am a fair weather walker?  Maybe I need to just grab a hat and go for a walk…rain or shine.  We’ll see.

I know there are good things about all this rain.  The gardens we have driven by show plants coming up looking healthy and green.  When we look outside it is beautiful.  The trees , the grass, the bushes…everything is so green.  And the wild flowers are opening, some earlier than normal. They like the rain for sure.  At one park we watched the turtles enjoy a bath of rain.  Here, at Markin Glen, the swan sails across the water, enjoying the shower (or at least it looks that way).

I know when August comes, if it is anything like normal, we will be praying for rain.  The grass will be a little bit browned and the trees will lose their luster.  It will be hot, and even those who come to camp will stay inside with their air conditioners until evening when it might cool down.

So I guess I can take another day of rain.  I might not be able to sit outside and enjoy the view.  But, from my window I can still watch the baby bunny eating the clover in the grass of my yard.

We may have had a lot of rain but, it is nothing like a man name Noah.  For 40 days and 40 nights he  was cooped up inside a wooden vessel with no windows, lots of animals, family , and no air conditioning .  His rain was constant. At least we have had a few dry days and sunshine.  For this, I am grateful.

JA

A full day full-time rving

Michigan View all 2 comments

I spent the whole day at Markin Glen Park where we have been set up for a week. Reality is that transitioning to a new lifestyle is not instant and getting a chance to stay put for a day was a privilege.  It opened my eyes to the enjoyment and experiences ahead.

A leisure start followed by a day of just taking in and observing all that was around us gave a new perspective to our new “yard”.  Jogging on the adjacent trail was convenient and ended when I noticed a small snake while on my cool-down walk back to the site.

The rain subsided to reveal a very pleasant day.  We sat on “our patio” and just listened to the sounds of nature about us, then the sounds of people pulling in for the weekend.  All creation to appreciate if I’m willing.

-LA