Lake Huron Reprised

[daplumbr]

This week our second camping trip to Lake Huron was as good as the one in May. This time we stayed for 3 days at Port Crescent State Park, on Saginaw Bay at the tip of Michigan's thumb. A beautiful park tucked in the big oaks among the dunes. We had a site right on the beach and enjoyed sunsets out over the water directly in front of our camp. Our dogs enjoyed the long walk we took in the dunes and we found over 50 species of birds while we were there. The big show was a bald eagle harassing a hen mallard with 5 chicks just off shore from us. The mallard harassed the eagle right back, big time, and the eagle gave up. Lesson learned: don't mess with a mom and her kids. Our setup performed great (with the exception of the noisy A/C which I reported on elsewhere). We are starting to get into the rhythm of camping with our Camplite (named Merlin) and with traveling while towing. One thing different for us traveling now is we stop at roadside parks in pretty places to eat meals right out of the pantry/fridge we have with us. Pre-camper, we often ate fast food and treated travel meals as a necessity rather than as fun. We picked up a few extra pounds of sand at the park and every grain was worth it because it represented interesting walks on the beach or in the dunes. We're still hoping to do our 3rd Lake Huron camping trip later this summer. And speaking of thirds, Lake Huron is the 3rd largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world. We would really like to figure out a way to take at least one of our boats. At some point, we may have to get a small canoe to cartop. 

[spot1]

Great Report!!!!!

Sometimes we take our Kayaks camping (if it's not too long of trip), enjoy paddling!

[ammobob]

Looks so tranquil there. You gotta love it. Happy camping!

[dh50]

[quote source="/post/11996/thread" timestamp="1433581031" author="@exploringcarolina"]Great Report!!!!!

Sometimes we take our Kayaks camping (if it's not too long of trip), enjoy paddling!

[a href="http://s657.photobucket.com/user/vstromklr/media/2013/IMG_1886_zpsf481f060.jpg.html"]
[img src="http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu299/vstromklr/2013/IMG_1886_zpsf481f060.jpg"][/a]  Really captivating photo.  What time of day was it taken and where?  Someone in North Carolina has quite an 'eye'.  Nice![/quote]

[spot1]

Thanks, Taken @ Lake Wateree SP SC, site 19.

[kath]

[quote source="/post/11993/thread" timestamp="1433558406" author="@sandroad"]. One thing different for us traveling now is we stop at roadside parks in pretty places to eat meals right out of the pantry/fridge we have with us. Pre-camper, we often ate fast food and treated travel meals as a necessity rather than as fun. [/quote]Same with us!  I think we stopped three times today just to access the nice cold food in the fridge. What a pleasure!

[kath]

P.S.:  we have several kayaks for different situations, but the coolest one for traveling, when you don't want to haul something on the roof is this one:
http://www.rei.com/product/831522/advanced-elements-lagoon-1-inflatable-kayak#tab-specs

It fits nicely in the pickup bed, inflates in minutes, is really comfortable, and tracks decently for an inflatable. Wouldn't use it for a major kayak trip where you need to make distance, but it can't be beat for puttering around. It's lightweight and pretty indestuctible, too.

[whoofit]

Sounds like a perfect site and trip. Being right on water is second to none, we feel. I hope to someday experience your piece of our nation.

We too would like to take our kayaks or our canoe. We have rigid ones in varying sizes. I have been looking into ways of carrying these and haven't settled on one yet. We have no room left on our TV while towing. There must be a solution for the rooftop of the trailer with the addition of a ladder maybe. Trying to stay as soft-core as possible. With the number of kayaks we own I really don't want to buy another.

I have also looked into inflatable SUPs but good thick ones that track well, are supportive and are fairly light cost so much money. Some of these accept kayak seats. I think we may go for one to try.

[spot1]

Here's how we transport Kayaks on Thule racks:

[ammobob]

[quote source="/post/12093/thread" timestamp="1433857171" author="@whoofit"]Sounds like a perfect site and trip. Being right on water is second to none, we feel. I hope to someday experience your piece of our nation.

We too would like to take our kayaks or our canoe. We have rigid ones in varying sizes. I have been looking into ways of carrying these and haven't settled on one yet. We have no room left on our TV while towing. There must be a solution for the rooftop of the trailer with the addition of a ladder maybe. Trying to stay as soft-core as possible. With the number of kayaks we own I really don't want to buy another.

I have also looked into inflatable SUPs but good thick ones that track well, are supportive and are fairly light cost so much money. Some of these accept kayak seats. I think we may go for one to try.[/quote]Wonder if reinforcing the rear bumper and adding a kayaks hanging system would work? Similar to the bike racks mentioned in other posts. Can't imagine that someone doesn't make a receiver carrier for kayaks. We own a canoe we load on roof carrier of truck and have never owned a kayak so no real knowledge.

[whoofit]

Not sure there is a rigid kayak solution to fit our bill, Bob. I ordered this ISUP from Sea Eagle. It should fit the bill. If it works we'll get another. https://www.seaeagle.com/NeedleNoseSUP/NN126?keycode=GS&gclid=Cj0KEQjwhuqrBRCFuPz4ipOx5JIBEiQAZJ7F-jO7YIFFIQ22OqxGcMJUD6zbQ2zrlk9rDh5usAp_KMQaAhZJ8P8HAQ#NN126K_D

[daplumbr]

Looking forward to the report on the Sea Eagle! That one and the inflatable Kath linked to both look intriguing. We did look at Hurricane kayaks this week and both the Skimmer and the Santee Sport were pretty nifty, weighing in at only 36-42 pounds and cartopable while towing at less than 12'.  

[whoofit]

Looking forward to the report on the Sea Eagle! That one and the inflatable Kath linked to both look intriguing. We did look at Hurricane kayaks this week and both the Skimmer and the Santee Sport were pretty nifty, weighing in at only 36-42 pounds and cartopable while towing at less than 12'.  

[p]I'll try my best to do it justice. Some of those inflatables are pretty advanced these days with drop stitching and great materials. [/p][p]
[/p][p]We rented a rigid SUP 1/2 day this weekend on the ocean. We had a blast with it. Even the dog jumped right on, jumped off into the water while underway, and could climb back up on her own. I think it'll be a great addition to our present kayak/canoe options we already own.
[/p]

[daplumbr]

Photos of Port Crescent State Park, Michigan (Photobucket experimental)

Will attempt later.......