Aishling the Airstream Update No. 81

 Tee Pee Campground

Mackinaw City, Michigan 

Buckle Up - this may be a long one...

 

From the internets: "A family owned private campground overlooking the Straits of Mackinac with spectacular views of the Mighty Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island, and Great Lakes Freighter traffic. We are just minutes from Mackinac Island Ferries, downtown Mackinaw City, public Beaches and Dunes, Dining, Shopping, State Historical Attractions, the retired Ice Breaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum... Day trips are easily planned to Mackinac Island, The Soo Locks, Tahquamenon Falls, Whitefish Point (Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum), Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Oswald's Bear Ranch and much more. 

 After we got set-up, we headed into Mackinaw City

and found it to be quite the tourist area [with all the standard tourist shops, lol.] Which I wasn't sad about when I found this $15 sweatshirt 

and the temps were in the sixties... 

[Photo taken at the campground beach.]

 

After we shopped around a bit and enjoyed dinner at a local place we stopped at this lighthouse... in a state park ...right in the city.

 

The Mackinac Bridge is the focal point of every view...

And it's pretty awesome!

WE learned it takes about 7 years to paint it and when it's finished...

It's time to start painting again. Whew.

 

The beaches of Lake Huron are pretty 

with smooth pebbles leading into the water....

We enjoyed walking the shore along for a bit.

 

But we headed back to the campground so we could get a good spot on the campground beach to watch the Saturday night fireworks over the bridge. 

Pretty cool! 

The bridge is always center-stage - 

The next day we hoped on the ferry to head to Mackinac Island - we took the one that went under the bridge... full of historical narrative and we sailed through Lake Huron AND Lake Michigan. 

 

Our view as we arrived on island - 

We were early and a little ahead of many tourists,

so it was nice to see the streets uncrowded...

We had a little fun playing around with a video while we had room to move around. [It was MUCH more crowded as the day went on...] 

 

Only horse drawn carriages and bikes are allowed. 

We walked up abd down MAin Street before taking a 'taxi' out to Mission Point 

 

where we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast ...

Sitting OUTSIDE... in long sleeves... in AUGUST...

 

Looking out over The Great Lawn as swimmers ended 

their swim AROUND the island.

 

Next in our plan was The Grand Hotel -

 

But first can we talk about the beautiful flowers 

that were everywhere?

 

ALL OVER THE ISLAND.

SO GORGEOUS. 

I haven't seen beds of hollyhock in years [and years].

... made me think of my Mama M. 

 

The Grand is exceptional. 

[There were lots of people in this photo 

that I had to erase - just sayin'.] 

 

We didn't pay to go in and see the lobby and instead 

enjoyed sitting on the veranda for a bit,

 

people watching and seeing this beautiful view... 

It really is a beautiful island. 

We walked back down to Main Street - taking a different route to see more of the awesome churches on the island [the oldest was built in 1829!] 

 

It had warmed up a bit during the day, so the ferry ride was nice and cool... 

The two light houses were pretty!

 

When we got back, our campground was virtually empty.

We took a drive over to Cheboygan to pick up a few things at WalMart [thrift shopped a little too - ha] and had dinner from the fridge [including fresh corn] 

YUM. 

The next morning we said goodbye to the TeePee Camp 

[It was a fun campground -] 

We took our time crossing the Mackinac Bridge 

with our #AishlingtheAirstream ...

The traffic wasn't bad and the winds were mostly calm... 

 

Pro Tip: take screen shots of the live cam

as you cross...

Not if you're driving, of course. 

 

We did a quick stop in St. Ignace -

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE!

The view from the parking lot of Ace Hardware - lol - 

And then we traveled on Highway 2...

 

where we were introduced to the pasty.

OMGOODNESS.

 

I've got to learn to make these.

That. Is. All. 

So Tee Pee Campground - 

This info from the internet says it all:

• CLOSEST CAMPGROUND TO MACKINAW CITY
• CLOSEST CAMPGROUND TO MACKINAC ISLAND FERRY
• DISCOUNT FERRY TICKETS
• FREE SHUTTLE TO FERRIES
• SITES FOR TENTS TO RV'S
• SPECTACULAR VIEWS
• MODERN, GRASSY TENT & RV SITES (20, 30 & 50 Amp)
• SANDY BEACH ON LAKE HURON
• WALKING/BIKING TRAIL ( To Downtown Mackinaw City)
• CLEAN MODERN RESTROOMS (Flush Toilets - Hot Showers)
• GROUPS WELCOME
• PET FRIENDLY
• CAMP STORE AND GAME ROOM
• WATER & ELECTRIC ON ALL SITES
• CONVENIENT DUMP STATION
• FIRE PIT & PICNIC TABLE ON EACH SITE
• LAKE MICHIGAN BEACHES

2026 - Week - 39 Thursday Three

 

(...more than a little late. oops.)

 

1. We've had a wonderful time at our Region 6* Airstream Club Rally in Foley, Alabama. Unhitched RV and our rally hosts [David Gulley, our R6 President, and family] rolled out the hospitality!

2. We've enjoyed visiting with friends we've not seen for a while [lots of rummikub and rook for us] and definitely eaten our fill of shrimp... NOTE: Tin Top Restaurant has some of the BEST shrimp & grits you'll ever put in your mouth. Just sayin.

3. Photo notes --> The fence behind looks like cotton to me...Craig is the Alabama Airstream Club president and the flags must be flown.. . My smaller Region 6 VAC [Vintage Airstream Club] flag is on a garden stake.

Photo Cred: Unhitched RV Foley

It's a great community of adventurers.

*R6 = Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and the central time zone of Florida...

#HardwickAdventures

#AishlingtheAirstream

Aishling the AIrstream Update No. 80

 

Finn Road Park - Campground 

 Essexville, Michigan 

From the internets: "Finn Road Park is owned and operated by Hampton Township and is open for camping May 1 - October 31. Located near Lake Huron (The Saginaw Bay), Finn Road Campground offers full-hookup cement padded RV sites with water, sewer, and electric (30 or 50 AMP) hookups. Each site is complete with a picnic table and fire pit. We recommend bringing at least 50 ft of water hose with you to ensure you are able to connect to the water. We do not accommodate tent camping at this time. The simplicity of our park makes it a great place to stay for everybody. It is specially designed with the full time RV camper in mind; Many retirees who enjoy fishing call Finn Road Park their summer home."

This was a nice little overnight stop -  

 

Unfortunately the water near the campground was a little...

well, GREEN. lol.

 

We enjoyed driving over the Saginaw River into Bay City for dinner...

Dating myself - but who remembers S-A-TUR-D-A-Y NIGHT?? 

[Bay City Rollers - boy band from the 70s.] 

 

We went to the new uptown development 

and enjoyed ice cream on the riverfront.

It's a pretty area... 

  

As we were leaving the campground the next morning, 

we stopped at a farm stand and picked up some fresh veggies.

YUM. 

The campground was exceptionally clean and neat... with nice concrete pads. It is set in a country setting near the small town of Essexville. Internet / cell service was good. We never went in the bath houses.

We'd probably go back if we're in the area. 

2026 - Week - 38 Thursday Three

 

1. Enjoyed good conversations with our kiddos this week - love the grown-ups they've turned out to be.. .

2. We've done a couple of bike rides - both in and out of town - the bike rack Craig made makes it [SO] easy to get them in and out of the truck.

3. Headed towards The Gulf today - looking forward to sea and sand and sweet friends we've not seen since January..

[PS - we did the early-open and said hello to Mama Zelda out at The Gardens...]

#HardwickAdventures

Aishling the Airstream Update No. 79

 

East Harbor State Park

Marblehead, Ohio

Here's #AishlingtheAirstream 

all set up for the week - 

 

It rained during the week - and THAT was a muddy mess before it was all said and done - but I was happy to have our rug out there to keep me from sinking in it all. ha. 

You can see more about East Harbor here - 

Another Solo Camp for me - Craig was with me before his Men-Only fishing trip started and I was so happy we could share the bike trail together! 

 

Riding around to the lake each day 

[several times /day]

is one of my favorite things about this state park - 

Sunrise is beautiful on Lake Erie - but I'll admit, I was a bit lazy this week* and didn't get up early every day like I've done in the past...

Still, it's always a sweet moment of praise for another day...

for health and safety... and for this life we get to live - 

 

*I've had this cRaZy cough for a while now, so instead, I enjoyed stitching a bit while sitting out in the coolness of perfect Ohio weather...

 

And some of the best parts of the week were seeing our boys together... 

They were able to sneak away for a couple of moments to bring me leftovers [ha]

 

And join in a quick photo shoot at the Light House. 

Love my guys!

East Harbor State Park

is great - they have accommodations for every type of camper -

LOVE that Craig always gets me one of the few FHU sites so I never went to the bath house...although they are okay too. 

We'll definitely be back.

2026 - Week - 37 Thursday Three

 

Thursday Three:

1. I miss the road. There. I said it.

It's addicting, seeing this country of ours...

2. At the same time it's good to be home. AND it's good to know our kiddos are safely home from their adventures... whether it's running 110 miles or flying 6300 miles...

3. My week has been full with beauty catch-ups [pedicure and haircut...] and friends, and Bible Study - live and IN PERSON [as well as my zoomie group.] Plus, CATS and tennis, and a bit of house work too...

#HardwickAdventures