Be Present - Be Real

Monday, October 5, 2026

Aishling the Airstream Update No. 82

[click above for link -]

Germfask, Michigan

From their website: "We are Northland Outfitters Campground and Canoe/Kayak Livery

Nestled comfortably in a hug from the Manistique River, you will effortlessly feel at ease in your natural abode... With mature trees and water in every direction, our campground is something that only the hands of time and nature can create.

Let us help you discover the Upper Peninsula by boat. Whether you are just wanting to get your toes wet, or seeking to dive right in for an extended venture through the

Seney Wildlife Refuge, we are here to help gear you up for the perfect trip.

Fun Fact: The name was derived from the surname initials of eight of the original settlers of 1881: John Grant, Matthew Edge, William Robinson, Thaddeus Mead, Dr. W. W. French, Ezekiel Ackley, Oscar (O.D.) Sheppard, and Hezekiah Knaggs.The community was a station on the Manistique Railway and was given a post office on February 26, 1890 -

Y'all know... I've wanted to see Bennie the Beardfisher FOR-EVAH.

He always seemed a little out-of-reach for me because he's so far away [965 miles to be exact.] So, when I realized we might be 'close' AND I saw this adorable campground WHERE HE LIVES, I knew we had to add it to our agenda!

I mean - How Cute Is This?!?

And the area is just beautiful!!

LOOK AT THOSE FERNS!

It didn't hurt that the weather was wonderful too!

[More on Bennie and the birdhouses in a moment -]

We took the afternoon to drive up to [and around... and through..]

The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

where we saw Lake Superior in all it's glory!

We've now see all of The Great Lakes! So cool!

There were miles and miles of sandy beaches...

an occasional light house... and lots of sail boats -

There were beautiful hiking trails and wild flowers everywhere...

[And those huge ferns!]

And trails and steps down to waterfalls

- 168 to be exact, down to this one...

I'll be honest - I made it down to the 2nd platform - lol -

Still a pretty view!

It was a beautiful drive ...

And kind of in the middle of nowhere [to us.]

So we were happy to get back to our little home-away-from-home with food for dinner and our own little bathroom. [TMI, but something you get used to when you're pulling your home behind you for miles and miles....]

Now: The Bird Houses -

It's a Thomas Dambo* THING - he has a whole story [history] about them and I love that he uses his early random, happy art to mark the trails to his magnificent trolls!

*He's the artist that designs and creates all these trolls we love -

all out of recycled materials!

And as you can see, our spot was right around the bend from Bennie!

It was perfect - and wonderful -

even with all the troll hunters walking by....

Bennie was privately commissioned for this campground

and they charge $10/car to see him...

[No troll hunting after dark - which was about 9:40 when we were there...]

It was fun having the opportunity to see him at different times of day...

and they had cell phone tri-pods set up for easy selfies...

Bennie is as massive as the other trolls we've seen...

but they are each so individually unique!

He was as wonderful as I thought he would be!

The next day it was time to say goodbye...

It was 52 degrees!

We had an early morning with a long day ahead of us as we headed to Minnesota...

and then to Alabama and back before continuing our trek to the west....

We are IN LOVE with the upper peninsula of Michigan.

That is all.

{And we'd DEFINITELY stay at Northland Outfitters again!!}

Thursday, October 1, 2026

2026 - Week - 40 Thursday Three

1. Two [big] rallies back to back is a LOT.
2. But oh-so-fun to enjoy different areas of our state --> bottom to top.
3. A rally is a gathering of airstream friends. [And we see different friends at different rallies... because no one can do them all no matter how much one might try...]
PS --> This week we're camping at a softball field in the middle of town. Pretty cool.
#HardwickAdventures

Monday, September 28, 2026

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