July 2023 - Lake Michigan Adventure

Ever find yourself on a beautiful Saturday with no responsibilities, no commitments, but an urge to get out? It's rare, but TaGeez and I found ourselves in that boat. 

What to do? What to do? Grab a box of donuts and head west. Hey, want to go to Kalamazoo? That's the joy of geocaching - you can always make an adventure on a geotrail!

First stop was this sweet little campus of Western Michigan University.

Kalamazoo Sky Line Virtual GC9P6KV

Good thing he's not afraid of heights!

We had no plans. We visited Bricks & Minifigs. We visited a quilt ship. We visited an airport. What? I've seen this Virtual listed for years, but when would we fly out of the Gerald R Ford Airport? It was a little tricky reaching the Observation Deck, but we managed it.

We have seen this Virtual for years, but it’s always seemed a little off our path & too time consuming. Today was the day to do it.

First, a few instructions for future finders: Park in the short term parking ($2 for the first hour) and enter the terminal at Door 3. Walk forward and through the small hallway/tunnel area (past baggage claim & towards security). When you see the Gerald R. Ford Tribute Room ahead, look up. The Observation Deck is directly above it. You can take the stairs on the right to the second floor.

We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We sat and watched for planes (wish we could’ve got better pictures). We strolled sound the terminal and even had our pictures taken with a President! After completing the AL here, we drove over to the Viewing Area (SO packed with “birdwatchers”!) and completed the lab there, too.

I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed this! ❤️ Fave point!

Bird Watching Virtual GC7B6CB

Did you see the "bird" in the background? We had fun exploring the airport and even visiting with the President himself!

In for a penny, in for a pound. Let's keep heading a little Northeast for another sweet virtual. 

Valley of Heroes Virtual - GC7B6VZ

After paying our respects and gathering the necessary information, we headed nearby to Cascade Roadhouse for a delightful lunch. This was a great interlude in our day!

Did you know that Grand Rapids has a Bricks & Minifigs, too? 

Well, now what? Hey, do you remember there's an oldie somewhere out here? A March 2001 traditional! Now, where is it? We need it for our double Jasmer. 

TaGeez and I are working on our double Jasmer, and, as others have mentioned, “March 2001” is rare. So, when we realized we would be in this area, we detoured here for the find.

First, we were stopped by the construction crew because the road 300 ft from the park entrance was closed for resurfacing. When we explained we were trying to get to the park, they let us pass.

After parking and lathering ourselves in bug spray, we headed off. Wow! There is not enough bug spray in the world for these bloodsuckers! Even TaGeez, who is normally immune, had to don his head net!

.7 mile further down this track, we found the cache and the mosquitoes cheered! There were tons of them! We signed the log, dropped my path tag, and scurried back out of there (out of the shade and into the baking sun).

Floodpain Folly GC4E8

Ok, out of the dark and sweaty. Let's go find water! Attached to a beach and a nearby lighthouse. Oh, the joys of Lake Michigan via Grand Haven and Holland. 

Summer is almost gone, and we almost missed it. So glad we detoured to feel sand between our toes. 

We wrapped our day by heading South to Holland for a picnic lunch in our favorite park. Have you seen Centennial Park and the Wizard of Oz exhibit? 

Isn't this the perfect ending to a gorgeous day? 

Thank you, Michigan, for another memorable summer day!

With a double click of our (geocaching) shoes...

Just what the Doctor order, a little bit of weirdness and wackiness in Western Michigan!

Saturday found us in Holland, Michigan, where a tree tried to eat TaGeez's head while the flying monkey egged him on! (Sculptured II Adventure Lab)

While hunting out more lab locations, Scrapcat was finally able to put her feet in the water (this isn't what I meant, TaGeez!)

90+ degrees and baking outside, we decided baking was a good eye. Can't go to Holland and not shop for gadgets in Teerman's!

And then back to the Adventure Labs - great way to experience downtown (and avoid the Muggles, COVID-safe). 

DUDE! Where's your mask? 

Too cool to care!

Aw, this was unexpected but one of my favorite parts of the trip. I started this picnic quilt 20+ years ago. It laid in pieces until March, when we started working from home. We brought it to Holland and then decided on a spontaneous PB&J picnic in Centennial Part. Perfectly built for two!

Speaking of Centennial Park, have you followed the yellow brick road? Leads you from here to the Wizard of Oz bronzes across the road at the public library.

After sanitizing our room (the new Staybridge in Holland is NICE!), we needed a little water fun at Holland State Park.

Plus this GLORIOUS sunset!

The next morning brought us back for another Adventure Lab (Tip Toe Through the Tulips) and Big Red. 

The winds were kicking it!

And the parasurfors were having a blast! I could sit and watch them for hours.

We wrapped our stay in Holland with a puzzle final and visiting an old friend...

Which led us to Saugatuck/Douglas for the Singapore No More Adventure Lab. And, as we're cruising down the road, what do you think we spied? The Douglas Root Beer Barrel! 

TaGeez had a Pepper & Onion hot dog, and I had a Sauerkraut dog. But it was the root beer! Oh, SO smooth! TaGeez downed his large plus half another growler!

Energized, we continued the tour of Douglas/Saugatuck to complete the Adventure Lab. I would've said it was the best one we've done so far, until we hit the undecipherable bonus final.

Saugatuck Art Center

Herbs grown in old gutters

The highlight is seeing the Saugatuck Chain Ferry, which transport passengers across the river between vacation cabins and the bustling downtown shops.

Saugatuck Chain Ferry: The only remaining chain driven ferry in the country. It has been in use since 1838. Three pullies keep it in line as it is being pulled across the Kalamazoo River.

We love to learn new things and were surprised the Kalamazoo River starts in Douglas/Saugatuck and ends in Michigan's Irish Hills! Yes, we're the type to stop and read the plaques!

We ended the adventure with a quick detour down in South Haven for a little caching....

... and a final farewell to Lake Michigan.

What a View GC6PFRV

Just enough wackiness, wonderfulness for us to face the insanity of 2020.  Thank you to the Western Michigan cachers for the very fun Adventure Labs. 

MSPCGT: Gluttons for Punishment

What were we thinking?!?

2019 is ticking down, and the team had hoped to finish the Michigan State Parks Centennial GeoTour (MSPCGT) during the centennial year. So that means finding caches in all season - including the unseasonable weather that has rolled in.

Starting at Holland State Park (time to get the "sand dune" wherigos over with), we began on the beach where the water was frigid and the the wind carried ice pellets! BRRRR!

The MSPCGT: Holland State Park cache is an 18-stage tour of the beach area, nearby town, up 200 steps, along the top of a sand dune, and, eventually, to a cache final. We've been dreading it all year, but we're determined to finish all 100 caches in the series. 

Waiting until Fall, we hoped to avoid the heat on the sand, the EEE mosquitoes in the woods, and the Muggles on the beach. It did that, but we weren't accounting for the freezing wet feet and chapped cheeks. 

Up! Up! Up, we go! Summer crowds are so numerous there are signs that the stairs must be taken single-file and NO STOPPING! 

Look! Atop the dune and heading down!

I won't spoil the final. So, instead. here's a lion. After making the find, we headed downtown to see the new Wizard of Oz statues outside the library and for a little shopping downtown. If you get a chance, the art made from recycled materials along the main road are fun!

Holland State Park

Reprieve over... time to tackle another dune.

MSPCGT: Saugatuck SP is down the road from Holland.  This is another lengthy wherigo. This time touring the Felt Mansion....

... along the property into the nearby state park....

... and taking trails up the side of hills, along ridges, and over the dunes.

Yet another view of the beautiful and frigid Lake Michigan. The final was just a few hundred feet further on the trail. It was purported "so hard to find", but I think all three of us tripped on it almost immediately. WOW! Two multi-mile wherigos involving steps, trails & sand dunes -- I felt it for days afterwards.

Last find of the day was MSPCGT: Van Buren SP. I gave the letterbox container & special stamps a favorite point, but, if I'm being honest, the short walk to the cache was a major influence.

Our reward for our perseverance was an amazing sunset in South Haven and then dinner at Clementines! Look at these amazing photos! It's one of my favorite places in Michigan <3 

Thank you, ShelleyJean, for this favorite photo!

Sadly, we turned away from Lake Michigan Sunday morning and started heading home. Our next three MSPCGT caches were ammo cans on the pole.

MSPCGT: Grand Mere

MSPCGT: Warren Dunes

You would'a thought the word "dunes" in the state park name (Warren Dunes) would've clued me into the possibility of more sand and sandy heights. Oi! Luckily SJ and TaGeez powered on!

We pulled up to the gates of MSPCGT: Warren Woods and found a surprise - a locked gate with a sign stating "Closed until April".  Not deterred (we came so far) we hefted our packs and headed a half mile down the road. Nearing the final, we spied a group looking as guilty as we were. 

Team Stone's Throw was a group of muggles we hopefully converted. They were fascinated by the cache and the idea of caching. They are a beautiful group of women who actually hike for fun! I hope we see them on the trails again.

And now... off to my favorite road, U.S. Route 12 in Michigan. I swear, one day I'm going to drive it from Detroit to its final in Aberdeen, Washington. In Michigan, U.S. 12 takes you through quaint town squares and along the railroad. We visited historic cemeteries, stopping at several Virtuals.

Hero's was one of my favorite Virtuals on the trip. It's in a little downtown park filled with many, many, many ducks! Excitedly we paid out our quarters and fed the ducks until they stormed us! A single-minded flock of feathery evil! Luckily, I saved enough feed to make it to the Virtual and back. I distracted the swarm with the last of the bird food and raced to my team, pinned in the car! Adventure!

Last stop of our tour was MSPCGT: Coldwater Lake SP. We were warned that it was an undeveloped slight of land with no amenities. To gain the cache you had to wade through waist-high grass. Ok, let's get this over with before it gets dark. 

Amish speeding by

93 caches completed - 6 weeks to complete 7 more!

Update on my state park journal - I've kept on this. I have seven pages for seven parks to go!