August 3, 2015. St. Ignace to Petoskey, the Legs Inn and For-Real Camping.

August 3, 2015.  St. Ignace to Petoskey, the Legs Inn and For-Real Camping.  It was a quick 45-mile drive from St. Ignace, over the Big Mac suspension bridge to Petoskey State Park on the Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan.  We noticed a large number of Mini Cooper vehicles in St. Ignace.  We bumped into a couple in the campground this afternoon standing next to their Mini.  I asked why there were so many Minis in St. Ignace.  I was told that Mini owners were trying to set a Guinness record for the most Mini Coopers on a suspension bridge.  Talk about obscure records.  Evidently, the United States had the record of about 800 until two years ago when our British cousins set a new record of over 1400.  Our Mini owners made a valiant effort yesterday but fell about 100 short of the record.  They plan to try again in two years.  We are easily amused in the United States. 

Anna and Fred told us about Legs Inn, near Petoskey.  It is a Polish restaurant and inn in Cross Village on the lake.   The historic marker pictured above tells the story of the inn better than I can.  Anna told us specifically to look at the garden behind the inn.  That was good advice.  The views are wonderful and the garden is well-tended overlooking Lake Michigan.  The only downside was that we arrived at 10:45 AM and the restaurant didn't open until noon.  So, we traveled another 15 miles to Petoskey and found a Polish Kitchen.  Two kielbasas with sauerkraut later, we were on the road to the state park.

Tonight we acted like real campers and cooked dogs and s'mores over a campfire.  We had just enough wood to make a fire sufficient for the task.  It was burning down when we wrapped up dinner. 

As I was in Harvey retrieving something for dinner, I heard a male voice outside Harvey talking to Annie.  I went outside just as she was telling him that one of the reasons we traded up to T-Harvey was that her tall travel partner kept banging his head in the Roadtrek.  About that time, I stepped out of Harvey to see the person she was talking to.  He was in swimming shorts only with a towel draped around his neck.  He was slightly round and not so tall.  His eyes turned upward to meet mine and his countenance dropped. 

I think he was more interested in Annie than Harvey.  Who can blame him?  She is a keeper.  But now, he had to feign a real interest in Harvey.  I offered him a tour and he reluctantly entered, just far enough to see inside.  He was really not all that interested in the RV.  But, otherwise, he had excellent taste. 

We are scheduled to stop at Ludington State Park tomorrow night.  It is about 170 miles or so from here to there.  We plan one more stop on Lake Michigan before heading home in earnest.  We will probably stop overnight at least one night in route, likely in Iowa, perhaps the Amana Colonies, again.  This is fun.  You should try it sometime before you die.