September 10, 2021
Gaylord, MI
As seems to be my method, I load Gob into the car after work and we hit the road by moonlight. I have a love hate relationship with this method. I love that it starts our adventure sooner, and I’m usually able to squeeze an extra park or two in because of it. I hate how long and exhausting this first stretch of drive is after an 8 hour shift. But with a dose of caffeine and some podcasts to keep me company, the 2-3 hour drive goes quickly. As we pull off the highway, I stop for gas. Nobody likes to sleep on an empty stomach, and that holds true for Mel (our trusty minivan-camper) too. There are no lights on at the station, but the pump itself is prompting for my card. I test my luck. The pump spits a whopping 5 cents worth of gas into the tank before shutting off. I guess it’s past their bedtime. We will try again in the morning. Sorry Mel. We settle into our campsite just after 1 am.
Gob wakes up at 6:30 am, as he is accustomed to. Thankfully he is content to snuggle up and let me keep sleeping until closer to 8. Then he sees a squirrel and there is no more sleep to be had. We take a quick walk down the quarter-mile trail that skirts the lake. Gob is dismayed to learn he cannot enjoy a morning swim as every access point is graced with a sign saying no doggos. We head back to Mel for some breakfast, then hit the road.
Check out my other Michigan State Park adventures!
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