Hartwick Pines, Grayling MI

We have left the safety of Chris and Elizabeths driveway.  It was sure was a nice stay there.  We were made to feel so welcomed and part of their lives.  Many Thanks.

Well here we are at Hartwick Pines State Park just outside of Grayling.  Like many places in Michigan I should have come here before but haven’t.  Les thinks he maybe camped here with his parents but isn’t sure.  Check in was great.  Our spot is wooded but roomy enough to fit us. Les was a champ backing in (I think that is pretty cool).  We have 30amp hook up so we are running the air conditioning (cause we can).  After we were settled, Les, Brady and I took a walk through the old woods trail. It is just beautiful in its natural progression of growth and death.  This is an original planted by God Forest.  The only one left in Michigan.

The concept for this forest is to let it be.  The only forest maintenance is to clear the asphalt trails through the woods.

.After a short walk we came across this beautiful chapel.

Just down the path there is a logging museum.  There are a few pieces of original logging equipment on site and a buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corp ( CCCs) in 1934 to establish this museum.  Later this week we are going to the CCC museum.       My dad worked in the CCCs as a teen in the 1930’s so this will be a very enlightening day for me.  But for now back to Hartwick Pines.

This is one of the cleanest parks I have ever seen.  It is busy but it is so large you don’t notice.  We can’t wait to take in some more trails tomorrow.

10 Jul 2011