Boondocking in the Woods of Northern Michigan

Wanna know what makes boondocking even more fun? Sharing it with your granddaughters.

We retreated to our favorite boondocking spot in Michigan, some family property up in the woods of Ogemaw County, about a dozen miles east of West Branch. The 200-acre spread takes up both sides of the Rifle River and borders state land so we really can escape.
Our kids all grew up coming up here every weekend Jenifer and I could so it was a special treat to take Hua Hua, 13, and Rachel, 10, to the their Mom, Wendy's, favorite spot. We hiked with the girls and found the exact location where we used to camp in a pop-up, took a photo and texted it to their mom.

The boondocking campsite we use is very remote, two miles off a two lane state road on a county road, then a mile into the woods on a two-track overlooking a bend of the river along a high sandy bank. Bo gets to run free, off leash.
Later on, when we did a Facebook Live video feed from the site, son, Jeffrey, who also grew up camping up here, was among the live viewers, watching with his 17-month-old daughter, Jovie, who will also surely come here some day.
Here's our Facebook Live video feed:
Hua Hua, who is the family artist, began a colored pencil drawing of our Roadtrek that I will hang on my office wall.
We made our favorite camping meal, Jennifer's “Boondocking Bonanza,” a mix of hamburger, canned corn, sliced potatoes and onions that we wrap up tight in tin foil and stick in the fire or on a grill.
At night, we made S'mores around the campfire, told some stories and headed inside the Roadtrek to watch a DVD of Narnia before bedtime

The temperature dropped to 45 degrees overnight.
The girls were toasty comfy in the Roadtrek, Hua Hua and Jennifer slept on the two beds in the back. Rachel slept on a four inch thick mattress-pad that we put across the two front seats.

Mike and Bo's spent the night in tent. It was a mixed experience. Bo loved it, curled up sled-dog style next to Mike, who tossed and turned all night long on the hard ground because he disregarded Jennifer's suggestion to bring an air mattress and instead settled for an inadequate inch and a half thick foam pad.

Lesson learned.
Great time had by all, though, with lots of memories.


How about some details on that dinner? Do you add any seasoning, butter, etc. Cooking technique?
Sounds like a great outing!
S’mores tonight yummm
My feed is fine too
Great reception in Northville. MI.
Why are the images flipped – your RT looks like it opens on the UK side? – must be a camera function
Jovie is so excited to see her cousins
Beautiful!!!
Suppose to say ” with dogs”
Smores*
Snores tonight?
Any problems with ticks up there, particularly witht
Beautiful girls
Freezing ?
No problems in Alabama.
Hi mike and Jen and girls???
Ok in Oregon, too
Jim and Cindy Blair checking in !
Bo not tai
Jovie keeps asking to see her cousins
Hi girls, how’s the water?
Lovely spot ?
Way to go, girls!
Jovie is watching
Incredible girls. You guys are the best!
Thanks, for sharing! Be Safe!
Enjoyed watching
Thanks!
Thanks for this podcast
Have fun
Hey Mike, I love your secret spot!!!!!!
Trout for breakfast
Looks like a lot of fun!
Hi from the sugar beet counters!!!
Love the pod cast
Hey M & J….looking good
Air mattress works great…
Sleep on the chair
I hope you’ve all got down vests. Brrrr!
What adorable girls!
What’s for dinner?
Hi Mike and Gang
Mike, you need one of those new trailers shown in Hershey show.
Hi Mike and Jennifer. See you in the Porkies!
Looks like a great spot! Similar to our family’s place north of Calgary in Canada.
Jessica and the gang of girls say hi to Hua Hua and Rachel (I am typing the message for them)
Looks like a fun time
Enjoy the campfire! Have fun!
How do you keep Beau from running off after deer
See you soon in the Porkies
This is your best video cast ever.
Kicking on the heat tonight?
Cold and dark
Is that public property or private
Hershey chocolate in frid
What did you use to remove the limbs?
Very good signal here in NB Canada.
Once in a while it hiccups, but it gets OK right away…Mississippi…
Great in North Carolina
Good in Arizona!
It’s good here!
I have one..of those recliners…but not fit in my 170….
Hello
Keep losing you, buffers a long time
Great feed in Nebraska