Michigan Aug 2012 Day3

Today was our first day of riding in Michigan proper. The weather was great, the roads were fast and in good condition, and the scenery was beautiful. I was told before the trip that Michigan has the worst roads in North America. From spending a week in the state, my take on the roads are that they are in great condition and well maintained.
After we covered some good distance in a short time, it was time for a roadside break, to stretch the legs and have a siggie.

And this is the smile you have on your face when you realize the place you picked to have a break, has a sign for "bear crossing"

I didn't get a picture of the sign, and we didn't stay to long. Everybody started to hear things moving in the bush. Did not see any bears, but I think our minds were playing tricks on us. Getting a loaded bike going when a bear is coming? Not prepared to see how fast I can do it.

Dominique told me she would like to see a waterfall, and an old church on this trip. So I was on the lookout for what she wanted to see, and at the last minute coming screaming around a corner, I saw this sign.

Slammed on the breaks and turned into the small parking lot next to the road. I'm not always sure how Denise is able to avoid crashing into me when I do these sudden manoeuvres. But she always does. Must be using the ABS on her bike.
The falls were very scenic and the walk from the parking lot was about 5 minutes. Don't want to work up a sweat in my riding gear.

And another visitor to the site was so kind to take a picture of the three of us together.

After the Wagner Falls, we spend the rest of the day heading East in the Michigan Upper Peninsula, to our planned destination for the night. Anderson Lake State Forest camp ground, near the town of Gwinn.
With camp grounds always pre-booked for summer in Canada, it could be difficult finding a site in your selected camp ground, when just showing up and looking for a site for the night. With this in mind, Dominique called ahead the night before to make sure that there is space available at Anderson Lake. They told her that we would not have any problem getting a site the next day.
On a side note, we let Dominique make the call. She sounds Canadian (no South African accent) and usually she is better understood and the response on the phone is more favourable than when Denise or me call.

The GPS took us right to the camp grounds, but no registration office? We drove around the camp ground, but no, registration office or any other campers? WTF?

Got out my cell phone re-dialed the number we called last night.

The conversation went something like this.
Me: "I am standing at Anderson Lake camp ground, but can not find a registration office."
Park Office: "There is no registration office"
Me: "So how does it work?"
PO: "What do you want to do?"
Me: "I want to camp" (in my mind I said, "camp you F'en idiot. WTF do you think I want to do in a camp ground)
PO: "It works on the Honour System. You put your camp fee in the envelope you will find next to the yellow post, and drop it in the slot in the yellow post. Go pick a camp site, and you are set"
Me: "Oh, that's easy. Thanks"

See the yellow post behind Denise.

The camp site was spectacular. In Canada it's called back country camping, and in the US it's called rustic camping. Only pit latrines, and no running water. Water you scoop from the lake.

The camping is very similar to camping in Algonquin Park in Ontario. The big advantage is that you can ride your bike into the site, and there is no need for backpacking or canoeing for hours to find you place away from civilization.

It rained that night, and Dominique's tent started leaking. She crawled into our tent round 1am in the morning.  For the rest of the trip we put her tent up in the vestibule of our tent. Will have to seal the seams on her tent.