Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park
& Pinckney Recreation Area 2023
During this trip P was 9, T was 7, and V was 5.
I was looking for a new swim event, and saw the Swim to the Moon swim event which takes place in a chain of lakes in the Pinckney Recreation Area. It was within a couple of hours from my sister's house, so I thought we might be able to visit with her too. My husband had been wanting visit the Porcupine Mountains, so we thought we'd make it a whole Michigan trip.
I signed up for the 10k swim which would have been my longest swim so far.
I was very stressed out before this trip. We needed to purchase something to cover the bed of the truck so things didn't get wet. We went back and forth, and ended up with a Tonneau cover. We also had a hard time with finding someone to watch the dogs, so we decided to bring them with. This ended up changing some of our plans. I also hadn't been swimming as much as I wanted to and should have been before we left. I was also really busy with work, so I didn't make as detailed itinerary, or plan meals as much as I normally do. I planned some meals, and then just threw food in the bins.
I talked about canceling this trip, but Marcus convinced me that we should go. Even the day we left, I still wasn't all in. In the end, it ended up working out, and I did have fun. I'm listing the itinerary as I had it written so you can see how bare bones it was.
Trip Dates: August 13 - August 21, 2023
Total cost of trip: $1,064
This includes; gas, lodging - two different campgrounds, groceries, eating out, and souvenirs.
Total miles: 3,273
Itinerary
Day 1 - August 13
7:00 a.m. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Presque Isle Rustic Campground Site 40
5 hours - 237 Miles
Stop and see M on the way
Dinner - Hot dogs, mac & Cheese,
Day 2 - August 14
Breakfast - pancake mix, syrup, eggs, bacon
9:00-11:00 a.m. Mount Baldy Summit Hike (Ranger-led)
Lunch - Crackers, small container of peanut butter, cheese, ice tea, and apples
Dinner - potatoes, carrots, spike, ground beef, celery
Day 3 - August 15
Breakfast - eggs, bell peppers, onions
Lunch - bread, meat, cheese
Dinner - chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans
Day 4 - August 16
Breakfast - pancake mix, sausage, milk, syrup
Lunch -
Dinner - spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles, garlic bread, salad
Day 5 - August 17
Breakfast - Quick
Depart Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park for Pinckney Recreation Area -
21237 Kaiser Rd. Gregory, MI 48137
Check out by 1:00 p.m.
9 hours - 571 Miles
Lunch - on the road
Dinner - pasta side & chicken
On the itinerary, I had the wrong campground written down, which has never happened to me before.
Day 6 - August 18
Breakfast - eggs
Lunch - with my sister A and family
Dinner - With A and family
Note: Since we had to bring the dogs, we had to change plans, and A and her family had to come to us.
Day 7 - August 19
Breakfast - quick
Lunch - Sandwiches, chips, fruit with A and family
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Pick up swim event packet
Dinner - at camp
Note: Since we had to bring the dogs, we had to change plans. We didn't see A and her family this day.
Day 8 - August 20
6:30 a.m. Emily's 10K swim starts
~4 hours Emily Finish
Breakfast - whatever is left
Lunch - whatever is left
Dinner - whatever is left
Day 9 - August 21
Drive home
9 hours 37 minutes - 638 miles