Filipina Adventures in Michigan with Cleo and Mark

July 12, 2021. All things come to an end, and this trip is no different. We often get asked how we fit all of our camp stuff in that tiny car. It's not as tiny as it looks. In this video we pack up our camping stuff, actually managing to do so with plenty of time to spare. So we took a walk around the campground. Thank you to all of you for watching our videos. Our next camping series should be Fall camping at Union Campground in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Look for that later in 2021. #puremichigan

July 11, 2021. Cheryl and Tory's last day with us. We returned to the Silver Lake Dunes Pedestrian Area, this time it was not crowded (there was no parking available on the 10th). Then down to Muskegon to walk out to the channel lighthouse. We watched the Manitoulin pass into the channel. We were surprised to find a fitness festival going on. After that we returned to Muskegon State Park and walked along that side of the channel. Returning to camp we stopped at the bolockhouse, but found the view somewhat disappointing. If they watched Lake Michigan from there the trees must have been much shorter. Finally back to camp for pork chops and chicken. On a very special note, we dropped one of our cameras out on the dunes (or in the picnic/parking lot area) and didn't discover it missing from the bag (which was not zipped all the way) until we stopped at a nearby farmer's market. We came back and asked the ranger at the entrance if anyone had turned in a camera and some wonderful person had found it and turned it in! Much of this footage from the dunes would have been lost if it was not for whoever that wonderful person (or persons) was. Thank you from the bottom of our heart! More on the Manitoulin: https://www.randlog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Rand-Vessel-Profile-MOU-8-2019.pdf #puremichigan

July 10, 2021. Cheryl and Tory's first (and only) full day. Morning pancakes with scrambled eggs. We returned to Little Sable Point Lighthouse. We also tried going up to Silver Lake Dunes Pedestrian area but the parking was full (didn't film). So Cheryl and Tory went on the Mac Woods Dune Ride (we did not because we went last year, plus we got out time out on the Dunes with Rob the previous Tuesday). Some chicken barbeque and then we went to Grand Haven to catch the Musical Fountain Lights. We can't show those with the original music, of course, but I have one that hopefully gives the feelz. Finally back to camp for a nice campfire. I apologize for the trash in our firepit, we had not cleaned it up yet when we did the barbeque, and it wasn't urgent because we used the hibachi. #puremichigan

July 9, 2021. This is the last day for Robert. We still have the rest of the weekend (won't leave until Monday). Most of this is Robert getting his R-Pod ready to leave. Some of his pet peeves regarding people that HAVE to pass the trailer (and then take the next exit immediately). Do you have any pet peeves like that? This includes some details on weight-distribution hitches. We go to the beach (again). Our friend Cheryl and her daughter arrive, and we all catch a lovely sunset. #puremichigan

July 8, 2021. We went to see the USS Silverside in Muskegon. A Gato class WW2 submarine. Robert was career Navy and served in the submarine corps. He knew guys that had served on Gato class subs. He had a number of interesting stories. Unfortunately there was a lot of background noise in the museum and on the sub. It was better inside. I did what I could with the audio, and subtitled where it was the worst. I should have stuck a lapel mic on him. Live and learn. Afterword we hit the beach at Muskegon State Park, it was the strangest thing to have dense fog in the evening at the beach. Robert flew his kite tho. #puremichigan

July 8, 2021. Kind of a lazy day. We just took a bicycle ride around the campground and had pork barbeque for dinner. We didn't film anything else this day. #puremichigan

NOTICE: On July 29, 2021 an exemption for the Silver Lake Dunes ORV scramble area to the drag racing ban was signed into law. Reportedly Park personnel immediately set to removing the Drag Racing Prohibited signs from the Dune area. So the signs you see in this video should no longer be there. July 6, 2021. Part of the reason for the trip, at least for Robert. He had come all the way from Connecticut to camp with us AND take his Raptor on the Dunes at Silver Lake State Park. The only Dunes east of the Mississippi that you can drive vehicles on. He said that everyone said that Test Hill is intimidating but he didn't think it would be... but it IS. Nevertheless we climbed that hill, multiple times. Did the entire circuit multiple times and got almost all of it on video. This is edited down, of course, and is probably one of our most complicated video edits. Hope you enjoy watching our day on the Dunes at least a fraction of how much we enjoyed spending our day there. Robert's air compressor stopped working part way through airing back up the tires so we got the free air at the ORV Welcome Center. I left the video of the quarter-mile trip in here so that if any of you are considering going and want to know about using the free air to air back up can see where that is. It is at around 37 mins into the video if you need to jump to that point. 0:00 Intro 2:22 Arriving at the ORV Scramble Area 3:28 Airing Down 4:31 Getting to the Dune Access 'Road' 6:26 Mavic Pro is up, Heading onto the Dunes 9:00 Getting Intimidated by the 'Giant Hill' (Test Hill) 10:37 First run up Test Hill (cutout) 11:50 The smaller hills to the pedestrian area 13:05 Landing the Mavic Pro; initial impressions 14:13 The Dune Area near the Beach. A lot of Blind Spots. 14:45 Hill Descent Control works great 16: 26 Coming back to Test Hill 16:57 Second run up Test Hill (cutout again, no drone) 17:32 More of the smaller dunes "That's how it's done" 18:20 Driving parallel to pedestrian area again 18:50 What do the Red Signs say? 19:34 "Oh this is cool." Ridge Running 20:40 "Drone up?" starting an extended following flight 21:24 Third run up Test Hill (peak section, with Mavic Pro and fresh battery) 22:00 Continuing on along smaller hills (with Mavic Pro) 23:27 Along pedestrian area (with Mavic Pro) 24:00 "Flat" area (with Mavic Pro) 25:14 "Test Hill again?" heading back to the 'start line' (with Mavic Pro) 26:36 "Whenever you're ready" Fourth run up Test Hill (cutout, Mavic Pro flying low) 27:12 Catching up to the Raptor with the Mavic Pro 27:48 Back to the 'chase' 28:45 Pedestrian area again (with Mavic Pro) 29:14 Ridge riding again (with Mavic Pro this time) 29:52 Heading back to Test Hill 31:00 Landing the Mavic Pro 31:34 Damage check 32:00 "We'll go check out the Lake" 32:22 "Well, there's the beach" 32:39 Montage (shot with Mavic Pro) 34:44 Back to the parking lot, compressor failure, heading to get free air 36:22 "Free air available at Welcome Center 37:10 Arriving at Welcome Center 38:15 The free air 40:10 Done doing "guy stuff" 40:46 Back to Muskegon State Park, damage check Sorry about the only HD version on this, Rumble has a limit on the size of files we can upload currently, and the 4K version would not go. #puremichigan, #SilverLakeDunes, #FordRaptor

July 5, 2021. Mark's brother Robert arrives with his Raptor and R-Pod trailer. Setting up the trailer and getting the Raptor ready for going out on the dunes the next day (stay tuned for that video). Camping at Muskegon State Park, Lake Michigan Beach Campground. #puremichigan

Happy Independence Day (and Philippine/American Friendship Day)! After some 'morning pancakes we headed of to Pere Marquette Park Beach in Muskegon. We had lunch at The Deck, including Tennessee Hot (but not spicy) Chicken, plus chips & salsa (and queso). Stopped for some ice cream ('flurries'), got some sun at the public beach. Tried to catch a freighter going through the channel. Had some dinner (pizza and stir fry!) and finished the night off with a sunset.

July 3, 2021. We started the day with morning pancakes. Put together the new cast iron Hibachi. Hit the beach after lunch. Zero wind and great weather to fly the Mavic Pro. Then after dinner went to try to watch the fireworks 'over downtown' from the north side of the channel. Not the best idea. It would have been better watched closer to 'downtown' but we really had no idea where that was. For those wondering, at the end of the beach seen I show the thermometer. I am not sure why the audio dropped out, but I say "60 degrees!" (Fahrenheit) #puremichigan

July 2, 2021. We missed the campground entrance, but it is okay because we took all of Scenic Drive to the Channel Campground and back to the Lake Michigan Beach Campground. Packing the car and unpacking it. Set up of our encampment (the most comprehensive view of our setup so far), and getting firewood. Now we are ready to camp! (starting with the NEXT video ;) ). #puremichigan

How long do you have to run the propane to fill a Flame King 1 lb. Refillable Propane Cylinder? It seems like it takes a longer time than you might expect. But it isn't really all that long. Before setting off for Muskegon State Park we have to fill three out of our five refillable cylinders (the other two are still filled from our last trip). No timelapse here, this shows how long you have to wait for each to fill. 0:00 Intro 1:18 The refill system 2:10 Setting it up 3:10 The first cylinder (not on tight enough) 7:20 The second cylinder 10:24 The third and final cylinder 13:08 And that's all there is to it

Finishing up the doors, installing them, putting up the roof gables, beams and roof pieces. Final touches on the door hardware and security the walls to the floor. This video series documents me building building our new backyard storage shed (for the lawn equipment). It is a Rubbermaid Big Max 7'x7' Shed that I got from Home Depot. I also purchased the pressure-treated wood and pea gravel from Home Depot.

Putting down the floor and setting up the walls, as well as getting started on the doors and windows. This video series documents me building building our new backyard storage shed (for the lawn equipment). It is a Rubbermaid Big Max 7'x7' Shed that I got from Home Depot. I also purchased the pressure-treated wood and pea gravel from Home Depot.

Leveling the pea gravel, cutting the decking, spacing the decking and screwing it down. This video series documents me building building our new backyard storage shed (for the lawn equipment). It is a Rubbermaid Big Max 7'x7' Shed that I got from Home Depot. I also purchased the pressure-treated wood and pea gravel from Home Depot.

Locating and digging the hold for the pressure-treated wood foundation. Including clearing some roots. Filling it with pea gravel. This video series documents me building building our new backyard storage shed (for the lawn equipment). It is a Rubbermaid Big Max 7'x7' Shed that I got from Home Depot. I also purchased the pressure-treated wood and pea gravel from Home Depot.

Taking delivery of the materials. Moving them to the back yard. Framing the pressure-treated wood foundation. This is the first time I have tried any project of this scale. There is a first time for everything, right? This video series documents me building our new backyard storage shed (for the lawn equipment). It is a Rubbermaid Big Max 7'x7' Shed that I got from Home Depot. I also purchased the pressure-treated wood and pea gravel from Home Depot.

I spent some time on a backyard project. Soon I'll have a series of videos detailing it. But until then, here is a little sneak preview.

Merry Christmas (Maligayang Pasko) from the two of us to all of you; and a Prosperous New Year (Manigong Bagong Taon)!

Just before Labor Day, 2020, we visited Silver Lake State Park. This is some of the Mavic Pro drone footage of the park and dunes, as well as Little Sable Point Lighthouse (which is in Silver Lake State Park). Enjoy!

September 5, 2020. We returned to Little Sable Point for a picture session with Cleo and her Ukulele. Lunch in camp. Finally back to Little Sable Point for some sand and beach time. September 6, 2020. End of our vacation, we pack it all up and head home.

September 4, 2020. We went back out to the dunes in the hopes of getting some Mavic Pro footage of the more northern part of the ORV area, and especially the route from the ORV parking lot onto the dunes. Unfortunately it was much more windy and the Mavic Pro struggled with the wind. We got a "battery overheating on discharge" message on the controller, and then a NOT CONNECTED. Luckily one of the nice ORV people gave me a ride over to wear the GPS said the drone was and we found it within seconds. The bad news: the drone has a Navigation Error, probably from a cracked circuit board, although possibly just from a broken antenna. Either way it is basically totaled. The good news: It is insured and State Farm sent a check out right after I notified them. We now have a refurbished Mavic Pro Platinum. Unfortunately, we didn't have a drone for more videos for the rest of the trip. This video does include some additional footage from August 30, 2020 however.

September 3, 2020. We take a walk around the park to look at the Boat Launch Area, the Day Use Area and the wonderful Playground (that makes us wish we were kids again).

September 2, 2020. For our anniversary we went on the Mac Woods Dune Ride. We had been before in 2011 but this time we had better cameras ;) :D. This is the full ride with only a couple of minor cuts (mostly at the beginning before we got on the dunes). It is still a little longer than our normal videos, but I think it is worth it.

September 1, 2020. Today we took the bicycles over to the William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail. We went to the northern trailhead in Hart. It was a little difficult to find the parking, the GPS took us to the end of the trail, where there is no parking. We biked a bit north of the Trailhead parking and then walked around a mile south and came back. Flew the Mavic Pro both from the trail to the south and the parking lot itself so if you want to find the parking lot watching the beginning of this video can help ;)