July 22 – 24, 2024
DAY 3: After a long drive we arrived at Lake Michigan! The girls, especially Kam had a hard time believing this was not an ocean! We explored the waterfront in Beverly Shores as we watched the sunset over Chicago. The beach was flush with the smoothest beach pebbles of every color and type.
DAY 4: we settled in to camp and hit the visitors center to grab Jr. Ranger books and form a plan.
Then to the beach for some swimming and dunes exploration.
We’ve had a few highlights so now it’s time for reality. A trip like this is not for the feint of heart. It’s a lot of work and logistically complicated at the best of times. The rest of day 4 was taken up with power issues in the camper, a generator that decided to die, and a thunderstorm so severe the entire campground had to shelter in the showers.
DAY 5: Back on track with a hike up Mt. Baldy and out to one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. Mt. baldy was fascinating. It is a 120+ft wandering dune that moves and is currently swallowing a Forrest.
https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/mt-baldy.htm
Next we trekked through marshland with about 968 bazillion of our closest mosquito friends to visit the Bailey Homestead and Chellburg Farm, two historical houses of the earliest permanent settlers to this part of Indiana.
The girls were sworn in as Jr. Rangers and we finished the evening off with a little more beach time and roasting marshmallows at the rangers campfire chat.
