My Drummond Island adventure

[opie]

Well, Ive been hemming and hawwing over posting this...

Started out Thursday morning after our dentist appts. It rained almost the entire way up. We got on the island around 4pm. After getting off the ferry, we went to the grocery store to pick up cold food and ice. Then hit up the visitors center to gather campsite cards and a map of the island.

We headed out towards Glen Cove in search of a place to pitch camp. Nothing looked suitable so we headed south on the trail unill we we came to an opening on a rocky shore and a small cove. I forget the name and dont have the map handy.....

It stopped raining long enough for me to set camp and cook some dinner, then it started raining again. We ended up sleeping in the truck because inbetween rain showers, the mosquitos were eating us alive. It really my fault for not putting the bug nets on the hammocks. However...It only added to an otherwise less than desireable so far adventure.

The next morning...we were up, fed and packed by 7:30. We continued on the trail towards Marble Head. It was one of the destinations I wanted to make it to. However...when we got to the stairs, I decided it wasnt something I wanted to attempt seeing as we were rolling solo. Add to that it started raining right as we got back into the truck.

The rest of our time on Drummond amounted to alot of cussing, a pull out with the come-a-long and a damaged (albeit not so bad it effects performance) rear spring mount. I found myself on the one trail I was going out of my way to stay off of. The "tight twisties." I wouldnt recommend this trail to anyone running a realitively stock rig running 31" tires. I should have turned around when I got stuck, but didnt think it would get any worse....It took 4 hours to go roughly 10 or so miles. Most of that time was me stopping and investigating the depth of the water holes and looking for rocks below the surface of the water. Some of the holes were deep, and some of the rocks were large. It made for an interesting 4 hours. I dont have any pictures of the trail because my only goal at this point was to get off it. In one piece. And it was raining.

We did get to snap a pic of an Owl that was nice enough to pose for us...

 

[opie]

We got to the center of town right around lunch time and grabbed a bite to eat at the place right next to the Gorcery store. And then proceded to the ferry and back to De Tour.

I decided to head to St Ignace and take Andrew to Mackinac Island. We hit up Straits State park for a shower, and then hopped on the ferry. Last time he was there he was 2, now hes 6. So we hit up the Fort and spent about 2 hours looking at everything.

Then we got some Ice Cream, and headed back to St Ignace. Back over the bridge for a pizza at Mama Mias, a tour of the Bridge museum and got a hotel room for the night. I was planning on driving back to Lansing Friday night, but was just to darn tired.

Sat we hit up Wilderness State Park on the way home to scout a possible destination in the future.

All in all...Im not sure if my dissapointment with this particular trip was due to the rain, or my expectations of what camping on Drummond would be like. A future trip may be in order...But Im in no rush.

 

[Northern Explorer]

Sounds like a true adventure to me, and you beat me to the island. Nice owl picture by the way.

 

[opie]

I tell you what...it was an adventure. Poor timing...lofty expectations....Not sure....it just wasnt a good time.

 

[jeepmedic46]

Great pictures and great write up, Thank you for sharing.:ylsmoke:

 

[Northern Explorer]

You wouldn't have gotten any less rain if you came with us. That's for sure.

 

[computeruser]

You wouldn't have gotten any less rain if you came with us. That's for sure.

+1. You can call me The Tarp Man.


Anyway, we'll have to try DI again sometime in the future. I'm sure part of the frustration was the single vehicle thing...remember how much fun that was the last time we tried it? Something about ice that didn't support the truck, if my memory serves... :Wow1:

 

[opie]

+1. You can call me The Tarp Man.


Anyway, we'll have to try DI again sometime in the future. I'm sure part of the frustration was the single vehicle thing...remember how much fun that was the last time we tried it? Something about ice that didn't support the truck, if my memory serves... :Wow1:

Could have been the "alone" factor. I was actually looking forward to spending some quiet quality time with Andrew. His mom filled his head with the negatives of "ticks" and "bears." Not a good combo for a 6yo sleeping in the pitch black with coyotes howling off in the distance. He didnt have a good night either.

 

[opie]

Great pictures and great write up, Thank you for sharing.:ylsmoke:

Thanks.

You wouldn't have gotten any less rain if you came with us. That's for sure.

Yeah...I see that.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

This is an Awesome Trip....Opie!

Don't sell yourself short!

Just think of all of the wonderful life long memories that you are creating for your son! This is Awesome!

Just where else, can you find a Cannon in a fort..... with walls filled with holes for shooting Rifles!!?

Thanks for Sharing!:ylsmoke:




.

 

[opie]

This is an Awesome Trip....Opie!

Don't sell yourself short!

Just think of all of the wonderful life long memories that you are creating for your son! This is Awesome!

Just where else, can you find a Cannon in a fort..... with walls filled with holes for shooting Rifles!!?

Thanks for Sharing!:ylsmoke:




.

I agree on that front. I take Andrew almost everywhere. And when Rachel is a little older, Ill start taking her too.

One thing I forgot...and dont know how I did cause its the reason I cant sleep...

RAGING case of poison ivy. I must have picked it up on the many occasions I was grabbing sticks to check water holes. Im aware of my hypersensitivity to the reaction of the oils, so keeping a keen eye out for the vines is always at the top of my list. I must have been derelict in my duties.

Once the benadryl kicks back in, I should be able to return to my slumber.

 

[timbercruiser]

Next time you want to go, let me know. It's always a better time with someone who knows the trails and area. Sounds like we have few people who might make a trip there:EXPO drummond.....

 

[off.track]

too bad the weather and all that didn't help but it sure looks like you guys made good adjustments and still had fun. Drummond is on my list of things to do.

 

[KSJeep]

Wow, what a first campsite, even if it was raining and buggy. One thing I can say is, we always remember the trips that don't go quite as planned. The perfect ones just seem to blur together. You and your family will remember this one for a while and laugh later.

 

[oz97tj]

Nice pics. I see your on GLFWDA, there are always people from there heading up. I doubt I will be up there again this year, but a group of us are talking about a spring run. You can join us.