Urban Camping

I have camped in Little Rock and Raleigh. So it may be a stretch to describe my campsite in Clinton, Iowa as urban camping. Clinton is a small city of 25,000. But until recently, it boasted a minor league baseball team.

Due to Major League Baseball’s minor league contraction in 2020, Clinton now has a more modest claim to a collegiate summer team.  Why have I posted a photo of their stadium?  Because my campsite backs up to their downtown property.

I will say that Riverview Park is the gem of Clinton, a city which seems to be really struggling. The park included a riverboat theater, pickle ball courts, a swimming pool, and a great walking/biking path.

These are some of the nicest courts that I’ve ever seen. Eight beautiful courts, and no one played during during a weekend.  Too cold or windy, I guess.

Callie and I walked about eight miles up and down this path each day of our stay. Watching the barges work is always a good time.

April Camping: Take Two

 Our early April camping attempt met nasty weather. Last week, Julia started a kitchen cabinet project that drove me out of the house to the safety of the Scamp. The cabinet guy is good at what he does. In fact, he installed the original cabinets in this house thirty years ago. But I didn’t need to be around while the kitchen underwent open heart surgery.

So I fled for Iowa and the Mississippi River. Callie was happy to go too since she would have been staying in a basement crate to keep her out of the way. We decided to stay at Clinton’s waterfront park, which is an urban campground associated with the Clinton marina. 

First come, first serve, I picked a concrete slab furthest from the train tracks and the inoperable bathroom(waiting for parts).  For the inconvenience, camping was only $15/night and included electric, water, picnic table, fire ring and dump station.

Upper Peninsula: Downtime on Lake Michigan

From August 2021

Callie and I stayed three days at Little Bay du Noc campground.  I didn't do a whole lot:  walking the several campground loops and trails, reading by the fire, and enjoying the quiet mid-week solitude.  There were some sites with a lakeview but they came with neighbors and sometimes contractor generators. We were happy where we were.

By the end of our stay, I was ready to move on. It was time to move on to the shores of Otchipwe-kitchi-gami, (Ojibwe for the Big Sea) or Lake Superior.

Upper Peninsula: Bay du Noc

 From August 2021

After  wild weekend at Kleinke Park, I was done with camping directly on the beach.  Hitching up the Scamp on Monday, August 16th, I continued heading north past Escanaba, Wells, Gladstone, and Rapid River.  

I headed east and then south until I was across from Gladstone on the other side of the water at  Little Bay du Noc, a national forest campground.   The campsites were well-spaced and nestled into the trees.  No electric, but there were pit toilets and garbage service. $22/night without the senior pass (next year).

There was a small beach but not for camping.  And there wasn't anybody on it.  

 

Instead of sunrise views, I had sunset views from the east side of the bay.

This was camping.

Upper Peninsula: Menominee

 From August 2021

I drove into Menominee, Michigan several times to escape the crowded campground at Kleinke Park.   It's a pretty little town with a history dating back to its indigenous peoples. 

Callie and I walked along the marina and on the pier out to the breakwater.

 

On Sunday, there was a car show.  This one combined the auto and nautical theme in form and function.

Inboard engine

Upper Peninsula: Party Hearty

 From August 2021

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, "party hardy" is the original idiom used to describe someone capable of partying for a long time and having fun."  Despite the name of this blog, I do not fit into that category. I've been known to drink one or two really good beers over a long period of time and then take a nap.

Then there's the folks who bring their own Tiki Bar along to set up in the campsite.  Or the guy who thinks that drinking a six pack of cheap beer is just getting warmed up.

On Friday afternoon and continuing into Sunday afternoon, I observed a number of people who fit into the party hearty category, including my closest campground neighbors.

Not a Stock Photo--Actual Neighbor

Kleinke Park campground changed overnight.  Here's a fun game:  try to find my Nissan pickup in the photo.  You'll need a different photo to find the Scamp, which can no longer be seen.

If you guessed center right, you are correct. Here's the Scamp.

My truck is still there.  You just can't see it because of all of the other vehicles blocking the view.

What to do?  Too late to find another campground.  Finding an open campsite without a reservation for even a small trailer in the UP on an August weekend is pretty close to impossible.  I decided to gut it out and spend my days elsewhere.  It turns out Menominee, Michigan is a pretty place.