Stacie
Packing a backpack for backcountry camping is an essential skill. By mastering this, you will be able to get out to see more natural places! Backpacking is a great way to stay fit, explore, and get to places most people don’t get to see. Learn how to pack your backpack for backcountry camping in the…
Wonder how to pack your kayak for a river camping trip? In this introductory video see what we pack and how we fit it in our boats. We recorded this on location at the Canoe Harbor State Forest Campground in Grayling, MI on the Au Sable River. Packing your kayak for a river trip is…
One of the joys of kayaking is exploring along the river! Here is a short video from our visit to the Mason Chapel on the Au Sable River near Grayling, MI. This was a beautiful stop on our 5 day kayaking camping trip last summer. If you are going to be on the south branch…
Camping Bathroom Tips Camping bathroom tips for ladies only! Need some tips on bathrooming while out camping? Don’t let your need to urinate or poo outdoors be a barrier to enjoying your adventures in nature. Topics covered include Leave No Trace burying your poo and toilet paper, packing out wipes and menstrual products, and a…
Love using your hammock and wish you could sleep in it at home? Check out our DIY indoor hammock stand in this video from our family room. Also included is a tour of our tablecloth hammock. Well winter is almost here! When not out camping, we like to set up the hammock at home on…
New Article Published Want to know more about what is happening on North Manitou Island? Stacie has an article in the current issue of Michigan History Magazine, telling the story of the restoration of the Katie Shepard Hotel Project on North Manitou Island. We met on the project back in 2014, and have enjoyed volunteering…
Vince and Stacie discuss fall backpacking gear – what to pack and what to expect when rain is in the forecast!
Yes we really camp for two weeks at a time! One question we get asked frequently is how we keep our phones charged. We use a BigBlue28W Solar Charger, with two Xtreme 20,000mAh Power Packs. This is more than enough for our devices. We use our phones to navigate, record videos, take lots of pictures,…
If you know anything about us, you know how much we love historic preservation and old stories. When we had the need to replace our vintage waterheater, original to our home, we reached out to the manufacturer to see if they were interested in having this relic. They were! Company representatives came to our home…
The trees, rocks, shoreline passing by from the kayak on the river. The rise and fall of the canoe paddle in the lake to a four count rhythm, catching the beat of the universe, as old as time. The feel of the soft sticky mud as I get out of my boat and step into…