Site #11: Seaton Creek Campground

Afternoon of 9/4 – Morning of 9/5

When driving up, I was worried the campground might be full or at least busy from leftover Labor Day weekend campers. To my surprise, there was just one occupied site that soon left. After that, we were the only campers the rest of the trip! It felt both cool and eerie.

We snagged site #11, perfect for tenting and parking Bertha on the higher ledge. There are steps that lead down to the campsite, like a 70’s living room. We unpacked and started our stay.

It didn’t take long for the desire to cool off to set in, as it was mid-80’s, even up north. The quick trail to the small, sandy beach gave relief from the heat, and the river was cool and calm. There was originally a pontoon boat parked here, and whether they saw us struggling to find another spot on the steep hillside, or if they had completed their stay, they puttered away and we raced back to snag it. No rush was needed, as we had the spot to ourselves the entire time. We floated, swam, searched for rocks, drank and relaxed. Taking in the sites and sounds while sun bathing is a favorite activity at Seaton.

The only things lighting the area were our phones as we spun the Pokestop and caught some new releases. I got a lucky trade that night, which seemed fitting!

You could hear a pack of coyotes talking to each other along with the crickets. It must have been too late in the year for fireflies, as I didn’t see any. I fell asleep quickly and was told I snored. All in a day’s work.

Little Mac Suspension Bridge and Bucksnort Bar

Morning of 9/5 – Morning of 9/6

The next day we tackled the Manistee River Trail! Well, a mile of it. A short hike from the campground is “Little Mac”, a large wooden suspension bridge. The area of river it rests over had a good current, but was calm near the shore. The water was cold! But once you got in it felt incredibly refreshing. There was natural clay we made some small bowls and cups out of, leaving them out to dry in the sun. I picked a flower bouquet, since there were plenty of wildflowers along the shore to choose from. After a couple Summer Shandys, we headed back. The trail was wild and weaved between oak, pine and maple forests. We passed some clearings filled with ferns and telephone poles. 

The small village of Mesick may not seem like it has a lot to offer, but Bucksnort Bar was a definite gem. You would be remiss if you missed the ’34 Harley Motorcycle on display behind the glass case. We ordered a couple Oberons and spun Pokestops. It was a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

We drove back to Seaton towards the setting sun and stopped at a roadside park to catch it. When we returned, an attempt to play scrabble was made, but we were too high and gave up after a pathetic performance. We opted for drinks by the fire instead, a much better choice. That night the coyotes were even louder!

The next morning brought rain, and after coffee and visiting the creek to find frogs (leopard frogs AND peepers!), we packed up and headed back. We stopped at a small restaurant in Newago and I had one of the best burgers of my life.