Harrisville State Park Campground

Our camp sites were fairly large, but low on grass and high on dirt.

Photo of our site, taken from across the site behind ours.

A tire on the camper exploded on the way to the park.
It did some major damage to the wheelwell, but
didn't interfere with pulling the camper.

Kathy taking photos of trees clinging to the bank.

Water temperature was in the 60s on this day.

We did some sightseeing a few miles away where we found this school. The sign reads:

Bailey School

Built in 1907 of Norway pine, the Bailey School is one of the few remaining one-room, log schoolhouses still standing in Michigan. It was built at the site of the C.A. Johnson Logging Camp west of Mikado for the children of the logging crews, and bears the name of a lumberman who was part of the crew that built the school. Partially restored in 1973, the structure was disassembled, moved and restored in 1998 to its current Sturgeon Point site. It is furnished with items used during its time, including a recitation bench, desks, drinking pail and coal stove.

The map of Europe is from the early 1900s.

Kathy had to stay after school.

A short walk from the school brought us to the
Sturgeon Point lighthouse.

My zoom lens confirmed that I saw someone at the top.

As we approached the lighthouse, we saw a wooden boat on display.
The signs read:

“Bernice D”

Built 1915
Peshtigo, WI
Length 30’ 5”
Width 9’2”
9 Gross Tons
Official #215202
Last Recorded
Use in 1981
Sault St. Marie, MI

The “Bernice D”

This is a gasoline powered fishing boat typical of many used on the Great Lakes in the first half of the 20^th century. Fishing for lake trout, white fish and other species was a major industry from the early 19^th century until the sea lamprey, an ocean predator which entered the lakes in ships’ ballast water, decimated the fish population and wiped out commercial fishing on the lakes in the 1940’s-1950’s.

Kathy and the "Bernice D"

Kathy and Jeanie checked out three rudders
from Great Lakes ships.

Anchor and Windlass

Capstan for the anchor, and an Ice Crusher to
provide crushed ice for the catch.

I climbed to the top of the lighthouse

At the right is the center of the original Fresnel lens
which would have magnified the light from a
kerosene flame. It could be seen from 8 miles away.
At the left, is the current LED light which can be
seen from an even greater distance ... and a much
lower cost.

Back at the campground, we spotted this light-weight
Lifetime camper tent trailer which we had noticed
recently in a Costco mailing.

The camper and equipment travel in a utility
trailer which can be used for other purposes.
Trailer weight is 700 lbs; tent is 25 lbs.

That's it for this trip. Stop by again.