Mainship Many Moons left Camp Many Moons over a week ago and sits in a marina about 8 miles’ drive away, awaiting her lift-out date. We miss seeing it anchored off-shore and spending the night on board. But we aren’t mourning. So much to do — and fun to have — at the camp which bears the same name but preceded the boat by a few years.
Here in the far-north, “camp” refers to a seasonal get-away. It’s really my 2nd home, since I spend several months a year here — although, without a cabin, my cold-season time is limited. It’s good to return to my land-lubber ways, digging weeds and planting things, hauling brush and trimming trees. And playing on the water rather than traveling over it.
Life in a rustic camp without a cabin is pretty rough but we like it. The transition from boat-life to camper-life is easy. Limited space? Used to that! Constantly shifting temperatures? That, too! No indoor plumbing? No problem! Camper life is easier for me, though, for one big reason. I can leave it whenever I want to and walk the paths or read in the hammock or jump in my car and go somewhere. Feedom! đŸ˜‰
See recent photos from Camp Many Moons below. (Reminder: This is posted under “Camp Many Moons” in the menu. That’s how I began this blog. I added “Many Moons – The Boat” when we began The Great Loop. To see statistics from our long under-way journey, click here.)
Mainship Many Moons sure looked great anchored off-shore at Camp Many Moons in about four feet of water. See how narrow Huron Bay is here near its head? That’s why some call it a fresh-water fjord.
The bay looked vacant for a few days without the boat anchored out there. But we soon appreciated the undisturbed view, especially when changeable weather gives this pinkish hue to sky and water.
The big camper works well as “home” during the summer. The little camper on left is my writing “studio,” where I sit as I write this. It was previously used as a hunting shack. It’s rough. The floor sags. But it has a wood stove inside–crackling away as I write–and is inches from the water’s edge.
We enjoy a lot of bonfires–and, for Jeff’s recent birthday, sparklers too. Roscoe the Siberian Husky seems confused!
Rustic life includes using this Amish “washing machine,” used with a 5-gallon bucket. It works well!
Wet clothes are hung on a clothesline, of course. During rainy periods, it can take days for them to dry. (That’s the big canoe on the ground, and one of many woodpiles in the background.)
It’s hard to grow things in the far-north, which makes it hard to create the privacy screen I want. I’ve planted over a dozen shrubs (like privet) or trees (like juniper) that supposedly are deer-resistant and hardy, but most didn’t survive. It didn’t help that we were gone about a year – on the boat, doing The Great Loop — so couldn’t nurse my latest plantings through their first year. Jeff used the back-hoe to transplant five of them near the road in hopes they’ll thrive in better sun.
I found this baby cedar peeking out from a rock and transplanted it in an open location, covered by deer-deterring netting. Most of our old cedars are dying, and deer treat the young ones like candy.
The Northern White Cedar drops seeds like this every 3-5 years. I “planted” hundreds of these in moist locations, in hopes they’ll escape foragers. It’s an experiment. If even a few sprout, I’ll be happy.
The delicate wild thimble berry is highly prized in the far-north. How thrilled I was to find one on my own land! Just one, but it’s a start!
Entertaining Roscoe is one of my “camp duties.” đŸ™‚ He loves the paddle board! I didn’t have to urge him. He just jumped on one day, years ago, and has been begging to go out ever since.
He joined me in the little canoe too. Getting him in it was fun! đŸ˜„ It’s surprising how much he loves going on the water because Huskies aren’t fond of water. (They prefer snow.)
I didn’t invite Roscoe on this outing…a brand-new use (for me) of the paddle board. A jet ski is pulling me. I did manage to stand up, and even to steer it, for awhile. So fun!
I also didn’t invite him on this kayak outing. He has tried to climb on the kayak, too. It didn’t go well!
One of the joys of camp life is wildlife, like this young deer snacking on the waterfront. We hear more than we see…lots of eagles and geese, but also loons and cranes. And, lately, coyotes.
I do miss the view of the boat sitting off-shore, and miss paddling out there to sleep or just be alone.
But with unobstructed views like this, I don’t miss it long! September weather is so changeable, which keeps it interesting. This moon rise peeked out after a day of rain and wind. The water is so still that it reflects the solar flames on the dock.
We often sit at the picnic table on the end of the dock to watch the water and sky and sea birds…
And sometimes the view is obstructed by fog or mist. Still, beautiful!
SO interesting & fun to read. I’m glad you don’t mind the ‘privy’ life. I had plenty of that at our cottage in TC.
Keep posting & beware of snakes & other nefarious creatures.
We have resident garter snakes. I don’t mind them because they help keep down rodents and bugs, though they have startled me sometimes when I’m in the woodpiles.
For Many Moons 
Keep writing!
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SO interesting & fun to read. I’m glad you don’t mind the ‘privy’ life. I had plenty of that at our cottage in TC.
Keep posting & beware of snakes & other nefarious creatures.
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We have resident garter snakes. I don’t mind them because they help keep down rodents and bugs, though they have startled me sometimes when I’m in the woodpiles.
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Woodpiles or in your ‘throneroom’.
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Haha! Only in the wood piles. Thank God.
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