northerncamper.com Shipwreck Diving Before the Mackinac Bridge Recipes, Puzzles & More! FREE AUGUST 2010 Stoney Creek Driving Range! Open Dawn til’ Dusk 7 days a week, with an automatic golf ball dispenser that accepts 1, 5,& 10 dollar bills. WE 300 yard driving range DELIVER! 15 covered stalls & a natural grass hitting area, putting green & chipping Green Just 1 Block East of Buckets of Balls Missaukee County Park Campground Small $5. Medium $6. Large $7. Try Our Famous Lunch Buffet! 231-839-7777 4664 S. Morey Rd. (M-55/M-66) • Lake City DIRECTIONS ~ From Cadillac: M-55 east, (231) 839-1177 8 miles to M-66, turn left (north), 1/4 mile. 45 N. Morey Rd. • Lake City Mon., 7 am - 6 pm • Tues. - Thurs., 7 am - 9 pm • Fri., 7 am - 10 pm • Sat., 8 am - 10 pm Wine Tasting Tuesdays ~ 6-8 pm Beer Tasting 4th Saturday Offering the finest of Michigan & imported wines . by the glass, bottle or retail to-go selections! Great selection of domestic and imported beer • Lattes, Cappuccino, Loose Leaf Tea to go along with that appetizer or specialty pizza! • Creamy Fruit Smoothies Live Entertainment Fridays ~ 7-10 pm • Ice Cream & Sundaes • Paninis, Wraps & Traditional Sandwiches Shop The Barrel room! locaTed in Thelower level of The Shay, • Pizza, Salads & Fresh Soups filled wiTh many unique gifts See You at the Shay! and wine accessorieS 106 S. Mitchell St., Cadillac • 231-775-6150 • shaystation.com ✎ The Northern Camper l 3 Editor’s Pencil For the 2010 calendar year, a Motor Vehicle Permit will still be required for entry to state parks, recreation From our humble beginning six years ago, areas and boating access sites. As citizens renew their The Northern Camper has enjoyed a mutu- vehicle registrations on and after Oct. 1, 2010, they ally supportive relationship with the Michigan will be offered the option to support state parks and DNRE (Department of Natural Resources and recreation areas, state forests and boating access sites by Environment) at www.michigan.gov/dnr. They paying an additional $10 toward their vehicle registra- tion fee. have been in the forefront of getting the maga- Out-of-state residents will still be required to pur- zine out to campers visiting our state parks and chase a $29 annual Motor Vehicle Permit, or $8 Daily in turn we like to help them get information permit. out to you, whether it be park renovations and enhancements like last summer’s Mitchell State Park overhaul, conservation education pro- HOW THE FUNDING WILL BE USED grams or licensing information • 80% will be used to rebuild and maintain your In light of that please see the information be- State Parks and Recreation areas. low regarding the Michigan State Parks License • 10% will be directed to our county, city and town- plate “Recreation Passport.” It’s important for ship parks through grant funding. • 7% will go toward your state forest campgrounds, everyone who values our state parks system and and hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. a way to help sustain them. And it’s easy! You • 2.75% will support cultural and historic resources, can participate the next time you go in for your such as historic reenactments and lighthouse preser- license renewal by just checking YES for your vation. $10 Recreation Passport • 0.25% will be used to educate and update you on ~Jim Dissette & Kathy Salvatore, co-publishers the value of the Recreation Passport. Visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport for more information, or call 517-373-9900. New State Parks Licensing System Starts October 1st. The new State Parks funding law takes affect Oct. 1, 2010, meaning citizens who want to visit state parks this year will still need a 2010 Motor Vehicle Permit. This will be a new source for Michigan’s state parks, state RiveR CountRy CampgRound recreation areas, state forest campgrounds, non-motor- on the muskegon River ized trails and pathways and local parks takes effect Canoe, tube, Kayak The Recreation Passport replaces the traditional Rental on Site state park and boating Motor Vehicle Permit (MVP), or “window sticker,” system in place now at state parks, rec- reation areas and boat launches. Motorists may choose to pay a $10 fee when they renew their vehicle plate reg- Store, Rec Room, Lp istration. This fee will authorize entry into state parks modern Restrooms and boat launches for the usual one-year period of the registration. Camping fees will remain in place. Family Friendly groups may 15 through When residents opt to pay the $10 passport fee, they’ll nature trails, playground Welcome december 1 enjoy a per-vehicle savings of nearly 60 percent over the current $24 annual Motor Vehicle Permit fee. “It is our hope that the less expensive fee will encourage all Michigan residents to buy the Recreation Passport for every vehicle they register,” said Recreation Division Chief Ron Olson. 6281 River Rd., Evart ◊ 231.734.3808 ◊ campandcanoe.com 4 l The Northern Camper Located in Downtown Lake City WhiteTail Realty Falling in Love V O L u M E 6 I S S u E 4 l A u G u S T 2 0 1 0 with Northern Michigan? Wreckdiving .....................................5 Come see us for cabins, Book Review ....................................8 Rick Lantz cottages & recreational properties! Camper’s Knot ..................................8 Camper’s Gadget ..............................9 Sudoku .............................................9 Cookin’ Campers ............................ 10 Carolyn Lantz Out and About ............................... 12 Festivities ....................................... 14 231-839-8142 • 877-212-1405 History Corner ............................... 16 www.LakeCityMiRealEstate.com Campground Critter ....................... 18 Jeff Marion 101 S. Main St., Lake City Crossword ...................................... 19 Vegetation Station ..........................20 Got Rocks? ..................................... 21 Have a Nice Day! Small Town Stop .............................22 BC Pizza...................................................................2 Bob Evans ..............................................................15 Camper’s Choice ............................24 Cadillac Family Pharmacy ......................................25 The Northern Boater ......................26 Cadillac Farmers’ Market .......................................11 Cadillac Wexford Transit Authority ................. 17, 32 Campground Directory ..................28 Camp Cadillac .......................................................25 Coffee Cup .............................................................18 The Northern Camper is distributed May though October for Wexford, Culver’s of Cadillac ..................................................9 Missaukee, north Osceola, west Roscommon, west Traverse, north Korner Gem ...........................................................20 Leelanau and south Antrim counties. Missaukee County Parks ..........................................8 The Northern Camper is published by Niche Communications Missaukee Paddle Sports ........................................20 in Lake City, Michigan. Entire contents copyright 2010 by Niche Ranch Rudolf .........................................................13 Communications. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner is strictly prohibited. The Northern Reed City .................................................................7 Camper is a registered trademark and its use is prohibited. Niche River Country Campground .....................................3 Communications reserves the right to refuse advertising not deemed Rustic Rafters .........................................................13 acceptable by the publishers Jim Dissette and Kathy Salvatore. Shay Station .........................................................2, 9 Advertising Information Stoney Creek Golf Course ........................................2 (231) 394-1549 or (443) 480-5830 Town Pump Saloon ................................................16 [email protected] WhiteTail Realty .......................................................4 Corner Family Restaurant ......................................23 PO Box 14 Boardman Paddle and Peddle ................................27 Lake City, MI 49651-0014 ©2010 www.northerncamper.com The Northern Camper l 5 Lake Adventures Shipwrecks: Secrets of the Lakes When Doug Bell looks out onto Lake Michigan shipping areas in the world. One hundred years he’s usually not daydreaming about boating or ago shipping companies pushed their captains kayaking. He’s usually thinking about the next to maintain schedules no matter the impending shipwreck he’ll be able to explore. weather. Bell, proprietor of Scuba North in Traverse City, has explored wrecks all over the world. A professional diver who worked in the oil exploration business for two decades, Bell’s fasci- nation with history merged with his love for diving and believes that there are few better spots in the world for wreck diving. “These lakes are not for divers look- ing for a coral reef with exotic fish,” Bell says. “It’s beautiful, usually clear water to dive in, but it’s the wrecks that draw the most attention.” And there is no shortage of ship- wrecks. The bowsprit of the schooner Gunilda, paint intact after 100 years. The Great Lakes are renowned for their sudden and ferocious storms. South of Traverse City, and between Sleeping Thirty-foot waves, 75 mph winds, snow whiteouts Bear Dunes and the two Manitou Islands lies one and ice have been ingredients in some of more of the most treacherous areas for