Summer of 18-#30-Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, RV Repairs Delayed

Monday July 30th, 2018

Bryan called the warranty company to see what the problem with the claim was and they told him they HADN'T received a claim, or spoken to anyone about one for us.  As you can imagine, we were NOT in the best of moods.

He called the RV place back and the girl said she had a problem with her computer and that she would call them.  There was no apology or explanation of why she had lied to us on Friday.  We were so angry but decided we needed to go out and try to forget about it for a while.

We went to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and more specifically the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.  Click on that link to read and learn more about the different stops which are shown in the pictures below.

We stopped at the Visitor Center where we got a map of the drive, and information on each stop and off we went.

We stopped at the Covered Bridge.  There was an informational sign about the drive.

We continued on through.

Our next stop was the Glen Lake Overlook

Glen Lake, you can see the lighter shallow water/sand and boats anchored here.

On we went to the Dune Overlook

Looking to the right from the overlook.

We finally got a picture of South Manitou Island Lighthouse.  We won't be able to visit this time, but maybe one day we'll be back and go on the boat tour/ferry over there.

South Manitou Island in the distance.

There were numerous trails that you could walk but we stayed with the car and rode around. 

We left the dunes area and headed toward the Beech-Maple Forest.  

We saw this Basswood tree by the side of the road.  There were a family there and the kids were having fun climbing it.  It was a great climbing tree.

The dad asked us if we would like our picture taken together which was really nice of him.

and we took a couple of own.

Susie

Bryan

What does this remind you of???  I know "Pops" (Love you Pops xx) you would say "a tree".  Sorry, that's a family joke.  I could make an animal out of this tree or at least a part of one.

A bear's head.

We miss the grandchildren even more when we stop at things like this, as we can see them enjoying climbing the tree and I could have shown them the Bear's Head. They would have thought crazy nan but it would have been fun.  Bryan actually agreed with me that it looked like a Bear's Head, so maybe not so crazy.  Ha!!Ha!!

Next was the Lake Michigan Overlook.  They discourage you from going down the dunes here, and then having to climb back up, as it is eroding them but they don't actually stop you. They just warn you it might take two hours to get back up, and rescue fees if you can't make it on your own.

It was a steep descent and can you imagine climbing back up that steep incline of sand!!!  My calves hurt just looking at it.  The people look like ants at the bottom.

A zoomed in picture of the ants!!!

Making it back to the top and some just starting out.   The quickest we heard anyone say it took them was 45 minutes, others said various times up to two hours.  Phew!!!!

Looking toward South Manitou Island

There was another overlook, Sleeping Bear Dune Overlook, that I climbed up to see the view.  At the top of this small climb was a curve and another steeper climb with no sign of the overlook.  My calves hurt just climbing this in the sand.  I didn't have my water with me or my hat. I didn't want to risk trying to climb more without them, not knowing where exactly the overlook was.  If I could have seen it I would probably have tried it, but the unknown stopped me.

Looking out from the top of the small climb.  There was a steeper climb to the left.

I took this looking out in the other direction.

Nearly back down.

This was the view from the bottom of that small climb.

Bryan was waiting for me, in the shade, at the top of the steep dune that went down to the lake that you saw people climbing in earlier pictures.

That small white dot where the sand meets the water, in the middle, was a small boat.

Can you see it now?  It was definitely a steep drop down there.

The picture below was taken from where the previous picture was taken, except looking toward the left.  There is a steep drop on the other side of that fallen tree trunk and trees.

Here's Susie standing by the fallen tree trunk.

Looking down, you can see the people walking down.

We headed back toward the car park.

This chipmunk came to say "Hi"!!  He was looking for food.

The last stop on our tour was North Bar Lake Overlook.  This is a rare type of geologic remnant.  North Bar Lake is in transition until the sand bar will completely block it off from the big lake.

It is named this because it was once a bay of Lake Michigan, seen here on the other side of the sand bar. This bay has almost been closed off by the build up of the sand bar.  I think this is what happened with Glen Lake that we saw earlier.

Driving through the Pine Plantation nearing the end of the 7.4 mile scenic drive.

It was a fun drive and we headed toward Traverse City to have an early dinner.

At Applebees we made it in time for lunch specials and half price drinks!!  I had Oriental Chicken Salad, Loaded Potato Soup and treated myself to a blackberry sangria. Total Cost $10.74!!!!  Can't beat that.  Applebees has taken over from Olive Garden as my favorite value for money place!!!!

This pug was sitting with his dad, in the car, waiting for mom. Seconds before he was looking straight at us but I was too slow getting the picture!!!

Heading back into the campground.

Tuesday July 31st, 2018

We hadn't heard from the RV place so we called them.  The girl advised us that the warranty company needed to have an inspector come out as it was quite an expensive claim, and she had forwarded it to the lady that deals with coordinating that.  This lady was very helpful, and at least seemed like she was trying to help.  She advised us that the earliest Paul could come out was Friday, and that would be if the inspector was free then as well.  She had only just got the information from the other girl and so hadn't called yet.  This meant that it would be the 3rd before they came out to inspect.  The inspector then had to do his report to the warranty company.  The earliest we could imagine that happening was Monday 6th and that would probably be a miracle.  Then the warranty company had to approve it and the RV company could then order the parts.  The parts take 3 days to get here.  So, if all of this was done the same day as everyone was advised, and there was only a 1 day lag by the inspector to get his report to the warranty company, we were looking at Friday 10th for the parts to arrive.  We leave here Sunday 12th.  Now, bear in mind that nothing so far has been handled with any urgency by the girl at the RV place and that is why we are in the predicament.  We decided we couldn't risk it and explained to the helpful lady that we didn't want anyone to be out any money by ordering parts and then not being able to install them.  After much deliberation we regretfully cancelled the whole thing.  We will need to try again when we get back to Jacksonville.  This warranty runs out in November though, so we need to get everything fixed by then.

This put a damper on the whole day but at least we don't have to worry about it anymore until we get back to Jacksonville.  

We had a lovely sunset tonight though.  These pictures don't do it justice, but I love Bryan's smiling face.

We are going to look at another lighthouse tomorrow.  Yay!!