Indiana Dunes National & State Park, Chesterton Indiana

Visited: 1 - 3 October 2024

Nights Stayed: 2 nights

We left home on route to Amana, Iowa but our first stop was Indiana, an area known for it's 45 miles of pristine shoreline along Lake Michigan. Also well known in the area is Indiana Dunes State Park (which is where we are camping) and Indiana Dunes National Park.

Firstly, Indiana Dunes State Park is surrounded by Indiana Dunes National Park. The state park consists of over 2,100 acres of beautiful pristine and historic landscape. In the early 1900 the area was recognized for its potential thereby being established as a state park in 1925. Large sand dunes located beyond the shoreline have taken thousands for years to form.

The state park which is open year round has a campground with 140 campsites offering both primitive or sites with power. The visitors center has natural and historic displays, an area for observing birds and other critters. The park also offers more than 16 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Our campsite #36

Visitors Center

Large sand dunes

Beautiful Lake Michigan

Beautiful Lake Michigan sunsets

Indiana Dunes National Park, a federally administered park consists of over 15,170 acres and spans across 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. The NP is located about 50 miles southeast of Chicago. It was established as a national lakeshore in 1966 but renamed as a national park in 2019.

The NP campground consists of 66 unserviced campsites and modern restrooms with hot and cold showers. It is open from 1 April to 1 November and closed during winter months. With over 50 miles of trails there is an opportunity to explore this ever changing landscape. In many area the huge living or moving dunes are slowly being blown inland burying the forests as they go.

Mount Baldy Beach Trail

Hike Time: .75 miles, 75 feet of elevation gain, about 1 hour

Mount Baldy is 126 feet above the water level of Lake Michigan and is moving inland at a rate of between 4-7 feet per year. The beach sand on the dunes moves when the prevailing northwest wind exceeds 11 km per hour. Because there is no sand collecting on the waters edge this worsens the movement of Mount Baldy. Beach erosion takes away more sand from Mount Baldy than the waves are bringing in. Much of this is caused due to the breakwall built for Michigan City Harbour. The Army Corp of Engineers began feeding the beach in 1974 to try and correct the effects of the breakwall.

Aerial View of Mount Baldy courtesy of NPS

The Mount Baldy Trail Hike in an out and back trail considered to be a moderately challenging route. The trail features a staircase at the start and sweeping views of Lake Michigan near the end. Walking down to the beach on loose sand was a test but coming back up was where the challenge was.

Bailly Homestead, Chellberg Farm, and Cemetery Trail Loop

Hike time:1.6 miles, 2.5 kms 1.5 hours

The Chellberg Farm was established by Anders and Johanna Chellberg whom moved from Sweden to this area in 1863. In 1869 they purchased 40 acres of land thereby creating the homestead. In 1874 an additional 40 acres was added. The brick farmhouse was built in 1885 after the wood framed house was destroyed by fire 1884. They were the first of 3 generations to live on this land. 

Continuing along the trail we found the Bailly Homestead which was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962. This was the home of French Canadian fur trader Joseph Bailly from 1774-1835 who was one of the earliest settlers in northern Indiana. Bailly was an independent fur-trader who's business spread from Montreal to Louisiana. 

The Bailly Cemetery is located 3/4 miles away from the homestead on the edge of a sandy ridge. In 1827 Joseph Bailly chose this area for the resting place of his young son. The entire Bailly family is interred in this cemetery.

A Century of Progress - 1933 World's Fair Homes

I bet you are wondering what Indiana Dunes National Park and the 1933 World's Fair has in common...well let me tell you the story. In 1933 the World's Fair which was held in Chicago was called the Century of Progress. It was meant to offer people who were in midst of the Great Depression hope through futuristic changes. The houses were built in such a way they demonstrated modern architectural design, experimental materials, and new technologies such as central air conditioning and dishwashers. In 1935 real estate developer Robert Bartlett bought 5 homes from the homes and industrial arts exhibit at the world's fair. Four of these homes were transported via barge to their new location across Lake Michigan to Beverly Shores, a resort community he was developing. The fifth house was dismantled, trucked to Beverly Shores where it was reassembled. Today, the structures are leased by Indiana Landmarks from the National Park Service, then subleased to people who have restored them in exchange for long-term leases.

The Florida Tropical House was the only state sponsored Century of Progress home, it was commissioned by the state of Florida to lure tourists to "the Sunshine State". The centerpiece of the house is the two-storey living room with an overhanging balcony. The original residence cost $15,000 to build.

The Armco-Ferro House was manufactured for $4,500 by Insulated Steel Inc for American Rolling Mill Company(ARMCO) and the Ferro Enamel Corporation. This was the first to be constructed using frameless steel construction and an exterior of vitreous enamel. It only took five days to construct the 2,400 square foot from prefabricated panels. This home could be mass produced and also be affordable for an American family.

The Wieboldt-Rostone House showcased an exciting new building material that "never needed repairs". The material composed of limestone, shale, and alkali. However, the lake effects of snow, wind, and rain proved to be to much for the Rostone causing severe deterioration by the 1950's. The Rostone has subsequently been covered with Perma-stone, a popular concrete stucco.

The Cypress Log Cabin was unlike the other ultra-modern homes made of steel, stone, and glass, it showcased cypress logs which are resistance to water and decay. The architect  showed the wood's versatility and durability by incorporating cypress siding, shakes, structural timbers, walls, flooring, and furniture.

The House of Tomorrow's first floor was designed as a service area, originally containing the garage and an airplane hangar. The second and third floors clad in glass contained the main living spaces and a solarium. Because of the floor to ceiling windows the heat loss during the winter months was negated by the solar heat gain reducing the need for mechanical heating. However, the heat gain during the summer months was too great for the air-conditioning and it failed. When Bartlett moved the building he replaced the windows with operating ones to allow air-flow.   

Indiana Dunes State Park and National Park did not disappoint. With the copious trails to hike, the beautiful beach to walk, the numerous historic buildings to explore, and to end the days with gorgeous sunsets to enjoy, we will make this place a regular stop.

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Annual R-Pod Ontario Rally

The annual Ontario R-Pod Rally was the brainchild of Christine M. and her husband. In order to participate you must owe an R-Pod RV. However, in saying that Christine did not turn away anyone that wanted to be an R-Pod owner. 

It all started 3 years ago and has culminated into a wonderful annual 3 day event. This year it was at MacGregor Point Provincial Park, near Port Elgin  from 20-22 September. The rally included an organized hike, games, crafts, evening bonfires, a potluck, and more. In total there were 20 R-Pods from across Ontario with the furthest away being Ottawa.

The weather co-operated for us the entire weekend. Here are some pictures of the fun times. 

Great group of R-Podders

Several games/crafts were played throughout the afternoon including corn hole, axe throw, ladderball toss, and rock painting.

After a fun afternoon of games/crafts and of course friendly chit chat we all sat down to a wonderful potluck dinner. The food was absolutely amazing.

After the wonderful potluck, prizes were handed out courtesy of Forest River R-Pod and Brian from Goshen, Indiana.

All in all a fantastic weekend. We all met and made many new R-Pod friends and shared stories both good and bad. The one thing everyone indicated is they can't wait for the next R-Pod rally. Thank-you again Christine.

MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Visited: 19 - 23 September 2024

Nights Stayed: 4

MacGregor Point Provincial Park is part of the Ontario parks system located on beautiful Lake Huron near Port Elgin. Covering over 1204 hectors, it was established in 1975. The park is open year round for a multitude of activities from camping to cross country skiing. There are over 360 camping opportunities including rustic to sites with power to roofed accommodations.

An Ontario R-Pod Rally was happening this weekend that is why we chose this park, more on that later. 

Entrance to MacGregor Point

Our Site # 240 Foxway Campground

The park offers over 20 km of very well marked hiking and biking trails. The park is huge so bringing a bike makes getting around so much easier. The Old Shore Trail follows the lakeshore for approximately 6 km. It was a roadway at one time and provides a hard packed surface for walking and biking.

Susan walking Old Shore Road Trail

Black Capped Chickadee

Pair of Mute Swans

Knapweed

This marl wetland has very poor soil due to the low level of essential nutrients like nitrogen. The plants that grow here in the marl have adapted to these poor infertile conditions. This marl is one of the most fragile spots in MacGregor with its frost heaved boulders and clumps of vegetation. Several of the plants are carnivorous with specialized leaves enabling the plant to capture and digest its prey like the pitcher plant.

Pitcher-plant Marl

The Tower Trail is a 3.5 km circular trail providing views of the Ducks Unlimited wetland. Some members of the rally decided on a morning hike, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity. This trail is considered to be an easy one and is also very popular with birders.

Invasive species - Autumn Olive

Another beautiful sunset on Lake Huron

Enjoying early morning campfire

The 4km Lake Ridge Trail winds through an area of woods, wetlands, and abandoned farm fields. Evidence of Lake Nipissing, a glacier lake that occupied much of the Great Lakes basin 5,000 years ago can be seen along this trail. Evidence of historic homesteads can be seen with stone fences, stone wells, and apple orchards.

Old homestead fence

Old homestead stone well

Lake Nipissing Bluffs

The trail was steeped with so many beautiful plants, fungi, and trees. Here are just a few.

Glacial erratics is a term given to a boulder which has been transported from its source by a glacier. Many can not be traced back to their source. However, this one is a large piece of quartzite, a rock that outcrops in Killarney Provincial Park area about 160 km to the north. Originating in the Precambrian Period, this quartzite is believed to be 2000 million years old.

As a glacier advanced across the area it carried stones and pebbles in a mixture of clay and sand. These materials got laid down in the form of till and remain on top of the limestone bedrock in various thicknesses. Over time the waves of glacial Lake Nipissing washed away the smaller particles leaving behind boulders of various sizes.

As another wonderful hike comes to an end, Macgregor Point Provincial Park did not disappoint. Around every corner there was beauty and a wanting for more. After 4 days I still did not get to explore all of the park. It just makes me want to come back.

Jerusalem Artichoke