Bug Smacker

We are gathering for our 6th year reunion here at the Clear Lake State Park in Atlanta, MI. Terri and I have been looking forward to this trip all summer. Once again we are joined by our family and friends for a little fun and a lot of food. This year has been quite difficult for Terri and although this trip took quite a lot out of her physically, it was just what she needed to lift her spirits. I want to thank all who were able to join us this year. Can’t wait for next year!

We are now camping at Outdoor Adventures Saginaw Bay Resort in Standish, Michigan. We chose this park due to its location and the availability of full hookups. I will continue to work while we are here, so I need to have cell phone reception as well.

One thing that has changed this year is they now offer Wi-Fi. We must have been here the day it got turned on. While scanning for the Wi-Fi signal that we broadcast while camping I found a new one. I called the main office and they said internet for the Saginaw Bay Park was not yet available, but when I tried connecting it worked. The Wi-Fi signal showed up as something called “Help Me” which I found interesting. On the start page the service showed a cost of $0.00 dollars.

The Wi-Fi service is provided by TengoInternet. The next day when I tried to use it again the signal name had changed. The start page now stated the service would cost $12 per week or $2 per day. The only other Outdoor Adventure Park to offer Wi-Fi is the one in Davison which does not charge extra for their internet access.

On Sunday we went to the outdoor chapel. The service was performed by Pastor Jerry and his wife. They sang songs and the pastor provided us with a brief sermon. This was the only time I can remember being carried away by mosquitoes during a Sunday church service. Like most other days so far this year these nasty bugs have tried to keep us indoors.

Wednesday, we met our friends Tom & Cathy and their son Ollie at Sporty’s Wing Shack & Smokehouse in Pinconning, Michigan. I wanted to try this place after they were recently voted #1 in a local poll. Right up front the waitress informed us that they were out of a lot of things due to the contest. They were caught unprepared. They did however have plenty of wings which was the reason we were here anyway.

Like the reviews I had read before coming to this place stated, the service was real slow. It seemed to take forever to get our food. When the food arrived however, it was well worth the wait. The wings were hot and fresh. They were deep fried and crispy, then dipped in your choice of sauces. The sauces range from mild to what they claim as the hottest in Michigan. I would definitely return, just make sure you have plenty of time.

Now as for the weather, Wednesday it was a hot and humid 95 degrees outside. It was so hot outside that while I was in the shower, I did not need to even turn on the hot water faucet. The water was heated in the pipe on the way to our campsite. Two days later following a big storm the temperature plummeted and could barely make it into the 50’s.

On another weather related note, we were convinced that the guy camping across from us was one of our local TV weather personalities. I got a chance to speak to him as he walked past our site one day and guess what I said. Yup; I asked what he thought of the weather.

Retraction: Sadly we no longer support Sporty’s Wing Shack & Smokehouse in Pinconning. The quality of the food is not what it had been in the past and the service has been slow.