Mackinaw, Here We Come!

We'll be heading out the door in the morning for Mackinaw City. I got everything done, and yet, still more things come to mind. I just made up a new CD to take on the road, with songs the kids like. It should be a fun mix for the drive, and might just get us through the entire drive.

We'll stop around 11 for lunch, likely, and a gas fill up in Gaylord, as that's the northern most Speedway gas station, and I have a free gift card for them. Or, rather, it's the northern most one on the trail up to Mackinaw. I think there were some further north, but they were branched out towards the sides of the state, and not the tip.

I had thought about packing a lunch, but decided to splurge on just burgers, and eat a snack from the cooler (which isn't cooler foods right now- it's all snacks foods in packages), and then we each have a water bottle, and dozens of assorted brands of flavor pouches. We can fill those for free, and it'll be a cheap lunch.

Hopefully I can find a park for the kids, so they can get out and run around for a bit. My goal is to be in Mackinaw City around 1-1:30. I can check in after 1. From there, we'll get camp set up, and head to nearby Cheboygan for groceries. The only grocery store in Mackinaw City is a tiny, highly over priced IGA. In Cheboygan, there are real grocery stores, and a Super Walmart, so I should be able to get much better prices on the food.

My step mom called today- her younger brother found out where we'll be, and made a request for me to stop in St. Ignace for fresh smoked lake trout. He knew the place, and where it's at, and everything, and said to bring back $20 worth.

That got both my dad AND Nick wanting some as well. My dad wants smoked white fish, and Nick said "Whatever", so probably a mix of a few types for him. I'm going to be in St. Ignace on Friday, but I don't know if the fish will keep until Tuesday, so I'm going to go back to St. Ignace on Tuesday when we leave to pick it up.

I'm nervous. I won't lie. I'm so very nervous- maybe I forgot something important. Or what if something happened, and the park doesn't have my reservations? Or what if I get sick? Or one of the kids? Or what if they fight non stop the entire time?

I'm sure I can handle it. I have my panic attack meds, worst case scenario, I suppose.

I updated my status on MySpace with:

Wondering if I lost my mind in thinking I can handle 3 kids in a tent for a week... I'll either survive, or my next update will be from Pine Rest. ;)

Pine Rest is a local mental hospital ;)

I hope to post a few pics, or updates here and there, but I'll wait and see how much time I have, and how much of a desire I have to walk to where ever I need to go to find the wifi hot spots (my camping section is wifi free, but it was $10 cheaper a night!)

I have a bag filled with the last minute things I thought I packed (I KNOW I packed my brush, but lo & behold, there it sat on my bathroom counter tonight...). The kids are charging their DS's. We have 1 car charger, and I'll take 2 regular chargers with me as well.

My phone is on the charger, but I need to remember the charger tomorrow. I have a car charger, but that won't get me far on the short trips I have to take here and there. I'd rather have the peace of mind of having it charge over night.

I found out tonight that they are predicting rain tomorrow night around 10, until around 4am. I don't think we'll do a campfire tomorrow night. Maybe, we'll see. I don't want to buy wood, just to let it set out and get soaking wet.

At least we'll get to test the tent's rain preparedness right off the bat, right? I sprayed it down with silicone- the canopy as well. I also sealed the seams, and have the seam sealer with me. I have duct tape, as well, in case it's needed for a quick leak sealer. ;)

I am just really hoping that all goes well this week. I want to be able to do something like this every summer, but my sanity is a big part of it. I don't anticipate it being too bad, since the kids can run around and play in different areas of the campground, and except for nights, they won't be confined to sitting in a small tent with one another.

Wish me luck!