We enjoyed a cool Michigan morning and a few spotty showers, but the sun eventually found its way through the clouds. That was a real cause for celebration, since we knew that would make a difference for our hunt for the elusive morel mushroom.

We geared up and were off into the woods. All three of us gals have mesh bags, good walking sticks, a sharp knife, mud boots, and lots of mosquito repellant…we’re pros. The only problem was deciding where to start, as we are not at all familiar with the woods up here. Most of the day we wandered from spot to spot, looking up for dead trees and hoping for good luck.

Hiking in the woods is always fun for me, but Bob is not a fan (surprise!). So he went to the golf course. The RR Ranch has a 9-hole course as one of their several recreational activities. They also offer horseback riding trails and canoe trips on the Flat River.

When we returned to the campsite, Bob had a roaring fire going (without him we would surely perish!) and we rested our weary feet and bones for a while before getting supper ready. We had all dreamed of finding bags full of mushrooms, but that didn’t quite materialize! We did find more mushrooms in a 24-hour period than we’ve ever found at home, so I consider it a success.

Michigan birch trees agains the gorgeous blue sky

We happened upon a colorful turtle and a few snakes (no snake pictures!)

The birch trees were sending down clouds of white fluff that filled the air and the paths like snow