KOAR
Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is an awesome playground and what better way to be able to explore it than having a base camp nearby. On September 13-16th, we had the opportunity to attend the first ever Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat (KOAR) put on by Northology and many sponsors including Tread Lightly, TC Teardrops, Cooper Tires, Overland Pioneers, X-Venture Trailers, American Adventurist, Midwest Overlanders, and Brickside Brewery. It was hosted by the folks at Northwinds Adventures located in Atlantic Mine, MI on their beautiful piece of property that went on for acres and must have had at least 50 vehicles!
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The event kicked off Thursday afternoon with check-ins and then a welcome dinner along with evening campfire. Unfortunately, due to Britt’s school obligations we were not able to make it up until about 1 in the morning on Friday so we can’t comment on the food, but we heard it was pretty tasty. We got lucky and there were a few folks still up chatting around the campfire when we arrived. We said a quick hello before crawling into bed for the morning.
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Later Friday morning, we moved locations to find a flatter piece of ground so that Kaylee could play on her mat without rolling away. The morning began with a quick drivers’ meeting for those wanting to go on the trail rides. We decided to sit back and enjoy camp that day since we got in late. We set up the Darche Eclipse awning and a impromptu vendor stand for our LSA swag (also available on the SHOP link), and aquabot bottles. With the chairs pulled out it was time to finally kick back and relax. Later on that afternoon we walked around the beautiful property to snap a few pictures and talk story with everyone at their camps. As the temps continued to rise, we decided to cool off in the pond and take one of the provided kayaks for a paddle. Little Miss Kaylee had a blast and kept trying to reach up and help paddle! Shortly after, a few of the groups from the trail rides started pulling back in. Many folks dispersed back at their camps to eat dinner before returning for the nightly campfire, raffle and sample the keg provided by Brickside Brewery. That evening we fixed up some chicken curry for dinner and enjoyed some of the campfire conversations before calling it a night.
Saturday morning was a bit rough, Kaylee did not allow us to get much sleep which is highly unusual when we go camping. For some reason, she was EXTRA hungry in the middle of the night. We got up around 6am and got dressed for the day, we made up some breakfast hash to share with everyone, and packed up what we needed to for the trail ride. We were in a group of 7 vehicles that were heading up to High Rock Bay via the coastline and of course we had to make our pitstop at the Jampot Bakery for some of their yummy peanut butter jelly brownie bars and fruitcake. We have been wedding crashers because when we got to High Rock that afternoon there was a wedding going on. A few of us may have shocked the wedding party as they were getting dressed in the woods! We took turns taking photo ops on one of the cliffs and then rolled out to go back to camp since a few of the folks in the group looked like hangry was right around the corner. We rolled into camp around 5 and quickly fired up the skottle to make some deconstructed kabobs while Dave Bennett of American Adventurist instructed an outstanding class on how to winch a vehicle backwards with a front mounted winch. After the class, dinner was ready and we settled down around the campfire with some good chow just in time for the evening raffle.
On Sunday morning breakfast buffet was provided by our lovely hosts, which included scrambled eggs, sausage patties, fruit, and muffins. Folks came in and out as they pleased, and it wasn’t long before the food was gone. After breakfast, we packed up to head back home after the fun-filled weekend. We had to make it appoint to stop at the Suomi Bakery and Restaurant for our pannukakku and pasty before hitting the road for good. This time they had blueberry pannukakku and although very tasty (even Kaylee can attest to this), I think I liked the plain with raspberry sauce better!
All in all this was a great event and especially for a first event. When you go to events like this, it’s mostly about the people and the friendships made. At least it is for us, so we look forward to rekindling old and new friendships at next year’s KOAR event. Also if you get a chance to get up to the YOOP and want to check out Northwinds Adventures, they have awesome yurts and 2 bedroom cabins that you could rent as well.
