Some say that sitting is the new smoking. I say they're doing it wrong. On the shore of a Great Lake, surrounded by rustling pines, with a cozy fire flickering at your feet, there's no more health-promoting (in)activity.

Fellow Travelers,

Have you tried to get a campsite reservation this summer? Booked solid. And honestly, do you really want to jockey for the last available site, probably the one wedged behind the dump station, wait in line for a tepid shower, deal with the aroma of idling RV’s, and swat bugs during prime evening hours?

The absolute best time to camp? The next six weeks.

So, yes, you have a little time to plan. Because I know for many parents the school schedule has started to impose its inflexible structure, and most folks are probably back to the more rigid, post-summer work routine.

So some schedule reordering will likely be required, because for this outing, I'm encouraging you to carve out a chunk of time to get the most out of the glorious --though ingloriously named-- shoulder season. It offers the perfect balance of less crowds, fewer bugs and not freezing your ass off when you're just hanging out at your campsite.

And hanging out is precisely what I'm going to ask you to do.

Despite some scary recent headlines on the dangers of sitting, I don't think they mean a well-deserved sit-- either after a strenuous journey, or a sitting break you give yourself after you've worked like a dog for a number of months-- is going to take any years off your lifespan. In fact, it might be just what the doctor ordered.

Trust me, if done properly (ie. not in front of the TV 🙄), sitting in a chair can be quite therapeutic. I can't resist another shot from the guy above, who --as far as I know-- invented the concept of "chairing" 😃🪑👀

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." --Anne Lamott

Unplugging from technology? Relatively easy. But unplugging from the everyday current of tasks and routine, or from the self-imposed habit to always be doing something? This can be easier said than done.

Sometimes, reaching that state of total disconnect requires considerable exertion, like the time I took a solo bike camping journey in July's 90-degree heat, hauled my gear to a campsite in the dunes up several flights of stairs, and finally limped down to the beach, clutching an iced tea and a folding chair. A long time passed before I became aware that I was finally thinking of... nothing, as the sun dipped completely into the lake, and only peach-tinged, navy blue twilight remained.

It took all that effort to pull the plug and close the door, softly, on anything --even a thought-- that felt like an obligation.

We're going farther afield this time. These camping option require a 4-4.5 hour drive from Chicago, but I assure you the change of scenery will do wonders for your psyche.

Ludington SP, Michigan

First, I just want you to get to your campsite. For this adventure, we're going to set up camp at the hike-in Jack Pine Campground, featuring just ten secluded sites tucked into the low wooded dunes, a short distance from Lake Michigan (in case others are camping there too, sites A-D are a bit close together; the others offer more privacy).

To get away from the busier and noisier modern campground, you'll have to carry everything in with you over a mile-long gravel path either on your back or by bike. Once you've settled in, you may just want to stay here. String a hammock, hang out, putter over to the water's edge, build a fire, cook, let your mind wander.

However, if you're here for 3-4 nights and you find yourself in need of diversion, you will not be at a loss here. Between Lake Michigan on its western border and the 5,000-acre Hamlin Lake on the east, Ludington SP is home to enormous stretches of shoreline.

There are over than 21 miles of marked hiking trails through forests, wetlands and sand dunes, plus the Big Sable Point Lighthouse --accessible only by hiking or biking.

Newport SP, Wisconsin

Unlike most Wisconsin state parks, Newport is unusual in that it only offers primitive camping. Hike-in sites are dispersed from a quarter mile to three miles away from the parking lot, and you are not likely to have any immediate neighbors. (A couple of weeks ago, the southern portion of the park was closed due to severe storm damage. This map shows the closures.)

Facilities are limited to pit toilets, fire rings and strong boxes to protect your supplies from wildlife. Everything, including water, has to be carried in. If you choose one of the outlying campsites --especially ones sandwiched on the narrow strip between Lake Michigan and Lake Europe in the northernmost section-- you might want to pile everything on a bike and have it do the schlepping.

You won't have to carry in firewood, as it is permissible to gather any downed and dead on site (but not to cut anything from live trees).

Here too, there are plenty of hiking and shoreline trails to explore in addition to the simple pleasure of just quietly hanging out. Because of its location at the northern tip of Door County peninsula, this is an amazing dark-sky location for stragazing.

Point Beach State Forest, Wisconsin

This gem of a park will save you about an hour of driving, BUT! There's only one single rustic hike-in site on the whole property, located about half a mile south of the park office. If you can score the Ice Age site, you'll be able to enjoy blissful solitude on the breathtaking Lake Michigan shoreline.

In addition to your basic camping gear and a chair, we'll make this trip extra special by packing in a portable fire pit!!

For grilling dinner on the trail, the UCO Flatpack Grill & Firepit is compact, and portable, so it's super-easy to take with your even on those trips when you have to lug everything to your site on foot. You can use with charcoal, but collected dead firewood works great too. Cleanup is easy, since grill cooking minimizes the use of pots and pans.

To keep from having to lug in a lot of water --especially if you've carved out a few days away-- the MSR Trailshot is a tiny, simple to use portable filter you can use to pump water straight from the lake.

Gravel bike or other off-road worthy two-wheeled conveyance would be useful to carry your gear to your campsite and for additional trail explorations. Here are some thoughts on a what makes a ​decent bike, and some thoughts on whether or not it makes sense to repair yours.

And why not toss in an ultralight hammock too? This one practically fits in your pocket.

Cooler weather means you can be a bit more flexible with your food choices for at least 1-2 nights. (When camping away from your car in places where animal-proof boxes are not provided, here are some safe food storage tips.)

• Night #1: Grilled meats. That collapsible grill will cook up a mighty nice steak or burger on your first night at camp. If you're on the Michigan side stop in Northside Market, a gourmet meat market disguised as a gas station. On the Wisconsin side, you won't find any shortage of --what else?-- fresh brats!
• Night #2: Foil packet nachos. Using leftovers from night #1 (or separately packed pre-cooked meat such as ground beef or shredded chicken), lay out a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil (you packed that, right?) and layer it with tortilla chips, precooked meat, cheese, chopped jalapenos and onions, fold a layer of foil on top to make a sealed packet, and set on top of your portable grill to cook through.

For longer trips, either replenish your fresh food supply, or bring shelf stable meals. I'm not a huge fan of backpacking meals, but Peak Refuel makes some pretty great ones.

Thank you for making it all the way down here. This is Issue #8, I'd love to hear what you think of it so far, or it there's anything you'd ike to see me cover. Hit reply, and let me know.

And now, I really must unplug from my laptop, and get up from the sitting position 😆.

​ See you next week for another dose of --Justyna