Operation Revive, LLC

Operation Revive, LLC An apparel company focusing on personal growth and community service… we also do podcasts.

11/11/2023

Ruckmas Columbus

FOLLOW OUR NEXT CHAPTER HERE!

As always.. … just shifting priorities.

11/11/2023

Hey team!

As a couple of you may have notice.. I haven’t been posting much via Op Revive, but have come to realize that the thing we have done that felt the most impactful was the annual Ruckmas event.

With that, I took a hit this summer and wasn’t very active planning this years event… but thanks to my pal Jeffrey Cochran he is keeping things alive for a Ruckmas 2023 and we will be back at it on December 2nd. Please search and follow the Ruckmas Columbus page as I’ll likely wrap this up and focus on Ruckmas.

I appreciate all the love and support here, and hope to see you on the other page!

You all are the best!
Kuhn

Day 5: Traverse CityPolished off the evening with a trip into Traverse City for food and miscellaneous shopping at M22 (...
08/17/2023

Day 5: Traverse City

Polished off the evening with a trip into Traverse City for food and miscellaneous shopping at M22 (clothing) and Cherry Republic (food/drink).

A couple of locals at Empire Beach recommended we check out either Firefly or Pangea’s. Opted to go with the pizza join.

Pizza was delicious. Paired it with some veggies and hummus. Try to get the roof top seating if possible. View of the evening sky was a nice touch. Overall great atmosphere and was dog friendly.

Did find out that many stores in the cities up there will have a paw print or say “pet friendly” on the front door or windows.

Felt like Traverse City was more adult based, but they do have some stuff for the younger crowd. Lots of sand volleyball courts by the lake. Plenty of parking lots (free after like 6 or 8pm). I cant exactly remember, but you’ll be alright.

https://pangeaspizza.com

https://www.tcfirefly.com

https://m22.com

https://cherryrepublic.com

Day 5: Moomers Ice CreamWorked up an appetite for some ice cream and hit up the recommended Moomers. We lucked out with ...
08/15/2023

Day 5: Moomers Ice Cream

Worked up an appetite for some ice cream and hit up the recommended Moomers. We lucked out with timing because it got slammed as we were leaving. *That’s why you eat dessert before dinner* 😉

Rachel and I shared a flight of 5 different flavors and I got a chocolate milk. Needless to say theirs tasted really good, which is why I wanted to sample as much as I could 😂

I recommend going out to the farm, smash on some ice cream, take a look around, and then go to the back and see the cows.

https://moomers.com

Day 5: Empire and Empire Beach After all the Dunes, we popped by Shipwreck Cafe in Empire for some lunch. The Fitzgerald...
08/14/2023

Day 5: Empire and Empire Beach

After all the Dunes, we popped by Shipwreck Cafe in Empire for some lunch. The Fitzgerald sandwich was delicious 🤤. Kids got the Tugboats and we grab a cherry chocolate chip cookie and some frozen custard.

https://shipwreckcafe.com

🐾Walking back to the truck we saw a sign for Empire Beach and made a detour. Best decision ever! Parking is a dollar an hour and free after like 6 or so at night.
Lots might get full, but you can park along the street.
It has an additional small lake/pond for fishing, basketball court, volleyball court, and multiple playgrounds along the beach. Water was perfect! Cool and clear. We also learned that Ranger will ride the boogie board to float in the deep with us.
🏆This was probably my favorite beach and place to hang out.

https://empirechamber.com/outdoor-adventure/beaches/

Day 5: Dune Climb Probably the best place for the “dune climbing” experience. It’s enough of a hike to check the box wit...
08/13/2023

Day 5: Dune Climb

Probably the best place for the “dune climbing” experience. It’s enough of a hike to check the box without getting overly stimulated. NOT dog friendly.

Sand was hot, and we honestly wore Crocs in adventure mode for nearly every hike - Easier to get the sand out of. Shoes were terrible when I wore them for the Indiana Dunes and I never wore them again.

Bring water and don’t feel obligated to go to the tippy top… we did and it wasn’t worth the ROI 😂. It’s more vegetation… no glamorous rewarding ocean view. Just hit the first main ledge, get your pic with Glen Lake behind you, and then people watch.

On our way out we actually cooled off in Little Glen Lake really quick. You can see the dunes in the back.

https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/dune_climb.htm

Day 5: Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive MUST see experience if you’re in the area. Don’t forget to hit the Welcome Center t...
08/13/2023

Day 5: Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

MUST see experience if you’re in the area.
Don’t forget to hit the Welcome Center to collect you passport stamp!

🐾 Careful with your dog(s) and the hot sand. Fee is charged (need National Park pass). Water recommended.

Fun Fact: “Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is certainly a must-do activity when visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 7.4 mile drive loops through the Beech-Maple forest and sand dunes and provides insight to the history of the area, a sampling of the vegetative communities found within the park and, best of all, spectacular overlooks of the Glen Lakes, the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Lake Michigan. You can take a dune hike along the Cottonwood Trail or stop for a picnic at one of the picnic areas on the drive.”

Of the 12 waypoints, we stopped at the:

- Covered Bridge ( #1) - meh
- Glen Lake Overlook ( #2) - not bad
- Dune Overlook ( #3) - it’s pretty
- Cottonwood Trail ( #4) - I don’t think was dog friendly, but remember to stay on the trail to preserve the ecosystem.
- 🛑🛑 Lake Michigan Overlook and Sleeping Bear Dune Overlook ( #9 and #10) - MUST STOP!! Traffic/parking can be a bit crazy. Save the dunes and the time… don’t walk down the hill.
- North Bar Lake Overlook - it was pretty. Rachel wasn’t a fan of the hole in the ground style toilets here. Better restrooms up between stops 2 and 3… ish.

https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/psscenicdrive.htm

Day 4: Art’s Tavern We ate here for dinner. It was pretty solid and recommend if you visit Glen Arbor. I didn’t take foo...
08/12/2023

Day 4: Art’s Tavern

We ate here for dinner. It was pretty solid and recommend if you visit Glen Arbor. I didn’t take food pics because I was hungry and forgot 🤷🏻‍♂️ but you’ll be alright.

https://artsglenarbor.com

We checked out some shops while we waited for our seats, but a lot of places closed early during the week days.. it was like 8pm.

I’ll show you more in another post because Rachel liked this town that much that we went back lol.

Day 4: Platte River and Loon Lake 🐾 Post Empire Trail hike we went to Riverside Canoes to rent a canoe and 2 tubes to fl...
08/12/2023

Day 4: Platte River and Loon Lake

🐾 Post Empire Trail hike we went to Riverside Canoes to rent a canoe and 2 tubes to float along Platte River to Loon Lake, then continued to the ending point near Platte Beach.

🐾The kayak and canoes are dog friendly. You can also attach open bottom or closed bottom tubes to the canoe. It cost us just shy of $100, and we were out there for 3 hours maybe 2.5, so it’s nice they give you a seat cushion.

You pay, drive your car and leave it at the end point, a shuttle brings you back up the road, and then collect your stuff and jump in your boat. Once done you may need to return the rental gear.

Running down from Platte Lake, the water was usually pretty shallow the first leg down to Loon Lake and mostly clear with a greenish tone. Saw several groups in the water fishing, a couple of kids skim boarding, and other older folks floating along enjoy adult beverages (not sure the legalities here).

About 1/2 way down you dump off into Loon Lake where a few sandbars give you a chance to jump out and enjoy the water. We hung out with some locals for about an hour.

The paddle across the lake with 2 kids in tow and against the current of the river on the other side (for the second leg) was a bit rough. But we saw a salmon near the fishing weir and eventually made it to the end.

Fun Fact: The weir on the Lower Platte River is the primary salmon harvest location. In the fall salmon enter the Lower Platte River at the mouth on their annual migration. They swim upstream to spawn and are stopped at the weir. The weir gate is raised and lowered to count the fish that travel upstream, and manage the harvest. It’s one of the best times to visit the Platte River in Michigan.

Back at the rental office they have a nice sized gift shop and you get a food voucher for their ice cream and food stand.

I would definitely recommend giving it a go.

https://www.canoemichigan.com

Day 4: Empire Bluff Trail 🐾 Ditched the Camper and hiked Empire Bluff Trail. 1.5 miles round trip with an opportunity to...
08/12/2023

Day 4: Empire Bluff Trail

🐾 Ditched the Camper and hiked Empire Bluff Trail. 1.5 miles round trip with an opportunity to extend the hike if you choose to continue to follow the trail up the coastline. It’s a hilly walk in a beech-maple forest that’s opens up into sandy overlook with plenty of dune plants along a boardwalk.

I’d say it was my favorite or at least one of my favorite hikes of the trip. Trail is populated with folks… but not too shabby.

Recommend drinking plenty of water, as it was an issue with many folks on a hot day. I also like to soak sweat bands in ice water and then wear it around my neck or over my head.

Fun Fact: Your line of sight horizon on Lake Michigan is about 25 miles in any unobstructed direction. If the scenic outlook were six times as high you could see Wisconsin, about 60 miles straight west across the Lake, but from where you stand the curve of the planet blocks that view.

https://www.nps.gov/slbe/planyourvisit/trailempirebluff.htm

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