We Explore a Tiny Off Grid Island in Lake Huron With a Cool Story - Charity Island

[@jdp2828]

I have lived all of my life in Michigan until last October. My husband despises the winters so we are living part time in Georgia. I must say, there are some beautiful places in this country but none compare to my beloved Michigan. We’re up here for the month of July (2024) and one thing that has stood out to me is the fresh, clean air. We had some heavy rains a couple of days ago and afterwards I could smell that rich soil and the worms 🪱 😌 It’s heaven!! I subscribed to your channel. Thank you for the videos!

[@4knanapapa]

We travel in our motorhome, go out of state usually 4 or 5 months a year but I'm always happy to get back to Michigan even in winter

[@rich-ard-style6996]

The four seasons in MI is what makes MI beautiful too.

[@aaronhrynyk]

Your husband is a whimp 😂

[@senatorjosephmccarthy2720]

​@@rich-ard-style6996. I totally agree the 3 warmer seasons in Michigan make it the Best.

[@senatorjosephmccarthy2720]

​@@aaronhrynyk. Therefore thou art inexcusable o man; whosoever thou art that condemneth. For wherein thou condemnest another, thou condemnest thyself. For thou that condemnest doeth the same thing. Romans 2: 1.

[@davidkulczyk678]

around 1943/44 a bunch of people from my hometown, Linwood, were out fishing and their boat sunk. They were on Charity Island for a couple of days before they were found

[@elizabethvandeventer5487]

Glad they all survived...

[@PhantomOfThePsy-Opera]

Didn't even realize Linwood had a bunch of people...lol.... I'm from Bay City, and lived in Pinconning for a few years...also worked at Pincanna about 2 yrs ago.....I live in Akron now...hello neighbor...Stay blessed

[@josiffexplosiff1]

@@PhantomOfThePsy-Opera isn’t that in ohio

[@PhantomOfThePsy-Opera]

@@josiffexplosiff1 there's an Akron in many states... I live in Akron Michigan.... In between Quanicassee and Caro

[@davidzimmerman6723]

Love what you do. I've lived in Michigan for 50 years and learned more things I didn't know about Michigan from watching your channel, Thank you

[@OldesouthFarm]

I grew up in Michigan and left when I was young. Michigan has gone communist and your dictator governor is more then I can deal with. Have not gone back. Prefer a free state…

[@davidzimmerman6723]

There are conservative pockets all throughout michigan other than Detroit, Lansing and the peoples Republic of annarbor, we're pretty conservative but it erodes every year. Still a beautiful state.

[@zacharyliles8657]

Alexis Dahl is another incredible youtuber who makes videos about Michigan and Great Lakes history. If you like Restless Viking you'll definitely like Alexis Dahl as well!

[@debrabarry3750]

I've been a Michigander all my life and always something new to learn...❤

[@smithdog4770]

Me and my father were fishing on the less windy side of Charity Island in a 15 foot boat and didn't realize the waves were really picking up, Big Rollers, we headed back to the mainland and our motor died on us. Luckily someone happened by and gave us a tow, that was scary. We never went out there again without a second motor just in case. There was the best perch fishing in the world right there back in the 70's and 80's.

[@thomastimmons7845]

I'm probably one of the few seeing this that have stayed overnight on the island before the later development took place. On about 2000 myself and a geography professor sailed my 27 foot wooden sailboat to the island. We motored into the marina and found a pier to tie up on. The mosquitoes were fierce as we buttoned up the boat and cooked supper. The next morning we walked the trails a bit and then departed. We saw no evidence of anyone living on the island then. Great video! Thanks for the memories.

[@HappyQuailsLC]

Imagine this as a B&B with a sailing trip going there and back!

[@unvaxedmarine9534]

Doubt it

[@kevinkennedy6170]

Was he from UM-Flint?

[@josiffexplosiff1]

I bet this is BS just seems like a made up story so you can get a couple likes. You probably need the validation on KZbin who knows there’s a lot of weird people on here sometimes I think there’s more weird people than their normal people or at least you guys are just loudest

[@robnamowicz8073]

Michigan, worth fighting for.

[@Candy-O1776]

Please do!

[@josiffexplosiff1]

Ehhh

[@theayatollahofrockandrolla]

What about fighting with fake electors?

[@AuthenticChronicVision]

Wouldn't give you a nickel for all of it's politicians.

[@theayatollahofrockandrolla]

@@AuthenticChronicVision if you think they are better anywhere else then you might need to lay off the weed.

[@HolyShnikeez_1975]

I went perch fishing with my dad around big Charity when i was a kid back in the 80s and we pulled up doubles all day long. Great memories.

[@ALVintageOutboards]

It was a great time in those days for perch! Lived on Pt AuGres and still do, but the perch aren't really plentiful anymore 😢

[@4knanapapa]

In the 70s and 80s My dad would take my son and i out ,we'd go about half mile off the breakwall in Caseville the perch fishing was great, wouldn't keep anything under 8" and still would come in with 100 fish. The way my dad did our lines we often caught 2 at once, my son 5 or 6 at the time just loved it.

[@4knanapapa]

@@ALVintageOutboards in the early 80s the state started allowing commercial fishermen to net fish, I think it may have involved native Americans, they took anything bigger than 6 inches that pretty much ended our sports fishing.

[@timbauer6290]

We stayed at the keepers house for several days a few years ago. The kids loved it! What a unique get away!

[@DavidMccrimmon]

Gillingham fish Co. Owned the island for 40 years. Purchased it from the federal government. In a bid of $ 20,480 dollars. R L Gillingham was my great Grandfather. I am a lifetime Caseville resident.😅 He purchased the island for exclusive fishing rights of the area.

[@aaronhrynyk]

How’s the fishing? 😂

[@Nanakook1]

My grandfather Floyd Deming worked at the fish docks for Gillinghans. He was a commercial fisherman in Bay Port for 40 years.

[@DavidMccrimmon]

@@Nanakook1 I may have met him on North Island several years back.

[@Alwhite1929]

We loved going to Charity Island and hang out on the beach for the day. Not much of a crowd.

[@jasonm7354]

very cool great job on vid

[@ripperwrestling6587]

On a clear day I can see the island from work, fished around the ole girl many a time but never been on her.

[@baseballboy_jd1112]

charity is awesome went their two years ago. Too many rocks so we anchored the boat a ways back and swam to the island. It was awesome!

[@jeffarrowood3901]

I love all your videos. But, this one is my favorite. Don't know why. There's just "something" that is very satisfying to me. Thank you two, so much.

[@Harmonica.Mike.64]

Just imagine the night sky on a clear night. Great video.

[@myself248]

KZbin needs to change the thumbs-up icon for this video. More literal than usual!

[@itisonlyaplant]

Confession time. Back in 2005, a couple high school friends went to the island on a skiff and we found that John Deere gator and were able to start it. We did a joyride around the island. I hope we didn't inconvenience the owner too bad...

[@RestlessViking]

😬😀

[@BradleyLoomis-wq9yf]

Thats it we're bringin Charges knew it was you!! 😂 20yrs later

[@fjkennedy]

Joy riding against the law on Charity 😢

[@4knanapapa]

Back in the 60s and 70s my parents had a home in Caseville on the thumb side of the bay we use to go out to the island and explore the old light house often, at that time it was the only thing on the island, you couldn't get up to shore with your boat due to the rocky bottom, we would anchor offshore and wade in, while out there you really had to pay attention to the weather it could change quick and Saginaw Bay is pretty shallow it could get really rough making for a scary ride back.

[@evalinawarne1337]

I used to go to Caseville 68-72. Friends lived on the water. Boat all over the area. Fun time being a teenager. Love my many fond memories ❤️

[@4knanapapa]

@@evalinawarne1337 same here Caseville was a big party town back then great time in a teenagers life.

[@chrisetzler2384]

We did the same! In the 70s, sailed out and spent the night anchored off shore. Beautiful and kinda creepy

[@randyhymas9013]

I remember fishing around Charity Island with my dad when I was a kid.

[@johnboutin8770]

We had a cottage at Point Lookout near AuGres. The family came out to the islands in the late 1950’s. There were still wild pigs on the island that were survivors of a shipwrecked cattle boat between Big an Little Charity islands.

[@dennisdavidek6694]

I like the turtle. He’s like; you wanna buy a watch? I’ve got ur souvenirs here.

[@RestlessViking]

😂🤣

[@YellowSn0man]

What a great video. I grew up on Saginaw Bay and had only seen Charity Island from afar. Thank you. I will add that the scuba diving between Charity Island and Port Austin is amazing. The water is quite clear and the huge boulders are amazing to see. They also create a great habitat for numerous crayfish in the 8-12" range. Careful with your anchor though. One of the guys went down looking for large anchors and we brought five of them back individually. It used ALL of our air to do so though, and when we went to leave guess what...our anchor was stuck and we had to cut her loose. Good times.

[@jimsretiring2024]

A very interesting story, and well told. Thanks for another cool video about my home state.

[@YeOldeTraveller]

I have that same inverter/charger in my power system. Great to see another one still in use. Thanks for the view of another beautiful part of Michigan.

[@RestlessViking]

He said he can't wait for it to fail (so he can put an upgrade in) 😂. . . but it won't.

[@Justsomeguy99012]

Amazing adventure! Thanks for taking us along!!!

[@hooterfivesix]

Like so many others, I've lived in Michigan my entire life, sans a bit of military time away, and I've never heard of this island. It looks and sounds idyllic. Thank you, you two, for another wonderful adventure!

[@Garth_Bowen]

Hello Folks!!! Thanks for a great, 'Homey' video. It brought back many fond memories from that region. I'm a Canadian boy from the Windsor Ontario area and have some great memories from my holiday times, as a youth, along the Canadian side of the great lakes. In Later years I drove truck around the 'Lakes' - both sides of the border, for several years. I found that there was a very different outlook and attitude amongst folks who live and work around the great lakes - on both sides of the border - than in the big cities. They're much more friendly, open and; frankly, much better to be around. I really enjoyed your video and commentary. You've presented a very favorable impression, which I've feebly tried to copy, above. Thanks again for the fond memories. Garth.

[@Jason-jz7st]

floating stairs....not meant to anchor to outside wall allowing movement and swaying in heavy winds. Learned this a week ago at the South Manitou lighthouse. Awesome content

[@georgekn3mp]

So in 2018 I was in Caseville for the Cheeseburger in Paradise Festival, and I saw the Dinner Cruise coming back around sunset. That must have been one of the last Cruises out to Charity Island. You can see the Island way out in the distance from the Caseville Breakwater. That sunset pic was one of the best sunsets I have ever captured, in the time lapse video you can see how full the Dinner Cruise boat was.

[@SharonCullenArt]

I live right in the thumb across from the island. We’ve spent some nice trips there. And now the Charity Island Fun Run is a fun break wall party with all of the boats lined up. It is fun.

[@rogerstevens1545]

when i was a kid we got stuck on little charity island for a few days , our boat broke down and we were stuck until we floated out another boat saw our distress. we ate alot of perch cooked on a camp fire

[@Travelingthru]

Wow thank you so much for your great videos on our home state of Michigan We are really enjoying them ❤ Stay safe and keep it up

[@TheCaptMax]

Been perch fishing off of Charity Island and also recommend checking out the Manitou Islands as well as Drummond and Mackinaw to see all the state has to offer. They are all gems of Michigan.

[@iamgriff]

I was vacationing in Caseville at some friends. Brought my lil fishing boat, we fished all over that island. Big boulders under shallow did indeed surround the island! It made for great bass fishing though! Absolutely amazing the water is 75-100 ft deep, then you come up on this shallow! I am NOW a subscriber fellow Michiganders

[@RestlessViking]

Thanks, nice to meet you!

[@helmuthmassat]

Awesome!

[@oconnorsean12]

Lake Huron is my favorite of the great lakes! Many summers spent in my youth

[@dandeforest9439]

i have pictures from 45 years ago, we spent the nite in the keepers house, all the windows were gone but the place was fixable.the lighthouse was safe and intact

[@BrianMeissen1]

My family and I stayed at the Lightkeepers House for about a week in 2021 through VRBO - we actually were "stranded" for an extra day or two because the waters were too rough for the boat to come get us and bring us back to shore. It was quite the unique experience!

[@mindyr7302]

How interesting! I love the fact that 90% is a wildlife refuge

[@energyball]

The birds are happy there!

[@drunk_astronomy]

my family has a house up in East Tawas and I remember going on one of those dinner cruises. The food was awesome and the atmosphere was excellent. Those two are absolutely amazing people.

[@pdoherty]

My hometown is Oscoda, probably 20 some miles to the northwest. Back in the 60's, we used to drive south to Tawas and launch an 18 foot boat and motor out to the Charity's to perch fish which was excellent back then. I never set foot on either island, there was a little Charity Island back then but was mostly under water. Your video brought back some memories I haven't had in a long while. Good job and thanks for making it!

[@jasonduke3608]

Just found your channel. My uncle had a house on sand point it was near the very end of the point. Back in the 80's we would boat out to the island and have adventures. I used to go in the light house all the time we would have pick nicks on the beach. I know we explored the house to it was in rough shape. Once some of my family took our uncles boat out there. They were gone for quite awhile. Then when the sun was setting my dad, my uncle and myself made our way out there. It was pitch black before we got there but we seen a flare go up. I was useing a flash light to watch for shallow water. Yes there is alot of rocks. We found our family, turns out they were speeding around the island hit a rock and broke the prop. More like destroyed it and damaged the lower unit. So they were waiting by the shore. We towed them back. I remember in the mid to late 90's at my uncle's house you could clearly hear all the construction going on out there. I never knew they were blasting. Somewhere early 2000's we went out there you could see alot of work was done, I seen the little marina. As were Getting close to the entrance somebody on a 4 wheeler came out rather fast and was telling us we were trespassing on private property and we were asked to leave. Thats the last time I was out there. I was a little bummed out but I understand. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@nansenscat9315]

When I was a teenager in the 80s I used to sail our Cape Dory 25 out to that island from Bay Harbor marina in Bay City. Of course, anchored offshore and took the dinghy in to explore. As a history buff of local Ojibwe and Potawatomi I always wondered what the history of the island holds going way back before the 19th century. That lighthouse is really cool! Lake Huron is fascinating and beautiful. Thanks for this great video! 😊

[@jasonbuckler2136]

How amazing!!!!! I so wish it could've been a mini Mackinaw... How beautiful!!! And the work they did... I heard about boats going out there... Rides!! I wanted to go so bad when I was younger... MY GOSHHHH!!!!! BOB KAREN... IF U TOOK TOURISTS ON TOUR... WOW!!! SO MANY PEOPLE WANNA TAKE A RIDE TO An ISLAND FOR A DAY...

[@samstamos427]

Splendid way to spend a Saturday morning, learning about obscure histories of far-off places in my home state. Great work, or play!

[@220swift7]

What a beautiful place, with such amazing people.

[@culpforty]

I stayed here a few years ago for a week and it was absolutely amazing. We stayed in the cabin, not the lighthouse.

[@cmmacksoud9473]

28 years ago a group of friends and I set out on a catamaran for a fun day on the lake. Long story short the wind died down and we were stock for the night on Little charity Island which is a waterfowl sanctuary.

[@DavidRamsden]

Lot's of snakes on island be alert.

[@TheGoodguy68]

​@DavidRamsden back in the late 70's friends of my parents camped on Little Charity 2 of the 4 woke up with snakes inside their sleeping bags!

[@tonyg6103]

Love the adventures! Lifelong MI resident and I’m learning about places I never knew.

[@davidmilitz2275]

Just moved our boat to Cheboygan...we are exploring northern MI...and love the channel!!!!! See you on the inland waterway!!!!

[@RestlessViking]

We have a tentative plan for late fall.

[@kevincraig6407]

you guys have found your niche, thank you! hope you get Millions of subscribers!!

[@brendatroy2843]

Thank you for bringing these idyllic memories and places to light. There are places in Michigan that still need to Be explored. The people and the rich history

[@aaronhrynyk]

I sat in my camper, in port crescent state park, during a nasty thunderstorm watching and wondering about that island and its story. This was amazing.

[@ladyofjazz448]

I went on a boat tour last summer past Charity island and got the backdrop of both Big and Little Charity Islands. This video was awesome! So glad you got to meet up with the owners and get a real look at the island!

[@robertjones-zy7ym]

my dad grew up in Tawas he and his friends would row boat out to those islands in the 1930 for fun ..

[@paintedwarrior516]

I have family in Tawas, the Dewyse family

[@joemartin8888]

You two nailed it again on this one! This is why this is one of my favorite channels... What a great story and another wonder couple keeping history alive for us...Thank you very much

[@tj-597]

Nice to know there are places like this when all heck breaks loose

[@senatorjosephmccarthy2720]

People say that referring to the pueblo cliff houses too, when the people on an island or in the side of a cliff are trapped when any type of enemy arrives. Those on Massada had a chance but it didn't work out. Staying hidden in a huge forest is the opposite type of terrain, and of surviving opportunities, because the area is thousands of times bigger, the ability to maneuver is Greatly better, because the former AOs provide none. Food can be gathered and hunted/fished for. Never cross any type of big clearing. Never get boxed in.

[@MR-si1eq]

EXCELLENT ❤ Thank you for this info. Very interesting.

[@BowdenSpace]

We look at it all the time. Thanks for the video 🏆

[@KRich408]

I live in the Michigan UP about 20 minutes from Lake Superior. That island is awesome Unlimited Fresh Water, Solar power isolation from the Mainland Rat Race. The winter snow up here would be the only thing keeping from being a perfect paradise. The town I'm in gets an average of over 300" of snow a year. I don't know how bad it gets on that island? The condition of the lighthouse was probably due to brutal winters my house is Brick Built in 1914 not much younger than the lighthouse I can see where nature has tried to defeat it over the last 110 years.

[@ML-kx9gz]

It would be extremely dangerous to live on the island in the winter, is it possible? Sure, of course. But I highly doubt that they do. What happens if you have a fire? You better have redundancy built on the island and enough food and wood supply as well. You're not going to be able to run the power as much either the winter has shorter days, which means less time solar can charge up, and you're not going to run a gas generator all winter long. The other issue is that you're going to be stuck inside the entire winter as well which isn't really healthy either. You'd be putting yourself in isolation just like the Shining every single year lol. I could see how it would be beautiful of course but it would get old very fast.

[@arterialglobe9278]

Mainland Rat Race is Crazy 😂

[@Casevillecountryboy]

I've lived 7 miles from this island all my life stared at from the beach 1000 times but never been around there I've fished off the island for walleye and yes its 5 to 8 feet deep even a half mile off the island if yall ever wanna return to the area ur more then welcome to set up camp on my extra lot greaaaaaaaat channel

[@rossfleischauer1155]

Pretty cool thanks for your adventures

[@gordonmorrow]

Chuck and Poppins, thanks for a fun & interesting video about your visit to Charity Island. I am jealous!

[@John-R.61]

Poppin&Chuck what a fantastic place

[@goatflieg]

I knew nothing of Charity Island until I completed building my own aircraft in 2022 and had the opportunity to fly over the island numerous times. Being curious about it, I did some research online and learned some things... but this video truly introduced me to a little known gem in Saginaw Bay and its keepers. Thanks so much for sharing this. I hope to visit the island someday.

[@yelyab1]

Been there several times. Have a picture of the old house b4 in started to fall apart. I got to walk the steps of the light house. It was a shame that the restoration didn’t save the old house and light. We had a cottage btw Caseville and PA for almost 60 years. I didn’t get to the island until I was in my 40s.

[@thisgarbageiscoralgable.88]

Great video ! Would this historical gem qualify to be a national park ?

[@EmilyInDetroit1982]

Not sure what it is about your videos, but I love them! I've watched several other Michigan docs from other channels, but get bored of them after a few minutes. Keep'em coming!

[@jamesyoung4633]

Thanks for the video it was great!!!

[@RestlessViking]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@BTipp24]

Thanks for this, that was very interesting.

[@Redbaron_sites]

Thirty years isolation amazing.❤

[@LadyYoop]

INCREDIBLE!

[@eetsmark]

Used to take day trips from Port Crescent over to Charity in the 90s to go explore. I remember when that channel was dug and thought how cool it would've been to live out there.

[@wdtaut5650]

I had no idea the islands were that big and so many trees. I thought they were pretty much just rock. Thanks for the information.

[@richardjohnson7563]

Chuck and Poppins, Yet another high quality presentation. Thank you so much

[@bertvosburg558]

The stories are so interesting! We've been here on this farm for 110 years and I have a bunch of stories my Dad and Grandpa and Great Uncles told me besides other old timers that were around and now at 66 guess who knows a lot of the old stories? The now old guy! hahahaha.

[@RestlessViking]

No matter how old you are, there always seems to be someone around to tell you, "You're not old. . . " . LOL.

[@DougAtkins-w9h]

I've been there,good fishing

[@theviking363]

We live in an amazing state. Gonna make a special trip there. Been on the Port Huron to Mackinaw race, we avoided that island. Now I know why.

[@johnhart125]

Great place, heard people speak of it and seen from the water but never visited until now. What an interesting story and place

[@boe4448]

Great video RV, As a kid in then1970's I was on the island many times and spent the night one time. Cool historic place. Thank you for bringing back some good family memories. Boe

[@RestlessViking]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cameronlange3448]

Very cool video. As a Michigan resident, and a great lakes fisherman, I appreciate the new knowledge you provide! Thank you!

[@HappyQuailsLC]

Private lighthouses are a wonderful subject to explore! I remember when they started going on the market in the 70's, onward while we would visit in Maine

[@Wilderoses912]

Yeah, I’m in Michigan. I love it.

[@ALVintageOutboards]

Camped there many times in the 70's and 80's!

[@aprilfrank6620]

I grew up living on Lake Huron in Port Austin. I know plenty of people that have been to Charity but I never had. I'm so glad that I finally was able to see it! Thanks! Thanks for the great restoration to this great couple!

[@Ellis1127]

Awesome story! 👏👏👏👏

[@jlions72]

What an adventure !..." wow" I never knew this about Michigan. As I am watching this I am imagining myself just sitting there and listening to the waves and de-stressing, and better yet,.. being able to sit back in a lawn chair see the stars a whole lot better than in the city that is an adventure all by its self . " I love your channel " ..! its just plain fun to watch and learn about the Adventures you find to cover !...I am watching it again to pick up any missed Information you said ......lol... I do not know if you do follow-up's videos but ...I would Love to see you do another one on the Michigan inside passage by boat, does that start in Petoskey ? and go to Cheboygan..?...or lake Crooked lake ..? I first watched your first trip with your son and enjoyed it. I am trying to find out if there is any boat tours you can take I do not own a boat of any kind so I do not know how much a rental boat would be and if I could afford it ...Thanks you for your videos I enjoy everyone i have watched so far .....

[@jenwanner4911]

Greetings from AuGres, MI. Loved the story on and about Big Charity, I hope you checked out Little Charity as well, (not much to it). I've been going to the island since I was a kid. Absolutely love that place. The water is gorgeous.

[@justinstaples2384]

That place is awesome

[@CHUY-DRZ400s]

Great coverage! Very interesting.

[@CharlesKasler-sg3mn]

Went there in 1962- was a wonderful place even then- went for a dinner cruise in the 90’s - great walleye- hope they start them again

[@sallielewicki5013]

Awesome video. God bless everyone.

[@MikeL-vu7jo]

Very peace full place and quiet I'll bet , thanks .

[@Diddley-js6lf]

Back in the Early Nineties My Wife and I Actually Was Going to Do the Dinner Cruise On The Island Family Friend Had A Deeded Lot at Browns Landing On US-23 Close to The Singing Bridge. I have Lived in The Tawas Area. We live In Clio South of The Saginaw Bay But we spent a lot of Time up there. The Pontoon Is Ready for a Trip over to The Island.

[@SusanClemens-s9o]

CL 10

[@marknewman570]

What a cool place. Great info, great video 👍🏼

[@harrisonbosley6812]

I so look forward to your videos, my family history goes so far back in the great lakes and your videos connect me to my ancestors past travels. Thank you for that joy.

[@marywegrzyn506]

Hi, I'm from Wayne County, MI. That's South Eastern, MI!! It's beautiful Up North. I would love to own a Cabin near a nice Lake n live there full time one day.

[@Sgreenberglkn]

Great trip, thank you for sharing. The drone video is getting so much better. Mind those bugs this summer!!!

[@humbleevidenceaccepter7712]

Way cool. Thanks for taking us along.