Sutton's Bay, Michigan
The nearly 200 mile drive on Thursday morning takes us through more green forests and blue lakes. I'm still not used to all the expansion joints on cold weather state roads. They can be very annoying!
Crossing the beautiful Mackinac Bridge we see Lake Huron for the first time. We've now been to all the Great Lakes.
Many of the small towns are packed with summer vacationers. The traffic is crazy.
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| Construction on the bridge requires us to drive in the middle at a reduced speed (oh darn!). |
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| Traverse City is very popular. |
We saw Linda and Steven in Duluth a couple weeks ago. They went south when we went north, knowing we'd meet back here. It was the end of last summer, trying to outrun the smoke, that we last saw Diana and Jim. They're here for two months as interpretive hosts at the nearby national park.
What is it about water that makes a site so special? It's not a massive river, but even this little lake is a wonderful front yard. We also have a lovely concrete patio for our picnic table, and lots of beautifully maintained lawn to enjoy.
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| A peaceful and relaxing space. |
Friday morning Bill picks up fresh croissants which we enjoy with coffee on the patio. And the newspaper that is delivered to our front door every morning! Diana and Jim join us later to head into Northport for an outdoor concert. A Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young tribute band entertains us for a couple hours in the park. The large crowd has brought chairs, low tables, dogs, a variety of food, and adult beverages to enjoy with the music. Just like us :-)
We need to do this more often, we have a wonderful time.
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| Bill, Diana and Jim with dozens of our best friends. |
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| All ages appreciate the classics. |
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| Certainly this table is set up just for me! |
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| Chef Mario Batali - I didn't know who it was :-) |
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| Now this guy.....I know him! |
With plans to see Diana and Jim later in the afternoon, we take a drive around Lake Leelaneau and up the west side to the end of the peninsula.
I spend some time exploring the artisan shops and pretty gardens of the little town of Leland.
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| The remaining trunk of the Champion Cottonwood Tree. Planted in 1901, it was 100 feet tall when taken down in 2011. One of sixty trees designated as "champion" that were all used to create clones for planting identical beauties throughout the state. The tree overlooked the historic Fishtown district. |
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| Painted fenceposts - I want a garden just so I can have one, or three! |
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| A lamp for the gearhead in your life. |
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| You know it's a cute town when this is their bank. |
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| A lovely spot to contemplate the beauty of life. |
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| When you leave your Cadillac and fishing boat alone in the garage too long..... |
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| Grand Traverse Lighthouse, erected 1858. Converted to house two families in 1900, kitchen added in 1916 (where did they cook for 16 winters?). |
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| This beauty shades the whole lawn. |
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| Trail follows the shoreline behind the light. |
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| Delicate delight along the water. |
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| The light was moved to a nearby automatic tower in 1972, and the building was closed. In 1986 the state opened the museum. |
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| A sign of the times..... |
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| "Interesting" planters on the grounds. |
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| I love these fresh Hydrangeas. |
We stop for the information movie at the visitors center, and learn the dunes were formed by glaciers. It is another uniquely beautiful place that thankfully has been protected for all of us to enjoy. The scenic drive takes us through green hardwoods to the overlook above the huge dunes.
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| A very, very steep wall of sand with signs advising people not to go down the dune. |
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| So of course....... |
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| The sign explains that if you can't get back to the top, you will pay for your rescue. The fellow on his knees looks like he may need to get out his checkbook. |
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| Late afternoon skies blend into the lake. |
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| It "feels" like the sand should just slide into the water. |
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| The Dune Climb offers a safer option for climbing. I still don't see the appeal :-) |
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| Everything cherry! |
Cloudy and rain threatening on Monday, we head to Traverse City to run errands. Such a pretty town on the shore of Grand Traverse Bay. Unfortunately the dog wash place is closed :-( We find the rare car wash that cleans interiors and get the Jeep a much needed bath. The rain never comes so we luck out. Lunch at the Silver Swan is unique and delicious (really, check out the menu)!
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| Mishwya with hommus and pita. OMG tasty! |
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| Grand Traverse Bay |
I think you lucked out having the outside lanes closed on the bridge. I suspect we'll not be that fortunate next year. I tentatively have just 2 days to explore the area, yikes!, you have so many great ideas! I'm not sure if climbing the dunes will make it to the top :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, definitely not on my list :-) We missed Macinac Island this time but it's still on the list for me. You'll enjoy the peninsula whatever you have time to see. I have to remember they only have a couple months of the weather we experienced though :-)))
DeleteI too don't see it--climbing that steep a hill is hard enough without it being deep sand. Looks as if you are enjoying Michigan!
ReplyDeleteI suppose if there was something amazing at the top....but just to climb a hill? Michigan is great! We're looking forward to seeing some more.
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ReplyDeleteHow in the world did you get that great picture of the bridge with no cars in the way? Fantastic! Yes Traverse City is very popular especially in summer. If you are still there you MUST get a pie from the Grand Traverse Pie Company. They are the only competition for David’s cherry pie in the world. Lucky Diana and Jim. We loved staying at Sleeping Bear Dunes. We hiked up and over and back down the dune. A feat for sure! It’s VERY difficult climbing in sand. Not something I need to do again. The Lelanau Peninsula is fantastic. So glad you remembered the Cherry Republic. But did you get any Cherry Salsa? I order it on line by the case ever since I was there. But they don't do pie as well as Grand Traverse. LOL at the Cadillac and fishing boat comment. You are a riot! Get that pie!
Dang! Left without the pie :( But yes, I did get the salsa from Cherry Republic!! A agree Jim and Diana are lucky to have so much time in that beautiful area - and their gig is pretty cool too. I think the construction on the bridge actually helped with the fewer cars at that point :)
DeleteSo glad you are enjoying this area of Michigan. This was our first long stay (a week) when we began out fulltime journey. We stayed near the little town of Empire which is right in the middle of the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes. We enjoy Indigo Bluffs RV Resort so much we returned on a whim as we heading north through Michigan a couple years ago. We pulled over just before we needed to make the decision to turn left and called to see if they had room. They did! So left we went and spent s few days biking and hiking around. I love the Cherry Republic and purchased several cherry products, as well. We, too, had their Cherry Chicken Salad sandwich which was so good. The Great Lakes are all so beautiful but Lake Michigan is my favorite. So nice that you are getting to visit with some friends. Enjoy your last five days. Fluffy dog???? Hello!!
ReplyDeleteLOL, I know she has been camera shy lately. Will have to fix that! I was feeling like we were the only people who hadn't been there so I'm happy we finally made it!
DeleteYou have definitely peeked my interest...love those sleepy little towns! And what an awesome spot to call home for 10 days! Yummmmmmmm......cherries!
ReplyDeleteSooooo many cherries!! And soon the apples will be ready. Great corn too. Throw in the wineries, breweries and cideries and there's something for everyone to enjoy :-)
DeleteHa! No, you are not the only people to have not been there—I think WE are. It's been on our list for years, but it's just so danged far away from our usual travels! But we hope to remedy that next year. The Leelaneau Peninsula looks like summer paradise (would like a few thousand less people, but oh well).
ReplyDeleteLove the outdoor concert, the beautiful dunes (but not hiking them, no thank you), and your always discerning eye to pick out the most random, fun things—the boat Cadillac progeny, hahaha!
Oh you two must do this for one of your "going across" routes!! I'm already regretting not giving us another month in Northern Michigan. There were only a couple places where the crowd was an issue, and of course you'll take advantage of all the hiking available!
DeleteOh no...we need an extra month? How the heck are we ever going to fit everything in?? (Good problem to have, right?)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the crowds aren't an issue. We will definitely take advantage of the hiking, but not those dunes. I hate hiking in sand. :-))
We loved our time with you guys in Duluth and Leelanau! It's always fun to know that we're going to meet up with dear friends. It's just as well you don't have photos, I was probably wearing the same shirt I had on in Duluth. :) Love ya!
ReplyDeleteWe loved spending time making memories with you guys, Jodee! Glad you were able to experience Wild Cherry. Even though it was full most of the time, it is so peaceful. Mario’s schnozz has nothing on mine!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely part of Michigan I am unfamiliar with. I like to look at the dunes but no thanks to climbing them as I did in Indiana in my youth. Cherry anything sounds good to me.
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