Michigan Friends, part 4

Wednesday, June 9th, was the day that we were going to explore the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The day was not the ideal sightseeing day but it would have to do since it was our last day in the Leelanau Peninsula.

First of all, Jim and his family with Granny B went to some dunes in Michigan many decades ago. After much discussion, it was decided that it was probably not the ones we were about to visit.

We stopped at the Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum. We were inside of this building.

This gent gave us all kinds of trivia information about how the guys who were in the United States Life Saving Service (or something like that)..which was pre-U.S Coast Guard...would rescue ships that were wrecked on the coast line or in winter storms etc. It was very informative and the museum was very interesting picturing how the life of the sailors and their families lived in the era.


A boat that was near the boathouse that we toured.

A nearby barn!

This is one giant sand pile. Several school buses were lined up here for a fun day--probably their last day of school!

"If you play your cards right, we can get these people to take our picture and we can take theirs!"..."OK.....let's go." (inside joke).

These worms were EVERYWHERE! They are eating leaves of trees.

They create these cocoons.

We were warned about these steep bluffs.

Now, let me tell you about the blowing sand. We were FINALLY at the famous Sleeping Bear Dune...but it was rather windy. You can kind of depict the blowing sand in this pic. Well, JB and I did not walk all the way up the trail. Who wants to wipe sand out of all of their orifices? Mary Jo and Mike were brave and wanted to show us they knew what they were doing......Mike's glasses got literally sandblasted! Goes to show you....don't always follow the leader.......

Beautiful scenery from every viewpoint.

This was a rock stop. Hey, we didn't steal any rocks!

And then further down the road at the Good Harbor beach.......

Mike is always complaining about those darn rocks but I think he is "into it". "Watch out. The Beach patrol is coming!"

JB is bored. He's taking pics of flowers.

I think they are blurry (or maybe it's the wine!)

During the day Mike got his National Parks Senior Lifetime Pass for a mere $10.00. What a deal, especially since there are 112 National Parks. We had lunch at Joe's Friendly Tavern in Empire. They WERE very friendly. Then we had dinner at Fisher's Happy Hour Tavern, north of Leland with Tracy and Paul.

Sadly, this was our farewell get together, as we will be breaking camp tomorrow and heading to the U.P. and points in the midwest. It was truly a wonderful week that we will not forget. Thanks for the hospitality and great friendship, Mike and Mary Jo. See you in the Valley of the Sun (where it doesn't rain so much!)