Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Northeast Lake Michigan

The sun begins to peek over Mackinac Island as we depart St Ignace.
 
 
 
 
The Mackinac Bridge is soooooo big you can see it from a lonnnnnggg way off!
 
 
 
 
Looking back over our shoulder at the sunrise after passing under the Mackinac Bridge.
 
 
 
 
 
Approaching the seawall of the Petoskey Marina in Little Traverse Bay, Michigan.
 
Once a lumber and manufacturing city in the late 1800s, Petoskey is now a waterfront community known for its charming downtown, historic architecture, scenic beauty, waterfront parks and sandy beaches.
 
 
 
 
The marina is located right next to Bayfront Park,
 
 
 
 
 
A pedestrian tunnel and ramp connects the marina with the downtown amenities.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seemingly, like everywhere else in northern Michigan, colorful flowers abound!
 
 
 
 
 
The marina had wonderful bikes for us to use.  We took a long ride on the Little Traverse Wheelway, a non-motorized, asphalt path, which follows the shoreline for 26 miles.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unique places to wet your whistle are all along the Wheelway, like the Knot Just a Bar in Bayview.
We sampled some local brews on tap and their famous Knotchos!
 
 
 
 
 
The Township of Leland, or "Fishtown", was another of our overnight stops along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
Ancient ice and fish shanties now house an operating fish house and specialty shops.
 
 
 
 
 
 Despite the gloomy, rainy sky, the ever-present colorful flower boxes brightened up our day!
 
 
 
 
 
The amazing sand dunes of the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore Park.
 
 
With 480 foot tall sand dunes, white beaches and a backdrop of forests, the view from Spiritus is simply breathtaking.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The breakwater lighthouse at the entrance to Frankfort.
 
 
 
 
 
Spiritus and her traveling companion, Pazza Bella, settled at the dock in Frankfort.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Some of the beautiful, restored buildings of downtown.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mike & Veronica from Pazza Bella, have a meal with us at "The Dinghy" in downtown Frankfort.
 
 
 
 
The great checker match begins!!!
 
 
 
 
 
Bottoms Up!
 
 
 
 
 
Bet you thought it was a duck!
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 


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