Pure Michigan, Traverse City Area, Day 3

 After the rains came the winds, the kind we used to hide from in the boat, but the rain and winds seemed to help with the smoke. We bought the last two N95 masked at Ace Hardware after finding the pharmacies were all sold out, but as the winds blew, the smoke near the ground got better and by afternoon I was not wearing it all the time.

The plan for the day was to explore the Leelanau Peninsula by vehicle, a larger peninsula that runs parallel to the Mission Peninsula jutting out into Grand Traverse Bay. The west side borders Lake Michigan proper. 

Pretty little town we passed through.

Mission Peninsula on the right, the larger Leelanau Peninsula on the left.

And this is what we came for--days in the 70's.

Our first stop was the Grand Traverse Lighthouse at the northern peninsula tip. The smoke seemed to be lessening but clouds were filling its place.

Windy day made bigger waves.

Cool photo of artist painting the lighthouse.

The little dot between us and the small island is a person in the water. 

Rocky shore instead of sand.

We hiked a short trail in the lighthouse park along the shore.

We drove through more cherry orchards, vineyards and farms to the small town of Leland where we walked through to visit the old Fishtown, a small harbor with a long commercial fishing history. Just outside the river inlet, several brave souls were kite surfing in the high winds. 

Looking down the harbor from the bridge.

Under the bridge was a dam.

Fishtown is still a commercial fishing harbor, but more for charter than in the past.

Our next stop was Pyramid Point with a little over half-mile hike UPHILL to the Overlook. Rain, clouds and some lingering smoke obstructed the view somewhat, but still beautiful. Lake Michigan is surprisingly clear and blue, almost the color of the Bahamas waters in some places.

We watched a rain shower move along the lake.

A little further south we came up on the Sleeping Dunes National Lakeshore and found some astounding sand dunes. We knew there were dunes, but the size and breadth of the dunes surprised us both.

We pulled off the road when we first saw the dunes. They went on for several miles.

From the parking lot. The little dots are people.

And, of course, Mr. Wizard had to show off and trot up the first dune.

I walked, with a stop or two to breathe. That is an inland lake behind me.

We didn't hike all the way to the beach as it was getting late. We took in the view from the top of the first hill and headed back down.

We drove the hour back to the campground, ate some leftovers and settled in our recliners for a movie.