Dune Climb

Hey, all you first graders out there, this day would be for you! If I could take you on a field trip it would be to the sand dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It is so much fun to climb up the steep hills and then run down the dune at full speed. The dune in the picture is 110 feet long. I tried to hike from this dune to Lake Michigan but it was too tiring. I would have to have gone up and down 9 hills. It is hard walking through sand for a mile and one half ! I'm glad that it was a cool, beautiful day for this hike.

Mission Point Lighthouse

Today we biked the length of Old Mission Peninsula. By definition a peninsula has water on three sides so we never were far from the water. The island is known for its wineries and cherry trees. (We also saw some beautiful homes- many of which were for sale.) At the end of the peninsula is the Mission Point Lighthouse. You can go in the lighthouse and climb the skinny stairs to the tower. There is a small museum inside. Did you know that Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state?

Airstream

The Holiday Park Campground where we are staying is an Airstream campground. Airstream trailers usually are silver on the outside They still make them and they are well built. Many people here own Airstream trailers. Bob and Judy live right near the lake and shared their love for their home on wheels with us.

Day of Rest

Sunday is our day to go to church. We went to the Baptist church but what a surprise with the preaching! The regular pastor was gone and so David Kase the National Director for Christ's Hope International spoke. His ministry is to people in Africa who have HIV and AIDS. There are 3 ways that they work with the Africans. 1. teach the choose to wait program in schools 2. show care and compassion 3. work with orphans and vulnerable children. This is a good work happening in Africa. Please check out the website. It just so happened that we sat in front of his wife and two kids. They were able to tell us about some things to do here in Traverse City They even offered to let us use their kayaks. God is good....all the time!

Colonial Michilimackinac

Yesterday it rained all day so we went to a museum. The museum is a 1770s-era fort and fur trading village. We were also able to witness an ongoing archaeological dig. There were 13 authentically reconstructed buildings. Today we found the sunshine again and beautiful sail boats on Lake Michigan at Traverse City. The lake shore of the city has all been turned into "open space". There are beautiful swim beaches, picnic areas and a great bike path right next to the lake.

Mackinac Island

We have traveled to Michigan and have followed the coastline the whole way. Yesterday we took the ferry to Mackinac Island (pronounced Mackinaw). The ferry was fast and shot up a large rooster tail behind it. It was a little rocky coming back! The island is quaint. There are no vehicles allowed on the island-only horses and bikes. We saw a new house being built and the materials were being "trucked" by cart and horse. Al wondered what the total delivery costs would be on that house! It is 8 miles around the island. We spent the day biking and it was wonderful.

Kayak on the Mink River

After taking Sunday as a day to go to church and an amazing Hymn Fest in the evening, we decided to do some water activities. We hired a guide and rented kayaks to go up the Mink River. This is a wildlife sanctuary off of Lake Michigan but we were surprised at the cabins along the way. In the evening we went to an outdoor playhouse and got rained out. The play was Life on the Mississippi which was about Mark Twain's time as a pilot on the river. Too bad.

Fyr Bal

This is a Norwegian celebration held at Ephraim. It is pronounced Fye (fear) Bal. It is a time to say goodbye to Winter and hello to Summer. (I don't know what happened to Spring!) They had the typical small town happenings. A stage with entertainment (little girls dressed up in Norwegian costumes who sang, the Door County idol winner and a guy who read off the raffle winners.) The chieftain is named and comes across the Bay in a pontoon and then the chieftain lights the official bonfire. Bonfires are then lit all over the Bay. Cool! The night is finished off with fireworks. It was fun.

Fish Boil

We had never heard of a fish boil until we got to Door County. First the potatoes and onions are put into boiling water. Then pieces of whitefish are added. Kerosene is added to the fire to make the fire flare up and make everything boil over. They then yell "Dinner" and you line up to get your plate filled up. This tradition started in 1962 at the Viking Grill where we had dinner. You now see fish boils all over this resort area!

Biking on Washington Island

A person can catch the ferry at the northernmost

tip of the peninsula of Door County. It is a 30 minute trip on the ferry to get to Washington Island. Many people bring their car on the ferry but we chose to take our bikes. There are miles of roads that are safe for biking. We biked to the north of the island and watched as people boarded another ferry for the 15 minute trip to Rock Island. No cars or bikes are allowed on this island. There are remains of an estate that was built by an Icelandic millionaire back in the early 1900s.

Looking Around

We spent our first day scoping out the area. There are many things to do here. We bought strawberries and asparagus at a roadside stand and ate them in the car. A short walk from the campsite is Rowles Bay and a great view of Lake Michigan. The dock where this picture was taken was originally built in 1870. Indians and Scandinavian immigrants waited here for the boats to bring supplies.

New Travels

We start our new trip. I will miss my garden but we leave the house sitting in good hands. Surprisingly, we made it to Door County in one day. Door County is a group of towns on a peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. There is much to do here and we will be here for almost a week. It is good to be on the road for two months.