July 11-12, Elk Rapids, MI

We leave Charlevoix and make the 11:30 bridge opening when leaving Round Lake. The Beaver Island Ferry leads us out the channel into Lake Michigan. Wind is 15-20 mph today and we have 2-3 foot waves. Not a great day to be on the water, but not bad and we motor about 30 miles from Charlevoix to Elk Rapids.

Downtown Elk Rapids.

Elk Rapids is a nice small town on the east arm of Grand Traverse Bay. There are a few shops, a large antique store with many vendors and a beautiful park and running stream near the marina.

Linda and Kim in a cherry orchard with lots of cherries on the trees.

The cherry trees are bearing cherries all over the countryside now and Traverse City has just finished having it's annual Cherry Festival. Linda finds some fresh cherries on the roadside and a delicious cherry pie. We get some vanilla ice cream and have a real treat.

Kim, Ady and Linda
at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park overlook.

Ady and Kim climb the 400 foot Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.
Here near the top.

Owen at the Sleeping Bear Dunes lifesaving station with an old fashioned rescue boat. Another maritime museum.

We take a day trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park to see the large sand dunes on the west coast of Michigan near Traverse City.

Kim wading and looking for Petosky stones.
And finding some.