We weighed anchor in Oyster Bay on a drizzly morning and headed out into Lake Charlevoix and Round Lake. On our way to the channel the car ferry came in right behind us as we went through the channel. Was quite a large vessel so close behind us.
Once through the bridge, we went past the lighthouse and entered a very calm Lake Michigan.
We headed southwest past the sandy beaches and forested shoreline toward Grand Traverse Bay, which is the largest bay on the western coast of Michigan, with the city of Traverse City at its base.
Cruising past Grand Traverse Bay, we pass Lighthouse Point and it’s lighthouse.
The peninsula between Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan has many sand dunes with a few beach houses on the Lake Michigan shore.
The further south we went, the higher the sand dunes, ranging in size of 50-100 feet.
Unfortunately, it began to drizzle again. Hopefully it will stop before we get to the marina in LeLand, or Fishtown as the locals call it.
The off shore islands of North and South Manitou come into view as we round Cats Point. One more point of land and we can see the breakwater of the marina.
We got ourselves hooked up to electric and water and settled in. The plan is to stay here three days depending on the weather.
After lunch, we did the laundry and took nice long hot showers. Then we enjoyed reconnecting with Loopers in the marina which we had met while we were in Canada.
Sorry that my pictures aren't so great today. Was very overcast most of the day, but did have a nice sunset.
History of Leland Michigan
Originially, LeLand was the sight of the largest and oldest Ottawa Indian settlement on the river that connected Lake Leelanau to Lake Michigan. The Ottawa settlement focused on farming and fishing.
In 1853 Europeans settled in the area and built a dam in the river to power a sawmill, a requisite for building a town. Soon docks were built to accommodate a fishing fleet which provided fresh and smoked fish to the towns on the peninsula. The fishing shacks and selling of fresh and smoked fish continues today. Steamers that plied Lake Michigan brought tourists to the area to enjoy the fishing and lodges that sprang up to support tourism. The town still thrives on tourism, fishing and its ferry service which takes visitors to the State Parks on North and South Manitou Islands.
Day 94 Lay day in Leland
Had a foggy day with off and on misty rain this morning. So we donned out raingear and haeded off to town.
Leland is called Fishtown because it is the only remaining active fishing fleet, with ice house, smoke house and several shanties left on Northern Lake Michigan. These old buildings are now used for selling fish, fresh and smoked, fish boats charter and gift shops. There are signs all over that help recreate the history of this quaint town.
We visited the Fishtown Museum which had displays of some of the original fishing families in town
Next we had lunch at a local cafe with a nautical theme and a great view of the Fishtown canal and all its charter and work boats. Had delicious fresh whitefish tacos.
After lunch, we walked the main street with its gardens, art museum and gift shops and restaurants.
We walked past an old cottonwood tree that has been in the town for over 100 years.
After we picked up some fresh produce, we took off for the beach. Had to get used to walking in the soft sand with lots of rocks all along the shoreline. Of course, Bill did his best rock collecting and here is a shot of his haul.
Point of interest, the blue rocks Bill found are from remnants of the iron foundry that was in town. Apparently if the stones are larger, they are valuable. We will have to make do with the small ones we found.
Day 95 Second lay day in Leland
Woke to another foggy day with big plans to go visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park. The marina recommended Ricks Taxi to us and we made plans with Rick to leave at 11:00. We invited Pat and Cindy from MVSunshine to join us on our adventure.
We ate an early lunch of sandwiches from the Cheese Shop. They were delicious with lots of cheese! Soon after Rick arrived and drive the 25+ miles through the farmland and forests on Michigan Rt 22.
Here is a map of the area we traveled.
Rick grew up in the area and peppered us with anecdotes of the older families who founded Leland and how the State of Michigan and federal government reappropriated the land that is now Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park. There is also an Indian legend that three bears were swimming across Lake Michigan and the mother bear came ashore and tired from her journey fell asleep, but the two younger bears did not make it to the mainland, so they formed North and South Manitou Islands just off shore. These three areas are now Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore Park.
We drove along the scenic drive past Lake Leelanau and stopped at Big Glen Lake and Little Glen Lake, and the town of Glen Haven. These lakes are prime fishing areas and are crowded with docks and small boats.
On the way we went through a covered bridge.
The town of Glen Haven has a small museum of fishing boats and cute inns and shops along Good Harbor Bay in Lake Michigan.
From there Rick drove us to the largest sand dune, some 300+ feet above Lake Michigan. We all got out to gave a shot at climbing the dune. Bill got the furthest and I was a close second. Got some good shots of the dunes and the view of Glen Lakes.
Rick then returned us to the marina. We thoroughly enjoyed his commentary on local points of interest and how the area had changed in the last 50 years.
Returning to our boats we took a tour of MVSunshine, Pat and Cindy's boat. And then Bill convinced Pat to help him with one more try fixing the throttle handle. Pat was a real trooper in sticking with the project. I was the gopher person. Here is the dynamic duo who tried and got it half fixed!
Addendum
Due to the fog we were not able to go ashore on South Manitou Island, so I cheated and looked at videos and pictures online. Here is picture of the lighthouse and the shipwreck, the reasons why people take the ferry to South Manitou Island from Leland. They also go to the island of South Manitou for the hiking trails and dunes.
The wreck is of the Francisco Morazan and was lost in a snowstorm in 1960. There was no loss of life, but due to the blinding snow storm the boat was not able to be saved. Some of the cargo was retrieved off the boat, but much was left and locals salvaged the remaining freight for years after the wreck.