Left Leland and cruised past Good Harbor Bay and North and South Manitou Islands on an overcast morning.
As we passed the south end of South Manitou we could see the lighthouse that I pictured yesterday and with the binoculars we could see the wreck of the Francisco Morazon just off its shore.
Cruising further south we rounded Pyramid Point and it’s very large dune.
The dunes on Lake Michigan were spectacular. We marveled at how the wind and sand could create such a sculpted landscape and tall sand dunes right on the lakeshore. We are cruising past the dunes we saw yesterday by car in Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore Park.
The park continues along the Lake Michigan shoreline for about 25 miles. Each point of land sporting another dune formation different from the one we just saw. The dunes vary in height from 100-560 feet tall. That’s quite a sand dune! The one we climbed yesterday was 435 feet tall.
There are several boats out with us on Lake Michigan today as the winds are light and seas calm. Was fun to have so much company. the sun even decided to come out!!
Traveling further south it became quite clear easy to identify where the Sleeping Bear Lakeshore Park ended as homes appeared all along the shoreline and up in the dunes.
This last one you can hardly see the house.
Three hours into our trip, we passed Point Betsie with its lighthouse, one of the most photographed of Michigan’s lighthouses.
As we rounded Point Betsie we can see the lighthouse that marks the entrance to the channel into Frankfort and Lake Betsie. This is our destination for tonight.
As we enter the channel we pass by the beach area and Coast Guard Station and then entered the lake, which is filled with marinas and a mooring field.
There was a fishing tournament going on this morning and we watched boats of all sizes return to port while we ate our lunch. Didn’t realize the variety of fishing gear boats could have, from hand held rods and fish nets to multiple rods rigged out on the boat to outriggers. Actually saw a few fishing in the harbor catch a few!
After lunch we launched the dinghy and headed into town to walk around.
History of Frankfort
Frankfort was settled originally by a woodsman who lived off the land and lake in 1852. When a bad storm caused a wealthy business man to take shelter in the protected harbor, he saw potential in the location and purchased a large tract of land. Over the years the town was supported by saw mills and lumbering. In 1867, the entrance to Betsie Lake and River was dredged and soon steamships and tourists found their way here. Later the railroad built lines on the south shore of the river and lake and increased opportunities for commerce and tourism.
Today the town is known for its fishing, proximity to Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore Park and Point Betsie Lighthouse, and it’s beaches and nature preserves.
Back to our adventure.
We tied up the dinghy at the Municipal Marina and walked the Main Street with its restaurants, bars and shops, plus a vintage movie theatre.
Bill needed some nuts and bolts so we went into the hardware store. That chore accomplished, we headed to the public beach and walked all the way to the North Shore Dune Park. Of course, along the way Bill collected more rocks!
As we headed back down the beach we turned into a older residential neighborhood before turning back onto Main Street just in time to find an ice cream shop. We enjoyed!!
