September 2-4, 2016-Leelanau Pines in Cedar, Mi~Mission Point Lighthouse~Sleeping Bear Dunes

Friday September 2, 2016-Today we leave Magnus Park in Petoskey, our destination is Leelanau Pines in Cedar, Michigan. It's not a far drive so we don't have to leave that early, therefore first we walk to the Farmer's Market in Petoskey!

                                                                  We took more of an "uptown" walk, we cut off the LTW a few blocks early!

                                                 Small Farmer's Market going on....

                                                           AAAAAH.......Fall!?!

                                                

 We actually bought something! Tomatoes & frozen turkey legs! Can't wait to put those turkey legs on the grill!

                           This is the same view, but now we're walking back to Magnus Park.

                                 This is the first time I've seen signs like this along the beach!

                                                                         Packing it up!

 I take Otis for his last potty walk here before we leave. Looks like the stone hunters are out in force                                                                       this morning!

                                                                      

                                                This lady even got her dog into the act!

 I've  had my eye on this rock since we first started walking along the path here. This is one rock, but to a TURTLE collector such as myself......I see a TURTLE basking on a log in the sun???

                                                Loading the bikes, just about take-off time!

                                                         Oh Yeah....we're ready to roll!

                             Last view of Little Traverse Bay as we get ready to pull away!

                                                              We're on the way!!!

                                               The draw bridge is open in Charlevoix

                                                              Look here we come!

 Our lunch stop!!! Actually we needed a few things but Sam's Club does have a goood hot dog!!!!

                                                                  

I think this next campgrounds might be out in the country? It sure is a nice drive!

                                                          

                                               

                                                     

                                                                           We're here!

                                                           

                                                                                         The drive into the park.....

 Checking in at the office,,,,

Our site

After dinner, we take Otis for his first time sniffs at a new campground! It gives us a chance to look the park over while Otis gets his exercise!

                This is the view from across Lake Leelanau, those lucky cows have a lake view farm!

                                              It's fishing paradise at this campground....

                                                  

                                

                                                          Otis has to sniff  EVERY BLADE OF GRASS!?!

                         This campgrounds is mostly permanent campers, & I think most of them are into hunting & fishing!!

We only have a couple of days here, tomorrow we go do a little sightseeing!

Saturday September 3, 2016-Lennie's walking by himself again, that way he gets a better walk & I get to sleep in! Today we are going to pack a picnic lunch & go check out Mission Point Lighthouse  on Old Mission Peninsula. On our way we will stop off at the Farmer's Market in Traverse City!

 Only one picture of the Farmer's Market??? That's because they had a sign that said: NO PETS! Even tho Otis doesn't consider himself a pet....I still decided he & I should walk along the water while Lennie checked out the Farmer's Market!!!

                                                 

 Lennie wasn't long going through the Farmer's Market! They must not have had any samples!?!We don't have a lot of time on the parking meter, but enough that we can check out the waterfront before moving on!

                                            This Flower plot is in the shape of a dragon fly!

                                                        

 Definitely a beautiful day & beautiful scenery!

We knew the money in the meter wasn't going to last much longer, luck would have it we found a park a few blocks away, water view & no parking meter!

                                                        

                                         Not a bad picnic view!

 After lunch.....one must have dessert!?! We went to MOOMERS!!! Of course Lennie had already researched this place!Moomers Homemade ice cream isn't just Northern Michigan's favorite ice cream but one of the best in the US!!! This according to the USA TODAY's search for the best ice cream parlor!this is a quaint, family-operated ice-cream shop on a dairy farm offering many homemade flavors!

 There's always a line & you have to wait outside the door(because the A/C is on) until you can fit inside while leaving the door shut behind you....

 Lennie gave me his order & went to get Otis to find a table in some shade. It's almost my turn to step inside the door to ice cream heaven!

                                                                    

                                                                                   Here comes some heavenly goodness!!!

"Oh Yeah!"

            Back on the road again, & look at that road! good thing we still have our boost!!!!

               Even tho this is just a replica of the Old Mission Church, it was still interesting!

                                                          

                                                            ARE WE THERE YET????

 Yes Otis.....we are finally here!

              This is not a replica in fact....you can VOLUNTEER  to be a Lighthouse Keeper!

 Mission Point Lighthouse is located at the northernmost tip of Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City, Michigan.

The Hessler Log Home now on the same location as the Mission Point Lighthouse after being moved from it's original location.

I wonder if Lennie & Otis are ready to head back??? We've had a busy day. We only have 3 days in this area, tomorrow will be another busy day!!!

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Sunday September 4, 2016- Otis & I are sleeping in again! We have a busy day of sight seeing ahead of us soon as we have our breakfast & pack our picnic lunch!!! Today we are going to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore!

                                                      Key word here is NATIONAL!

 So we didn't have to pay! The Ranger did make a comment on Otis' underbite!?! I don't get it!?!

                                      

                                                        Nice drive in, we are taking the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive

 The original covered bridge, built by Mr Pierce Stocking for his scenic drive did NOT boast the National Park Service arrowhead symbol. It was added  to provide a picturesque detail for sightseers to stop & photograph. It's working, I had to get out & take a picture!

 This is Big Glen Lake in the background. Big Glen Lake is 130 feet deep in places.

                                           From across the Lake I can pull in a Lighthouse

 This is Little Glen Lake.The long ridge running along side of Little Glen Lake is called Alligator Hill.Little Glen Lake is only 12 feet deep.

                                                  I can see a farm across the lake!

                                           

 Hey I know those two!!!

Check out the exposed roots here. Caused from wind erosion over the years.....

We made it to the Lake Michigan Overlook & EVERYONE  is in awe of the dunes & the Lake!

                                    

                                                                      This was such an AWESOME sight!!!

                                                      Sleeping Bear Dune Overlook!!!!!

                                       

                                                                                     the water was BEAUTIFUL!!!

                                          "Some" people choose to climb up & down these dunes!

 These people are at the top of the dunes.....

                                   these people are at the bottom of the dunes & I pulled them in.

                                                  

                                                                                        This is their climb up the dunes!

                Don't let Lennie & Otis fool you! They are NOT climbing up the big dune!!!

North Bar Lake

Some people think they can climb up & down the sand dune, which takes a couple of hours to complete, & find out they can't do it! Then they have to be rescued, for which there is a fee!WE knew we could not do it, so we didn't even try! I rather take pictures! Oh by the way.....I forgot to mention the sand dune is 110 feet high! Still want to climb it!?!

We thought being Labor Day Weekend & as crowded as it was finding a picnic area might be difficult but no..... we found a picnic area with plenty of tables right away!

Picnic in the woods!

 We're leaving Sleeping Dunes National Park now....

                                                                         

 We have definitely enjoyed today's sights!😏

                                       To me, this is a "WOW" picture if I do say so myself!!!

Our day is almost over, first a stop in Leland, Mi to what they call FISHTOWN??? Leeland is located on just a sliver of land between Lake Michigan & north Lake Leelanau, on the Leelanau Peninsula.It's a cute beachy town with shops, restaurants, galleries, parks, museums, marinas  & of course beaches. We wanted to walk around the town a little bit, but.....being Labor Day weekend, it was sooooooo crowded, finding a parking spot was going to be a challenge & then the people & the lines!!!! We did manage to find a parking spot!!!! We only stayed long enough to take a few pictures. We should come back next week when the holiday crowd is gone!!!! But then, we'll be gone too!!!

                                                         

                                                          

                             Sooooooooo, that was Fishtown!

We are heading back to Leelanau Pines Campground. We did make one more stop, to get ice cream!!!! Believe it or not I forgot the camera in the car so no pictures of us indulging, take my word for it....it was good!!!😋

Tomorrow we are leaving Leelanau Pines Campground here in Cedar, Michigan. We have a little over a 3 hour drive to our next destination!!!