Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan

We have a neighbor that has a second home in Frankfort and since we were heading to see the Sleeping Bear Dunes on Thursday, we decided to start our journey in Frankfort and head north up the shore.  We didn't call Joe and Joey ahead of time because with the weather forecast we weren't certain that we would make it and we weren't certain of the time we might arrive.  It ended up that we hit Frankfort around 11:30 hoping that if Joey had to work the previous night shift, that she might be up.  We called and talked to Joe and she was not and we requested not to wake her up.  We told him we wanted to drive by his home because Pam and Herm had bragged so much on how they had restored it.  Boy were they right.  What a great job Joe did.  If we could afford a second home, that style and setting would be perfect for us.  While we were sightseeing in downtown Frankfort, Van found a smoked fish place and had to go check it out.  He ended up buying smoked white fish sausage and fresh beef jerky.  Was he in heaven!

Then we began the drive north up to see the Dunes.  Our favorite area was the Pierce Stocking Scenic drive which was about 7 or so miles.  Pierce Stocking was a native of northern lower Michigan and a lumberman.  He single handedly developed this scenic drive which he operated from 1967 to 1977.  In 1977, it became part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  The first stop on the drive is an old covered bridge, which all of you know how much Van and I love covered bridges, which as far as we know, this particular bridge is the only one in the country that has the National Park symbol on it.  Being from Savannah, we are accustomed to seeing sand dunes, or at least we thought so.  We found out that these sand dunes are REAL sand dunes.  The nearby towns sell t-shirts that say "I climbed the Dunes."  The picture shows people climbing the dunes but people are warned not to do so barefooted because of the temperature of the sand.  We did not climb the dunes but we understood that there is a body of water just on the other side of the dune.

 

Also, while I'm thinking about it.  We keep passing another road sign that is hilarious to us.  It reads "Do not pass when opposing traffic present."  Again, who would?  We are beginning to be concerned about the folks in Michigan.  They have to be told this and then the other one that read about not picking up hitch hikers in a prison zone.



Another thing we find fascinating about Michigan is how much shoreline there really is in this northern part of the lower peninsular.  We all know that there are the 2 great lakes on the eastern and western portion of Michigan, but by goodness, there are so many large lakes that create more shoreline.  It makes for a beautiful state.

We got up this morning (Saturday) and have stopped in Hopkins, Michigan which is between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.  At the RV show this year, we picked up a coupon for a RV Resort here and are staying for a week for $125.00.  It has every amenity you could want......except for trees!

Again , we miss everyone and thank you for keeping us in your prayers.