Great times along the Great Lake

May 31, 2021 Beaver Island to Barnes County Park in Eastport, MI

The Beaver Island Ferry actually has two scheduled runs today from the island to Charlevoix.  We take the earlier ferry so we can attempt to ride 40 miles after arriving on the mainland.  This is a lofty goal considering the terrain gets hillier and the day will be half over by then.  The lake is very calm and the ferry crossing is a breeze.  This is in stark contrast to our trip over here on Friday.  So, just over two hours of smooth sailing later we arrive in Charlevoix.  The drawbridge lifts up for the ferry and we step off into the town.  

Another beautiful beach, this one is at Barnes County Park Campground where we end up for the night.  We did NOT ride 40 miles today. :(

Another mushroom house as seen from the ferry 

The drawbridge leading from the Round Lake/Pine River into the channel opening of Lake Michigan

Irish reels and ballads for the crossing

These two musicians were out on the island for the weekend and decide to host an impromtu concert during the crossing.  They know lots of ballads and a few more contemporary Irish folk songs.  I haven't heard a live music performance since fall of 2019.  The guys keep their masks on while they perform but the tenor voices are clear and strong.  

June 1, 2021 - Barnes Lake Campground to Traverse City, MI 

This part of Michigan has rolling hills, farmland and orchards.  Our route follows quiet country roads and we pass cherry and apple trees marching along in orderly rows.  The sun is shining and there are a few farm workers out in the fields.  The blossoms are past and there are baby cherries all over the trees.  

Elk Rapids has a homemade ice cream shop so we can't pass that by.  Tom has cherry yogurt swirl and I have Lake Macinaw Fudge swirl - gotta stay true to the area with our flavor choices!  We eat our crackers and cheese and tuna packet lunch in the town park and take a look at the fishing pier.  A guy is pulling in a smallmouth bass and then  tossing him back in the river.  Most of the bass fishing here is practiced as catch and release.  

Traverse City is one of the most bicycle friendly towns I have ever been in.  It is a very fun place to walk around.  There are  16 craft breweries in town.  We choose Rare Bird Brewery and sample an orange witbier (me) and Tom tries Miss Mirage (an IPA)

A network of bicycle trails run in and around Traverse City.  There is singletrack in the woods and paved trails joinning different areas of the city.  We visited this area once a few years ago and did day rides around the OLd Mission and Leelanau peninsulas.  The TART trail is a 10.5 mile paved pathway that stretches east-west across the city.  It runs right by the campground at Traverse City State Park.  

Riding from the park to town, we see a variety of bikes including recumbents and another crazy looking one with a big wooden cargo box on it.  The cargo being hauled includes a child and a big dog.  The locals here have wholeheartedly embraced biking.

The downtown park is a community  gathering  place.  There aren't even many tourists here but there is a lot going on.  Children run through the splash park.  Dogs chase sticks thrown in the lake, couples stroll by the water or sit in chairs waiting for the sunset.  There are sailboats and kayaks on the blue lake water.  It is a great place for people watching.

after all that touring around our mileage is at 52.5 by day's end

Traverse City State park is only 3 miles from downtown but it feels like a world away in the piney woods.  (Special Note to David in Quebec:  there is an airport on one side and a highway on the other, so bring earplugs, but definitely camp here!)