September 18, 2018. Exploring NW Michigan

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CAMPGROUND:  Day 3 at Platte River Campground @ Sleeping Dunes National Lakeshore

LOCATION:  Near Traverse City in NW Michigan

WEATHER:  Perfect fall day.  Sunny. Highs in 50s

We are really enjoying being with our friends Tony and Jenny.  We planned a busy day together.  First, we went to the nearby fish weir and learned about the salmon trying to swim upriver.

The gate keeps the salmon from swimming upriver.  They open up the weir periodically to let some fish through.

Then, we went to a dam  on a river that feeds into Lake Michigan.  We watched the King salmon trying valiantly to jump up the dam.  Some made it.

Others get caught before they try jumping through the dam.

We then took a scenic drive through the Sleeping Bear Dunes.  We watched a guy climb up the steep dunes (with a sign advising people not to do this as it is so hard coming back up).

Lake Michigan was calm and beautiful.

 

We headed into nearby Frankfort and had a great lunch at the Storm Cloud Brewery.  I had a smoky black IPA and we split a flatbread pizza.

After shopping for tonight's dinner and for smoked fish snacks at the local smokehouse, we went for a hike on one of the park's trails.  As with yesterday's hike, the trail was hard to find, which involved driving through bumpy back roads. It was an enjoyable hour-long hike through fern-filled forests and farmland.

Back at the campground, we made a fire and prepared dinner with Tony and Jenny.  George grilled chicken thighs and Tony concocted a yummy pasta dish with grilled vegetables in a cheese/garlic sauce.  

Later, we sat around the campfire and toasted the end of a great day!