Leland, Sutton Bay, Old Mission Peninsula, Elk Rapids

We covered a lot of ground today and saw some fascinating places and people. The day began with heavy rain in the early morning hours. By 7:30 AM the rain was subsiding and it had virtually ended by 8:30 AM. Departure time was 10:00 AM, and by then the skies were clearing and we were blessed with a warm and sunny day.

Our initial destination was Leland, MI on the Leelanau Peninsula. Leland was a industrial center in the mid 1800s and had a flourishing commercial fishing industry. Eight fisheries were operating out of Leland by the early 1900s. Fishtown has been restored. In its day, shanties were built along the docks to store ice, to repair nets, and store equipment. Many of these shanties remain on the Carp River and house gift shops, galleries, and other shops. We had lunch at The Cove. This restaurant overlooks the river and Fishtown. Lunch was excellent, and we walked it off by touring the docks and shanties.

The second destination of the day was also our second peninsular: Old Mission Peninsula and the Old Mission Light. Grand Traverse Bay is a significant body of water that extends Lake Michigan 30 miles inland; it is divided into two by the Old Mission Peninsula jutting northward from Traverse City. To reach Old Mission, we retraced the route we had taken to Leland from our campground, and we returned to Suttons Bay en route to the Mission Peninsular.

Suttons Bay sits astride M-22. This village features a restored movie theater, various galleries and boutiques, and many restaurants. It has almost become a suburb of Traverse City. The main street is well kept and two bright red, old time phone booths decorate the street and attract visitors' attention. We did not see anyone making a call, but we did get a dial tone when we lifted the handset. We enjoyed our brief time in the shops and on the street.

The Old Mission Peninsular is a story in itself. This narrow 18 mile finger of land bisecting Grand Traverse Bay has a fascinating history, too long to relate here. However, the key to this land is its climate: the surrounding waters of Grand Traverse Bay, the insulating winter snows, and the cool summer growing season are uniquely suited to growing fruits. It is said, "Nowhere else on earthgrows more cherries per acre than the Mission Peninsular". Grapes grown here abundantly support an expanding wine making industry.

Route M-37 north is a pleasant drive toward Mission Light through orchards and vineyards on both sides of the road. The blue waters of the bay provide a striking background for the rows of green plants and trees. Old Mission Light stands where it has since 1870 alerting sailors to the peninsular. The light has been extinguished, but the tower and keeper's residence have been maintained. We were shocked to see how far the bay waters had receded from the shore. We were told that Lake Michigan has dropped its water level significantly in recent years, but it was visually apparent here at Mission Point.

One last stop on the peninsular was the General Store that sits on the site of the Old Mission Church. This store is a popular tourist attraction in itself, yet many visitors come to it seeking a church. The store proprietor and the staff wear period clothes and chat with customers. The store is a shopping experience with a pot-belly stove, crowded shelves, narrow aisles, and a crush of visitors. It was fun.

We returned to the campground long enough to freshen up before traveling to Elk Rapids, MI to meet Tom and Joanne. Larry and Mem had met them at Crystal Lake two winters ago. We were happy to introduce Jim and Linda to this unique couple. Joanne's home is on the shore of Grand Traverse Bay and the view is spectacular from each of the three levels of her house. In the distance we could see the Mission Peninsular where we had been earlier that day. Tom wanted us to see his home on Elk Lake where he has a beautiful location and every amenity for a relaxed waterfront lifestyle. In addition Tom has two cars of which he is quite proud: a 1948 Lincoln sedan and a 1982 Cadillac Biarritz. Both cars are in original and operating condition and very impressive. Tom and Joanne were gracious hosts providing us with beverages and snacks before we all went to a restaurant in Elk Rapids for dinner.

Saturday was a very full and enjoyable day and looked forward to an open day with no planned activities scheduled for tomorrow.