There are five beautiful swans in the Frankfort Harbor -- these are two of them

The anchor was up and we were out of Northport at 6:45 this morning.  It was 59 degrees and breezy.  It was a fairly smooth ride North about an hour-and-a-half, then we turned West at Grand Traverse Light and the waves were abeam which is never a good thing. Most magnificent was Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Park.  The entire coastline from Leland to Frankfort comprises the Park.  Because of the rough water and shoaling we couldn't get close enough for better photos -- but the dunes are stunning.

The  Ottawa and Chippewa Indian legend of the sleeping bear is this:

Long ago a great famine had spread over the land. Longingly, a mother bear and two famished cubs walked the shore on the Wisconsin side, gazing wistfully across the great lake at Michigan, which in those days was the land of plenty (as it is today). Finally hunger overcame their timidness and the bears launched out, trying to swim to Michigan. As they got closer and closer to the Michigan shore, the mother's words of encouragement urged on the weary cubs. When only twelve miles from the land of plenty, the mother's heart was rent as she saw a babe sink and drown. With the remaining cub she struggled to gain the beach. Two miles of slow dragging and the second of her beloved cubs also perished. 

The mother reached the beach, alone, and crept to a resting place where she lay down facing the restless waters that covered her lost ones. As she gazed, two beautiful islands slowly rose to mark the graves of the cubs. The Great Spirit Manitou created two islands (North and South Manitou Islands) to mark the spot where the cubs disappeared and then created a solitary dune to represent the faithful mother bear.

Our ride was smoother once we headed South after rounding Point Betsie Lighthouse, said to be the most photographed lighthouse on Lake Michigan.  We arrived at Frankfort late this afternoon and are anchored in Betsie Lake Harbor. We traveled 65 miles today.  

We took a walk through town and bought no ice cream at either Kilwin's or Moomers and the bakery was closed.  That was good thing.  We've consumed more than our share of these treats this past week, believe me!   I made a nice Cornish hen dinner in the crockpot which was plenty and we skipped dessert.  And no, I reminded the Captain, that doesn't mean we'll have two desserts tomorrow night.

Thank you for continued prayers for Ralph's Mom.  She had a little set-back in her recovery when she developed a fever, but the fever is gone and she is once again responsive and starting to eat.  The neurosurgeon is pleased with her progress but advises that her recovery will take time.  Please continue praying for her.

Here are a few photos from today's adventure:

We played chase around the oldsters today with Striper

A mineral water well in the center of Frankfort

Downtown Frankfort

Leaving Northport at sunrise today

Sleeping Dunes National Lakeshore Park

Map of Lake Michigan.  We are coming down the east shore of the Lake.

Point Betsie Lighthouse

Some of the dunes are 480' high

Sleeping Bear Dunes

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Frankfort, MI harbor

Tonight's back yard