Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Suttons Bay, and Old Mission Lighthouse

Sept 14 and 15, 2018

The Sleeping Bear getaway was by no means over. There are lighthouses to shoot! Breakfasts to order! Shopping to do!!!!

Linda remembered being in Suttons Bay, and remembered a garden shop, she thought. We turned a corner and we both suddenly remembered it:

Not only do they have many decorative pieces, but they have fine knives and a wide array of knick-knack gift items. We purchased some wolf coasters. It's a thing I have...

We fueled up to shop at http://www.45thparallelcafe.com/ , at which I ordered the Thompson, in honor of Wendy Thompson, a high school classmate who was a long-time English teacher at the high school in the area. She married John and he runs a very successful real estate office in the area. Great folks.

Then it was off to the north, through Northport, by way of Peshawbestown. and Omena, thence to the lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula. Behold, Grand Traverse Bay Lighthouse:

We spent a while here, as I was waiting for the sun to come around some. We did go inside, and Linda made it up into the turret. I declined as my claustrophobia and acrophobia kept me from climbing the very last stairwell.

Then, it was off to Leland, and Fishtown, for a great lunch at The Cove:

http://www.thecoveleland.com/

I can highly recommend the fish and chips, but we passed on the Chubby Mary.  Ichthyophobia. Or maybe just the ewwww factor. Yes that's a smoked chub. Picture snagged from their website:

We did walk over to the Falling Waters Lodge, https://www.fallingwaterslodge.com/ , to check on their prices, as we'll be sure to come back at some point.

We finished the day driving in to Traverse City for some more Shopping!!!! and wended our way back to Old Sugar Loaf for the night.

Next morning, I was up early to catch a couple impressions of the misty habitat. First tee, first light:

I walked around trying to get a decent shot of the defunct ski resort (fail) and the small airport right on the property (fail) and in the process, turned around and saw the light filtering through the mist by  what I think is the real estate office:

Then it was pack-and-leave time, and of course I lost my razor in the room somehow. That's not something one takes out of the room. But, also of course, I carry a backup in the Suburban. Linda would never be seen with a hooligan.

A quick drive back into Traverse City, then a drive up Mission Peninsula, eventually to Old Mission Point Lighthouse. Here it is in situ, looking pretty much east:

It took an extended time to get a shot from the shore, as a constant stream of tourists kept wanting to enter, leave, and just sort of hang around soaking up the ambience. The nerve! So Linda had some time to kill. I call this "Photographer's Wife's Lament". So sorry she had to hang out here:

I finally got an OK shot of the front of the lighthouse:

Note the clouds off to the left, and the blue sky at right. I know I did... I was watching the clouds roll in, and wanted a better shot, with no people. Finally, I almost lost the battle, but I did get what I wanted:

This concludes our tour. It's five o'clock! Chubby Marys all around, barkeep!!!!!