riverrangere
- Sep 18, 2021
- 3 min read

Sleeping Bear Dunes after sleeping soundly

Sleeping Bear Dunes NatIonal Lakeshore

Sept. 16 &17, 2021

*first time on a river since surgery!!

Starting outside Lincoln, Nebraska at 7am, and arriving at 10:29pm at our Traverse City hotel, it was an extremely long day’s drive through the middle of the country. Surprisingly, we found ourselves back near the Platte River - in Michigan?!

After a visit to the Sleeping Bear visitors center, I hopped on my bike as Stacey got in a little work, and rode the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail bike path for 10 miles, past dunes and forest before the first look at Lake Michigan in Glen Haven. A cute historic town in the park, it was worth a stop. The lake looked like the Caribbean, with it‘s light blues and gentle waves, very inviting. Glen Arbor was where I met back up with Stacey for lunch at the Cherry Public House with all things Cherry. A cherry cider and sweet cherry porter, both yum, accompanied lunch.

Next was Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. A little drive thru mixed forest with views of the lake and dunes. Then a look at the Dune Climb, but that was a definite NO! After a quick view of the rescue maritime museum and a beach walk, we did take a dune walk at Sleeping Bear Point out to an underwhelming ghost forest. Walking barefoot in the dunes was nice, but tiring.

The most northern area of the park held Pyramid Point, and the largest publicly owned farmlands: Fort Oneida Historic Rural Agricultural District. The old farmsteads were interesting, but we skipped the 3/4 mile walk out to the point, and instead drove right to the beach for an ‘almost sunset’ happy hour & appetizers.

Crystal clear and slightly chilly Lake Michigan

Last stop for a Bald Eagle Stacey spotted in a swampy ghost forest. Luckily, we took out the binoculars, because overhead flew a pair of Sandhill Cranes!! Squawking their very peculiar calls, and landing in the swamp, which brought out the calls of the flock. Yah! We’ve been looking for these migrating beauties.

Day2

Packed for a water adventure, we rented a canoe for the Platte river - an advanced upper 16 mi section, versus the tube and beer worthy lower stretch. With a 50% flip rate, we knew we were in for an adventure! The owner of Riverside Canoes drove us to the put in and held the canoe while we clambered in. What great service, and he gave us good advice on the float. Which in my morning fog, I said would require “thick quinking“! The fast creek, with rocks, shallows, and overgrown strainer snags, was the challenge he said it would be!! We diid see a Bald Eagle, Blue Heron, King Fisher, and many darting fishies, while avoiding 3 almost flips. An extraordinary day trip for those looking for some water fun, but I might recommend a kayak instead of canoe… The rest of the day was much less exciting, as our arms were shot from the difficult paddle.

Platte River Point, where the Platte river meets Lake Michigan, would have been my swim spot if it wasn’t so windy😬

Further travels for the day:

Betsie Lighthouse:

- almost surf-able waves.

- adorable setting on the most southern point in the park.

Crystal Lake:

-too wind to be crystalline & too many “cottages” in the way to see it anyway.

5 Shores Brewery:

-Stacey gets the good beer, & as usual, I chose wrong again.

Burgers @ Lucky Dog bar & grill:

- Amazing beers selection ( ok burger)

- Fruit Puff ( thick cloudy berries galore sour)

- Arvon brewery: Salted Caramel Porter.

*email from USCG says I passed all my credentials and my Captains license is in the mail..!!

Next, St Ambrose Cellars for draft meads & cysers, with a live blues band playing out of a red barn, and us at picnic tables in the lawn, between the food truck and the brewery store. Drinking flights with John Lemon and Rhythm & Blues..Sparkle Beach (w/bubbles & glitter), Grateful Head (habanero & mango), and Peach Revolver. Too bad we can’t stick around for the “Lord of the Gourd” festival next weekend…