We liked Traverse City pretty much.  I was left in the car while the drivers bopped in to see an exhibit on Inuit Art (and came out with more unwieldy purchases), and then we drove out onto a long peninsula in the middle of Traverse Bay.  By far the best foliage we have seen the whole trip!  There was stopping at antique shops and wineries and apple stands (much glee expressed over the honeycrisp taffy apple), and finally, at the end of the peninsula I got to get out and run around at another lighthouse!  The beach here was very weird, kind of like wetlands but at a lake—Clare took many pictures of the bleak landscape: Beth and I were not impressed.  I saw a black squirrel though and that was very exciting! 

Back down the peninsula we went, driving along the coast to Manistique; we had hoped to see a church that had a couple of Tiffany windows, but it was locked.  What ever happened to the days when churches were open all the time?  The town seemed cool and worth a longer visit but time was short so we pressed on to Ludington in time for another great sunset and romp on the beach before finding a hotel. 

Friday morning, the last day of our adventure, we started with a tour of a pioneer village.  It is true most of these buildings had been moved here to save them, but we liked it all the same.  There weren’t many people so I got to run free—the roomies particularly enjoyed the fully decked out school house (Clare pointed out how the desks on one side were small for the little kids and larger on the other side for the big kids…hard to imagine one class with everyone!  They also liked the trappers cabin where there was a very nice woman tending the fire, and she let me smell all the animal skins…delicious!
 

As we made our way towards home, we stopped at an orchard we had gotten fabulous honeycrips from at farmer’s market, but they were GONE.  After passing a million orchards and apple sellers all along our trip, it became clear we had waited too long.  The nice man at the orchard dragged out a bushel of seconds and gave them the story about the weather and calcium, but there was no consolation to be had. 

Last on our agenda was a stop at the Beth’s childhood vacation spot which she had not seen in 20+ years.  We drove through the compound to the beach where I ran around and she collected a few rocks…a past time that engaged many childhood hours so we were told. 

Our last stop-and a bit impromptu-was at Warren Dunes State Park.  And guess who was waiting to say hello at the entrance?  Ray!  I was very surprised to see him somewhere other than the house.  We all went to watch the sunset and have a final swim-a wave crashed over me as I went for a stick; I was a little frightened and they all just laughed.

Then it was highways and traffic, but I just napped in the back and dreamt of our next adventure.