RE, MICHIGAN

 We left Ypsilanti headed for Empire, MI. The main reason for going there is the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It's the only National Park type venue we will see on this trip and videos of it looked pretty impressive.

The GPS had us drive up I-75, but there appeared to be a major shut down coming up so we were instructed to take an alternate route and zig zag towards the NW direction instead of North and then West. When we got to Clare, MI there was a horrible thunderstorm with very high winds, rain and projected hail. The sky turned black, then green and we saw a tornado warning on the phone that was about 3 miles up the road. We pulled off the road under an underpass (in the middle of no where) and just waited. After about 20 minutes the sky began to clear and the rains let up so we could proceed. It was pretty scary especially since our MH and car were sitting sideways against the wind and we were afraid of being flipped over.

This picture doesn't even begin to show how dark and green the sky actually got. As we continued we were rerouted off the main roads and thru some bumpy dirt roads. We think there were some down trees blocking the road or accidents caused by the storm. After traveling thru Traverse City and going about 20 miles west we arrived at out campground Indigo Bluffs. What a super nice CG. The spaces were wide and we had plenty of room and a nice big cement slab and picnic table. WiFi was not bad. They also have a food tuck on site that makes gourmet burgers.

                Bentley enjoyed sitting out in the sunshine and going for walks around the CG.

  This whole area reminds me of Maine and particularly Rangeley, ME. The trees, hills, and the town of Glen Arbor which is about 7 miles away is very similar to Rangeley, although I think Rangeley has more restaurants. The town and many of the houses are vacation homes on Glen Lake,

                                                     

                                                    A small community church downtown.

One of the claims to frame in this area is that it is the Cherry Capital. In Glen Arbor a great place to visit is THE CHERRY REPUBLIC. It is all things cherry. A store carrying cherry jams, bar B que sauce, chocolate covered cherries, cherry scone mix, cherry sodas and on and on. Things you would never think of made of cherries----even beer. They have a beautiful garden and tasting room and a restaurant. The Cherry Public House has mostly burgers with infused cherries, cherry pie and fresh cherry ice cream. YUM!!!

                                                    

                                                                           The tasting room.

Another famous establishment here is Art's Tavern which originally opened in 1926. They have a very good menu and the place is decorated with collage banners from all over.

                                                   

                                                      

        There is one grocery in town, Anderson's Market which is a very small IGA, but seems to have most everything you need.

  

Later I hope to post some picture of the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.