August 19-21, 2010 Frankfort, Michigan 44.6315,-086.2419
NOTE: If you would like to enlarge any of the pictures on this blog, place your cursor on the picture and double click. One of the pictures that you might like to try it with is the “Mushroom House”. — Enjoy 🙂
August 19. We FINALLY left the docks of Beaver Island at 9am. Although a quaint island, 4 days was a long time to be there. And for the record, we didn’t see any beavers but we did see a bunch of wild turkeys!!
Wild Turkeys (No Beavers) on Beaver Island
On our ride we are encountering 4-5 ft seas, wind/waves hitting us on the beam making it a very bumpy ride. We are moving on to Charlevoix, and arrived at 2pm, which is on the mainland (population 2994). In Charlevois we entered the protected waters of Round Lake to find a marina. It is wise to dock at a protected marina, but it especially on Lake Michigan. We have learned that this lake has a mean reputation this time of the year. — Here we joined up with “Two Turtles”, who we met earlier in our trip. — Charlevoix was permanently settled in the post-Civil War era and evolved into a resort area. During Prohibition, Charlevoix became a popular place for Chicago’s gang members to come for gambling, and actually became quite famous as “the” place where the Midwest’s most powerful and influential hung out. — The people at EC will be interested to know that Charlevoix was home to Michigan’s first nuclear power plant (Big Rock Point, 1962-1997). — JonBenet Ramsey summered here with her family, and now her family has moved here. — Ernest Hemingway spent his boyhood summers in this area. — 
We biked the town that’s as pretty as its name with white sand beaches and aqua water. The houses are primarily Victorian, but there is also a very unique group of houses referred to as “mushroom” houses, created by resident Earl Young. They also have been referred to as “hobbitland, Elf Space, Gnome Houses, Smurfsville”. Charlevois is the only place that you can see a group of houses like this (including Disneyland). When you look at these “mushroom” houses it brings you back to your childhood and makes you think of the fantasy hobbles of Hansel and Gretel or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Very charming. Ice Age boulders of the Great Lakes region were used to build these unusual houses. An interesting note is that Earl Young designed the roof first before the rest of the house.
We biked the town that’s as pretty as its name with white sand beaches and aqua water. The houses are primarily Victorian, but there is also a very unique group of houses referred to as “mushroom” houses, created by resident Earl Young. They also have been referred to as “hobbitland, Elf Space, Gnome Houses, Smurfsville”. Charlevois is the only place that you can see a group of houses like this (including Disneyland). When you look at these “mushroom” houses it brings you back to your childhood and makes you think of the fantasy hobbles of Hansel and Gretel or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Very charming. Ice Age boulders of the Great Lakes region were used to build these unusual houses. An interesting note is that Earl Young designed the roof first before the rest of the house.
"Mushroom House" - Charlevoix, Michigan
Mushroom House, Charlevoix, Michigan
August 20. We left the docks of Charlevoix to make the 7:30am opening of the swing bridge. Today is supposed to be the best day to travel. After being on the lake 15 minutes, we have encountered thunderstorms. Lake Michigan is living up to its reputation. The waves are hitting our bow today, so that’s something to be grateful for.
Leland. We cruised by Leland today to try and make up for our time lost at Beaver Island. How fantastic, it looks like sand dunes offshore. For some reason I thought only the ocean had sand dunes. We’re always learning new things when we travel. A famous home owner here is Tim Allen, as we cruise by we give Tim a big wave.
Sleeping Bear Point. Indian Legend: A mother bear lay asleep waiting for her two cubs to cross the lake.
Sand Dunes on Lake Michigan
Frankfort. What’s in a name? Was this area settled by Germans who named it Frankfort after a city in their home country? The answer is no. Do you think this town was named after a hot dog? Again the answer is no. So how did Frankfort get its name? I’ll tell you how the story goes. — Frankfort (population 1513) is the gateway to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. — Back in 1855 a fellow by the name of Frank Martin built a home on the northern shores of the swamp delta of the Betsie River. But then big snowdrifts surrounded the house; so Frank built a wooden stockade around it to keep the snowdrifts away. His neighbors thought it looked like a fort, so when the neighbors referred to Martin’s home they called it “Franks Fort”. As time went on, you guessed it, it was shortened to Frankfort and the town had a name. That’s their story and they’re sticking to it!!
August 20, 21. We arrived at Jacobson’s Marina Resort, Frankfort at 4pm, and glad to get here after a 10 hour day on the fly bridge.
Point Betsie Light
Got settled in, glass of wine and cold beer; swim in the pool; then all “heck” broke loose with the weather (again). The storm came through at 6pm; the marina clocked it at 60 knot winds and the radar showed that it encompassed 100 miles. We were glad to be tied up to the dock, but we were rock’n and roll’n. We woke up Saturday morning (Aug. 21) and contemplated moving on, but Frankfort’s charming waterfront had a farmers market, antique car show, book sale, and an art show. Sooo, we decided to contribute to the local economy. The only thing missing was fudge (oh, fudge). 
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