Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Was a bit cloudy the only time I was there and I didn’t get to go to the Manitou islands, but the mainland section of the lakeshore was pretty neat. Tried my hand at the dune climb and couldn’t make it up to the top. (out-of-shape much? lol)

I went kiteboarding not far from there this summer.

It was so desolate for miles of coastline. I started kiteboarding in the morning and got too far from my starting point, but, oh well. After the end of the day, at twilight, I walked the few-but-now-achingly-difficult miles back to the park entrance and had no one behind, in front, or around me for as far as I could see. Miles and miles of beautiful beach and towering dunes, great waves, stunning sunset and just me and my footprints.

And three bear paw prints by a small pool of water beneath a dune.

Ahhh…. Fresh air. I never knew you before trekking to the top.

I have found memories of this place, as it was a common summer destination for me when I was a boy. I enjoyed hearing the legend about the mother and her two cubs that didnt make it all the way across.

Try to make it so you can finish your hike as you near the lake at dusk. A sunset from this vantage point is breathtakingly beautiful.