Grand Traverse Bay Lighthouse and lots of pictures

Location: Traverse City State Park; Traverse City, Michigan
(click pics to enlarge)

The rains stopped yesterday about 3:00 p.m. It was a slow but steady rain and I was lucky no limbs fell from the trees over Liberty. The rain on the roof makes a peaceful sound and is good for sleeping/napping. There wasn't anything I could do but wait it out.

Today, I took a road trip to Leelanau State Park to explore the Grand Traverse Bay Lighthouse. It is located at the end of a peninsula with Lake Michigan on one side and Grand Traverse Bay on the other. The lighthouse is used to guide ships into and out of the bay. It was built in 1858 and had tenders living on the grounds until 1972 when the lighthouse and fog horn was automated. It was a nice trip on a perfect weather day. The round trip drive lasted about 3 hours and I spent about an hour exploring the lighthouse. On the way back to the campground I stopped and picked up some very good cherries and blueberries from a roadside stand. Once I got back to the campground I had to remove one of the propane tanks to get it refilled. Liberty has two 30 pounds propane tanks. This bottle lasted about 9 weeks. I also got "Hazel", the robot vacuum cleaner, out of storage. I'm going to give her a try to see how she does in the carpet area of the bedroom.

 

Entrance to Leelanau State Park
(the lighthouse is located in the park)

The Lighthouse Tenders house and lighthouse
were combined into one building

This tree was on the way to the
lighthouse. The tree is about 175 to 200
years old.

Sign leading to the lighthouse

 

The Lighthouse and Tenders house
as seen from the lake. (notice the
rock work around the place)

More great rockwork. It was done by one
of the lighthouse tenders from
the early 1900's

More rockwork

Lake Michigan/Grand Traverse Bay

Lake Michigan/Grand Traverse Bay



Lake Michigan/Grand Traverse Bay

Lake Michigan/Grand Traverse Bay

Lake Michigan/Grand Traverse Bay

Lake Michigan/Grand Traverse Bay

Daytime guidance device

One of the original spotlights

 Lake Michigan

 Lake Michigan

 Lake Michigan

First flight of stairs to the lighthouse

Second flight of stairs to the lighthouse

 

Last flight of stairs

Liberty gets one of her
propane bottles refilled

Hazel

 

I just realized that Labor Day is coming up in a week or so. I need to predict where I'll be so I can make reservations at some campground. I guess I'll be in Wisconsin or Minnesota by then.



Ya'll take care of each other. Cya down the road.