August Road Trip - Part 4 (Frankfort)

After three destination spots focused on visiting family and friends, our next stop was a little AirBnB in the town of Frankfort, Michigan. This was the juncture at which we departed from our original plans to head north into Canada to visit more family and friends and have some family time in the general area of Niagara Falls. Soon after I had found what seemed like an ideal AirBnB for our family of five and had gotten the basic itinerary set, we learned that our dear friend Adam was getting married towards the end of our planned time away. The wedding was to take place in Dekorah, Iowa and we would be halfway there when we departed Flint. What were the chances that we'd already have farm care lined up to be away for TWO WEEKS in August and would be headed in the general direction of the wedding? It was too good to pass up AND I was already exhausted from my first stint of AirBnB research. So one evening I offered to do the dishes if the girls would find us an AirBnB on Lake Michigan. What a win win! They didn't hesitate to snatch up that deal and found us a great spot (while Alida and Kali were busy being confuzzled by the AirBnB website, Terah simply web searched "cabins to sae" and got them on the right track). We were all pleased at the arrangement AND loved the location of our lodging just blocks from the beach. 

We have now waded through over 800 hundred photos and videos, including plenty of us wading, and here's the selected few (less than 10%) to remind us and share with you some of the highlights of our three days "just us!":

Now that Kali is turning 20, she is starting the process of differentiation 😉 That's her swinging in the background (on Jason's head). She was just enjoying the view of the lake and unaware of the family photo in progress. We found this park close to the Taco Bell (a family first!) from which we had purchased our meal. 

The upstairs of this house was our home for 4 nights. Our AirBnB host let us reserve an extra night last minute, which was a good thing because Janelle had somehow not accounted for 24 hours of our trip in the planning process. With great joy, we ended up netting 3 full days on Lake Michigan together.

We went to a grocery store by way of a pretty trail that ran parallel to Betsie Lake. Terah was not happy about this when she got hungry and tired and the rest of us wanted to keep exploring. We found several loaded apples trees, but unfortunately they were not ripe enough to enjoy eating, but we did enjoy observing the many wildflowers along the trail. We missed the grocery store on the way back, stretching Terah's belly and the patience of some of the rest of us even further. We lugged home enough groceries to cover our breakfasts and snacks for the next few days.

We made it to the beach with our ice cream cones in time to see some gorgeous sunset color...

...and dip our toes into (frigid!) Lake Michigan!

For reasons still unbeknownst to us, there were fireworks on the beach.

We walked out to the lighthouse as the last daylight waned. Alida and Terah freaked out about Kali climbing lighthouse and then they joined her (still freaked out but not wanting to miss out on the excitement). 

Ahhh, after a week away from home this was our first stay that involved a roomy bed for all (Nuggle Puppy and Chocolate included).

Beautiful rocks were a definite highlight of our first full day on Lake Michigan. After breakfast on our AirBnB deck we headed to the beach for walking and wading (this time Kali was self aware enough to wear her swimsuit underneath and it was never a question as to what Terah would wear). 

On the eve of Kali's birth! Savoring my last day as a mother of a teenager for a few months (until March when Alida turns 13!).

Best photo-bomb ever!

Our resident AND portable shoe and clothing rack!

Obstacles along the beach that didn't stop us, even if Terah thought they were reasonable turning around spots. She was starting to catch on to us - we always were wanting to just get to the next bend in the beach!

Candids after the posed couple photos are sometimes the best!

Kali randomly walking around with rock paste on her face (after Alida applied some "rock paint blush" that became "anti-blush." Alida remembered too late that it dried white.).

The dune bluffs overlooking the lake at Frankfort Beach were spectacular!

Many springs ran out from the bluffs, some carrying loads of sediment. Jason loved how you could see the series of alluvial fans partially washed away by high surf from storms. 

Kali found a new friend on the beach!

Jason picked us a snack! While we have blackberries at home, these were extra specially delicious!

The temptation of the water has overwhelmed once again!

The goggles purchased especially for this trip came in handy and were mighty stylish too!

Seagulls were our ever present companions and left trails of rather adorable webbed footprints all over the beach. 

Kali tired herself out swinging back to the pier and she and Terah exited the water from the ladders provided to people in just such circumstances.

After several flopped attempts at takeout (we found out that busy restaurants were only doing in person service), we found a place to get some local fish (to go along with our boxed macaroni and cheese).

Janelle was victorious in the Boggle game. Kali would like to add that there has not been a rematch since she turned 20, so she may have gained some new Boggle skills in her advanced age. Janelle is scared!

🎵Happy Birthday to Kali! 🎵
She was still in bed but we pounced on her soon after this photo was taken.

Kali spent the first day of her 3rd decade of life at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We set out planning on a short dune climb. However, under some trees at the top of one dune, we met a very nice docent who asked us if we were going all the way to the lake. Now that we knew that was possible, we were! So the short dune climb turned into about a 4 mile round trip hike through to the shore of Lake Michigan.

Looking back at Glen Lake where we started

Jason really likes this picture. "Love those kids!" he says.

First glimpses of Lake Michigan with one of the Manitou Islands looking like a giant whale or large barge in the background.

Kali's birthday cake, courtesy of Terah and Alida. A little grainy but full of love! 

To our surprise, we saw monarch butterflies on the sand dunes than any other wildlife except seagulls. 

FRIGID and we were not prepared to swim since we though we were just going hiking...but obviously worth it (except to Jason).

Terah showing off her damp and refreshed family members. Now to drip dry on the hike back.

SAND CHERRIES! These morsels tempted us on the way out but we didn't have cell reception until the beach to assess how much we had poisoned ourselves with the few we had tasted. Not at all! They are very edible, and we took full advantage of that fact on the hike back.

The ability of these plants to produce so much fruit with so few leaves while growing in apparently barren sand amazed the mind.

Can you diagnose us?

The trail was long and sandy [citation needed].*

New to the area and unsure where the best beaches were, we stopped at Crystal River Outfitters and asked for help. An employee kindly directed us to her favorite beach. Thoreson Beach did not disappoint and we mostly had it to ourselves.  

This water, however, was no warmer!

Jason had to prove that he could brave the chilly waters - he took a short dip in Lake Michigan here.

Alida was rather taken with the patches of black sand. 

Some very chilly swimmers and sand experimenters.

As the sun lowered in the sky, we realized we needed to get to our sunset location quickly.

Lake Michigan Overlook it was! And we weren't the only ones with that idea.

A perfect view to accompany our supper of cereal and bananas.

"Do we have to caption all of them?" Jason wonders.

Ahhhhhhhh!

Aaaaaaaaaa!

Thankfully Terah didn't slide all the way down! We had watched videos ahead of time to warn us of this 450 ft steep descent to the shores of Lake Michigan. While you are not prohibited from taking the exhilarating 2 minute run down, if you can't make it back up on your own (which happens to dozens of people each year), the fee for a helicopter rescue is $3000. But it sure was tempting!! Jason thought this was the perfect "human trap," taking advantage of our natural curiosity as the bait.

But using our better judgment, we decided to just enjoy the spectacular views from the top!

As the evening colors faded, people began heading out. One person coming towards us was singing, "Happy Birthday to me!" Janelle asked if it was their birthday and they said, "Yes, and also my friend here." We discovered that Kali was turning 20, and they were turning 21 and 22 that day! 😊 After this discovery, we blithely walked out of each other's lives forever...or so we think. We departed soon after and went back to the Dune Climb to end our day with some fantastic star gazing and shooting star sightings. We had a good view of the Milky Way.

We spent the better part of our last day in Frankfort at the beach. The green light (swimming safety indicator) had changed to yellow and we got some good wave action, but stayed relatively close to shore. Kali tried them out first!

Jason preferred to build a sand castle.

Ok, so he had a little help. In fact, it wasn't even his idea - Alida wants credit for it!

Janelle had very little interest in sand castle building, but the fun of the waves drew her out into the water despite the unabated chilliness. 

The swings on the beach were a good place for drying off...

...and taking in this view.

Kali had heard there was a mineral springs park and it intrigued her. It took us a while to find it. This is it! The water smelled like overcooked boiled eggs. We should have known our non-stinky water streak couldn't last forever.

Our mineral springs outing nearly made us miss our chance at an outdoor table at Stormcloud Brewing Co. As if the name weren't enough, the menu was very tantalizing (e.g. Jason got the "fowl weather" chicken sandwich). Terah clearly needs some nourishment.

The appetizers and flat bread pizzas were fabulous. We understood why it was rated number #1 on some reviews.

Janelle never suspected the necessary trip to the laundromat would be a hit, but it turned out to be a new cultural experience for Alida and Terah (Kali was off exploring Frankfort on her own and Jason was reading and snoozing in the car). 

While the clothes washed, Alida and Terah practiced their heel kicks on the pier.

More excellent photo bombing.

Peek-a-boo

Trying to soak it all in.

One more Lake Michigan sunset before taking off for our next adventure. But first we had one more very expensive ice cream cone each to top off our last day in Frankfort.

The next morning, we went to a local bakery to pick up breakfast to enjoy on the road. Then we swung by the beach on our way out for one final view.

With the storms overnight, the light was red at the beach and the waves were crashing over the pier.

With pastries at the ready, we packed ourselves in once again - this time for a 10+ hour drive to IOWA!

*See Randall Munroe's books What If? and What If? 2 in order to get this reference. (Sorry for the inside joke; Alida said it spontaneously and it was too funny not to include!)