It's always frustrating to have only one day to visit a national park. Luckily, Gaila and Dick are familiar with the park and knew the most interesting spots to visit. After an introduction to the park at the visitor center, we hiked the trail to Empire Bluffs. Here we are at the trailhead:
When we reached the bluffs, we were awed by the sand dunes and blue waters of Lake Michigan:
The trail was full of variety, including timbered steps up the dune hill toward the viewpoint:
On the trail, we passed a point that gave us a grand view of Lake Michigan:
Along the trail were artifacts of the farming operations that had been conducted on these lands over the years:
Having finished the Empire Bluffs Trail, we drove on through the park, stopping at a roadside pullout to view Glen Lake, which has been said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world:
Our visit then took us to Sleeping Bear Point, where a breathtaking viewing platform has been constructed out of wood, cantilevered to get visitors far out over the sand dune bluffs:
While this photo cannot do justice to the bluffs, it shows their steep slope down to the waters of Lake Michigan, with North Manitou Island and South Manitou Islands in the background:
Here, Dick and Gaila told us the story of Dick's misadventure running down the steep slope, falling and landing on rocks below. Luckily, he survived to tell the tale.
It exhausted us just to hear of Dick's strenuous outing on the dunes, and we developed a powerful hunger, so the four of us stopped by the Dunes Climb section of the park to eat our picnic lunch. Here is a view of the dunes with visitors like little ants scurrying up and down their slopes:
Time passes quickly when it is full of adventure, and, before we knew it, we needed to head home -- but not without a stop at the Cherry Republic village of shops in Glen Arbor. It didn't take Kathy long to spot North America's Only Certified Championship Cherry Pit Spitting Arena, where she tested her mettle against the best of them!
When we got back to the Mallerys' place, we all needed a rest from so much excitement. However, we reconvened for dinner, where Kathy took her turn cooking a meal -- in this case, a very tasty lobster chowder inspired by the many tasty chowders we tasted on our trip through Newfoundland this summer.
To top off the evening, we showed Dick and Gaila how visitors to Newfoundland are "screeched in" to become Honorary Newfies. The process is elaborate.
First, you have to dress like a Newfie:
Then, you have to eat like a Newfie. In our sample ceremony, our friends received Lassie Bread (bread topped with locally made molasses).
After that, you have to drink like a Newfie, which requires downing a wee dram of Newfoundland Screech Rum.
Below, Gaila models the Screech Rum and Crosby's Fancy Molasses:
Then, our friends needed to speak like a Newfie and dance like a Newfie, and -- finally -- in the ultimate act of devotion to All Things Newfoundland, they were obligated to Kiss the Cod, which they did with gusto:
If this had been a real Screeching In Ceremony, our friends would have received official certificates from some official that they had become Honorary Newfies. However, since our ceremony was for illustrative purposes only, our friends only receive the satisfaction of knowing that they are fully capable of qualifying for that elite society.
If they get to Newfoundland, we know they will make all of us proud as they represent our little country in that Grand Land of Salted Cod.
We are now going to eat that cod!!
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