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Traverse City Adventure: Peaches, pears and Frankfort

Between Manistee and Arcadia, on a ridge, we came along Mike Bradford’s orchards and roadside stand. He had magnificent peaches - Cresthavens - and equally magnificent pears. He handpicked a perfect peach for me and a pear to go with it. No charge, he said. Enjoy them. They were sweet and juicy. Perfect. I was so focused on the peaches - my favorite - that it didn’t even occur to me until later on that his last name is the same as a popular ornamental tree called Bradford Pear. Don’t know if there is a relationship but his peaches and pears sure were good.
Dennis Forney
September 13, 2017
It was a long and steep climb up the M22 to Inspiration Point between Arcadia and Frankfort, but we made it. It’s on a big old dune that bluffs over Lake Michigan’s clear and tropical-like waters.
A124-step stairway gives people a chance to walk to the top of the dune and look for many miles over the lake north and south.
It’s a lot more fun going down the hills, and seeing more beautiful scenery and high bluffs in the distance. There goes Becky, hightailing it down the road. “She’ll be coming around the mountain when she comes.”
We passed a flock of wild turkeys crossing the road at one point today. Sometimes turkeys are as wiley as coyotes. Other times . . . not so much.
The last hill we descended today brought us into the lakeside town of Frankfort where we lunched at the highly acclaimed Stormcloud Brewery.
An impressive lighthouse and concrete pier protect the broad harbor leading into Frankfort. The next two photos show the lakeshore and more tall bluffs to the north looking from the concrete pier, and the benches that fill up each night with folks taking front row seats to watch the sun settle in for the night on Lake Michigan.

DAY 33 • 13 SEPTEMBER 2017 • MANISTEE

All along the way people have told us Michigan gets more beautiful the further north we go. They weren’t lying.  More lakes, more pretty little towns, more orchards and more big dunes covered, and stabilized, with forests of beech, pine, oak and birches.

Today’s ride was along a highway known as the M22 that skirts Lake Michigan.  It had two or three serious climbs but what a gas to go down the other side. My max today was 36.  Lots of wind noise going past my ears, but no other noise.  That’s one of the things I really like about riding a bicycle.  It’s quiet.  You can hear the world around: the birds singing, the dogs barking, throaty motorcycles coming up from behind.  

Today’s ride was one of our prettiest.  38 miles.  Brings our total to 1,091.  Thursday’s ride to Paul’s place near Maple City - just a long stone’s throw from Traverse City - will be our last long ride of this journey. We’ll be doing some touring in this area with Paul and Mary, Larry and Lady Allison.  Chris and Tom stayed back in Lewes, holding the fort, and working with the good people at Beebe to get Tom’s operating systems back on track.  They’ve been out this way before and are giving us good advice on what to see, what not to miss.

Thanks for riding along with us.  Here are some photos from today.

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