NOTE: Pictures will be put up soon, I left my camera at my apartment.
Lodging: Our dentists' cottage...hahah. Gorgeous place, good times hanging out w/ them (albeit a little awkward).
Food: Mostly cooked & brought from home by my mom. We hit a couple restaurants downtown including a mom&pop style one in a local hotel as well as an asian fusion deal across the street. We also went to a place that I want to say was called The Barrel or something like that by the dock for the ferry to the North & South Manitou Islands. Lastly, a breakfast & bakery shop also near the ferry.
Trails:
1. Private beach/sand dune/woods hike along Lake Michigan, showed to us by our dentist.
Total miles: about 4
Significant points: I tried to teach myself how to skip stones along the beach & failed miserably. Sad.
2. Pyramid Peak + loop trail connected to it
Total miles: about 4 again
Significant points: The dune at Pyramid's Peak is incredibly steep! The incline has to be at least 70degrees. It looks like a lot of fun to go down though & it takes you straight to Lake Michigan. Between the chilly weather & what I knew would be an arduous climb back, I wimped out. It's justified w/ a 'next time'
3. ? Loop trail
Total miles: ?
Significant points: My parents & I climbed up an extra dune off trail & kept going for about a mile or two up & down the shoreline.
4. Sand Dune hike
Total miles: 9
Significant points: This trail was a revisit from when my brother, dad, & I attempted to do this hike when I was 8. Back then, my brother got an allergic reaction & we headed back so it was nice to finally tie up that loose end. Sand is a lot more difficult to walk in than it seems- especially when it's one massive hill after another. I was sweating like crazy & got the worst farmers tan ever (backpack + tank top + sports bra line...fail) but it was definitely worth it. Sunny w/ a nice breeze going & took us straight to a pebble beach on the shore of Lake Michigan. Definitely worth the labored breathing & burning calves.
Etc: We didn't make any extraneous stops elsewhere other than taking a short walk around downtown & checking out their beach. Nevertheless, I'm extremely happy that we fit in four trails into three days, it had been forever since we had last hiked a decent trail & for more than one day- how I've missed it.
Lesson learned from this entry: never procrastinate chronicling our trips- I can't remember half of this stuff! Sorry.
