South Manitou Island, part of the Sleeping Bear National Park in NW lower Michigan, about an hour from Traverse City, MI (to the dock departure for the island). August 2012.

1. South Manitou Island – visit to
National Park land 8/23/2012
Boat departs Leland, Michigan 10 a.m.
and docks 11:45 or so (reservations
recommended in summer season).
Returns at 4 p.m.

2. Dock is about 45’ drive north from Traverse City, Michigan

3. Regular service from early May through Labor Day; weekends into Oct.

4. Looking south on Lake Michigan to Sleeping Bear dunes.

5. Crowding the bow of the Mishe Mokwa (Big Mama Bear) to see island.

6. Fresh breeze in the morning crossing westward (9 miles).

7. Some spindrift along the way

8. Lighthouse (left side) service became automatic around 1985.

9. Third generation of lighthouse structures on the site (S.E. corner).

10. Disembarking around Thursday noon; some campers, some day-trippers.

11. DSC00546

12. South Manitou home turned visitor center/museum.

13. South shore of South Manitou Island around noon. Bleached Zebra mussel shells behind.

14. Shoals of broken Zebra Mussel shells washed by waves.

15. Main trail through south end of the island, heading west.

16. Guided tour via trailer ride from the Manitou Island Transit company.

17. Florence Lake at south end of the island (view nearest the main trail).

18. Florence Lake looking north from main trail access.

19. Recently added boardwalk access to Old Growth Cedars.

20. Old growth cedars at S.W. corner of the island (about 3.9 miles from dock).

21. Oldest Cedar in North America (not pictured) is 700 years old.

22. Some parts of path require stepping over fallen trees.

23. Path is mostly level for the boardwalk but then climbs maybe 30 meters.

24. Mostly cedars

25. Riders of tour-1 (south shore) & tour-2 (interior/history) returning.

26. Bike comes aboard; kayaks will be tied to top rails. All seats sold!

27. Final views of the eastward return; afternoon light on the waves.