Cottonwood Trail, Heritage Trail and puppy swims

When you enter Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore you can start with a seven mile scenic drive.
Rob and I had taken this drive when we arrived last Thursday but we did not get out much as his foot was beginning to aggravate him.
We went back yesterday and decided to try a short hike called Cottonwood Trail.  Cottonwood Trail is a hike through the dunes.  All sand and hills.  It was a good soft test for Rob's foot.

I AM PRETTY SURE PENNY LANE THOUGHT SHE WAS HEADED TO THE BEACH

I LOVE THIS BIG BARN WITH MATCHING LITTLE BARN

BABY'S BREATH GROWS WILD HERE.  IT IS EVEN CONSIDERED INVASIVE.

Penny Lane was very excited about this hike.  She has gotten to swim almost every day and each swim started with a sandy beach.  She seemed certain that each crested hill would bring a lake.  She would top a hill, look around and head to the next.  There was not swim on this hike but she got a great workout.

The hike was only a couple of miles and everyone felt good when we were finished.  Annie Belle hiked it like this.  The sand was pretty loose and deep and just too hard for her to navigate.

I ENDED UP PUTTING HER IN THE DOGGY BACKPACK

We left here and went to another area called the Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail.  This a fairly new trail that runs 14 miles through the park.  Most of the trail is paved and we wanted to check it out for future use.  It will make for a good bike ride.

THEY HAVE TONS OF GROOMED XCOUNTRY TRAILS HERE.  I WOULD LOVE THIS

GIANT DANDELIONS.  THEY CALL THEM HOGWEED

We finished checking out Heritage Trail and made our way to the water.  Penny Lane was primed and ready and Annie Belle stayed as far away as she could.

We got back from the beach and everyone just chilled for a bit.  Penny Lane and Annie were happily tired and gobbled their dinner.  Rob and I decided to go to the little village of Glen Arbor and eat at Art's Tavern.  Glen Arbor is beautiful and Art's offers outdoor seating.  The area is pleasantly bustling but not crowded.  It is a one street village and so clean and inviting.

We finished our dinner, checked out a potential swim spot for Penny Lane and headed back to Lewis.  The nights promised to be another clear skied, star gazing jewel.  It was just that.

Another great day in this thing we call life.