Empire Bluffs Trail, other travelers and Traverse City Music in the park

We got up Thursday and the first order of business was to change sites.  We were supposed to leave on the 30th but we wanted to stay longer.  It is so beautiful and peaceful here and there is so much to do.  We had asked about extending our time but with the 4th of July weekend coming, available sites were hard to come by.  We asked them to keep us in mind if anyone canceled and we did get a call a  letting us know that someone had canceled. We could stay if we would move.  Changing sites is a bit of a pain but it is not hard and, in this case, it would definitely be worth it.  Our new site is great.  Plenty of room with just the right amount of privacy.

The move sent the girls into their usual nervous antics.  They whine, bark and dance.  Little miss gimpy sore paw decided to defend her turf from a dog staying a few sites down.  She was hobbling around until the dog got close to our site.  She immediately started barking at him.  She took off running and yapping.  His owners looked at her and said "oh how sweet!"  I do not think that is what Annie was going for but at least I know that her foot is getting better.

We decided to load the girls and go to a trailhead.  The Empire Bluffs Trail is only five or so miles from our campground.  The trail is well kept and the footing is good.  It is a bit hilly but not too bad.    It starts in a parking lot, goes through the woods and then peaks along the sand dune bluffs.  The views offered are the best we have seen since we arrived.

ONWARD

VIEW FROM THE TOP

THE DUNES I CLIMBED

ANNIE ALONG FOR THE RIDE

WILD SORT OF LILY?

HUGE BABY'S BREATH BUSH

Many hikers stop at the boardwalk area but hikers do have the choice of continuing along a "goat path" kind of trail.  This trail runs parallel to Lake Michigan and is way, way above the water.  It is sandy and hilly but each peak brought another gorgeous view of the Lake Michigan shoreline.  

We noticed that Penny Lane was getting hot so we turned and headed back to the parking area.  As we were approaching, we both noticed this.

VERY COOL CAMPER OF KLAUS AND JOANNA FROM BAVARIA

Rob and I thought we recognized this as an older model German Army vehicle.(the front)  Rob struck up a conversation with the owners.  Klaus and Joanna(forgive me if the spelling is not good) are from the Bavarian region of Germany.  They bought the 30 year old Army truck and built the camper themselves.  They said they spent 4+ years getting it ready and then shipped it from Hamburg, Germany.  They are touring the US for one year.  I wish we had exchanged more information.  I did ask for permission to blog this amazing creation and she asked for my blog address.  I hope you get in touch!

We went back to the camp and Penny Lane got a good drenching with the hose.  She was hot and dirty and just stood there while Rob soaked her.

We rested for a bit and then got ready to go to Traverse City for Music in the Park.  We stopped at a very cool place called the Filling Station Micro Brewery.  They had amazing flatbread pizza and really good local brews.  After food, we listened to jazz music in the park and met a few locals.

GUS.  HE REMINDED ME OF MY ARLINGTON, VA SCHNAUZER NIECE LOLA.

I did not get any other dog names.  Gus was just to social to pass.

We were back at the RV before dark and it had started to rain.  The sound the soft rain makes when it hits the roof of Lewis is incredibly soothing.  We were off to bed.

Another great day in this thing we call life.