June 13, 2011
Dear Dad and Faithful readers,
I had an adventure. After stopping to eat at a restaurant called "The Great Moose Lodge" in Northport Michigan run by a family of Ottawa Indians, I spent the night on the beach by the opening of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. A young man by the name of Kicky (younger brother of the owners of the Great Moose) gave me a ride, and told me that he could arrange for me to get to Elk Rapids via a short cut. He had a friend who could take me across the Bay in his fishing boat. The two men met me in the morning and rode me across the bay. It was very fun! The water was clear blue and like glass that early in the morning. Hardly a ripple! I was handed a fishing rod and half way across we stalled for a time to troll. (Get me, I even learned the lingo!) I caught nothing much. Snagged what they told me was a weed, I thought sure it had to be a fish but they were proven correct. I told them it didn't matter, I probably should keep it and have it mounted. When was I ever going to get another chance to fish in a big boat like this on a big lake like this one?
I got to Elk Rapids about 3 pm and found a little lunch restaurant that had a great Pesto Pasta Salad using Tortellini and mildly spiced up with green and red bell peppers. It was very good. Kicky joined me for lunch but then the two men had to get underway again. I was very much enjoying Kicky's company but he had to go back. Oh well, sigh!
I've got one more place here in Elk Rapids to try, and I've been told there are several good places in the neighboring towns to eat and explore, so I'll be heading next to Alden, Bellaire, East Jordan and then up to Charlevoix. For a list of restaurants and reviews available to purchase please contact my father. His contact info is at the left of this post.
Signing out from the wilds of Northwest Lower Michigan,
Tessa Gates
