Great Lakes Cruise

September 11, 2001
Traverse City, Michigan

Yes, this was that 9-11. Actually, the day started as expected. However, when we boarded the bus to take us to the Sleeping Bear dune, the tour guide gave us the first news. Thinking that it was perhaps a horrible accident, we continued to the Sleeping Bear.

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park

Sleeping Bear dunes is named for a sand dune that looks like a reclining bear. The Sleeping Bear dune is the largest "walking" dune in the world; it moves about 2 feet per year.

Lake Michigan view A view of Lake Michigan from the top of a dune.
The Sleeping Bear dune This is the actual Sleeping Bear dune. If you look carefully, you will see him reclinging with his head on the right.

Fishtown

Our tour continued to Fishtown, an old fishing village that has been restored to be a tourist attraction. It is a quaint enough place with some interesting shops. However, most shop keepers had a television on with the news - all of it horrific. It was only then that we began to understand the scope of this terrorist attack on New York and on Washington.

Bill at Fishtown Bill at Fishtown