Northport to Leland Harbor, MI — INDEPENDENCE CHRONICLES

You can see why they call this area ‘The Mitten’. Image courtesy of Google Maps

Reluctantly, we leave Traverse City and head up the bay to Northport (21NM). It is a chilly ride and feels like fall is already trying to creep in the door. We have a warm welcome at the Northport Marina, as our friends from Marin County, Carol & Ken, are here in Northport (‘The Mitten’) visiting family. After tying-up we make the pilgrimage to the only brew pub in town to sample the local lager and IPA. The crew then moves across the street for music in the park and a picnic. The next day we take advantage of the good weather and wash and wax the boat. Chores done, we head out to go bowling at Tucker’s with the gang. After an ancestral tour from Ken the next morning we head off to Leland Harbor. The cruise is lovely and calm and we arrive in three or so hours at Leland Harbor (25NM). We walk around the sweet area of Fishtown and grab a few beers at ‘The Cove’. We say our goodbyes to Carol and Ken and promise to touch base when we are back in Marin in Fall.

The local brew pub ‘The Mitten’ gets a lot of action

Carol, Larry, Ken & Owen at ‘The Mitten’ brewery

Local boats of Northport, MI…what is in a name?

Music in the park with family…Clockwise - Larry, Ken, Carol, Maggie, Owen, cousins Lynn & Bill

Tucker’s for bowling and beers…nice shoes!

Ken’s family has been in Northport since the mid 1800’s. This is the Thomas’ family resting place…there are more family members on the other side of the grounds.

One of the old cherry orchards in the distance on the bluff above Northpoint

Gorgeous sunrise from our slip in the Northport Marina

A great day for a cruise with Ken & Carol to Leland Harbor, MI

Entering Leland Harbor on a lovely, calm day

The Independence sitting pretty at her slip in Leland Harbor

A nice cruise day with this crew…Maggie, Larry , Ken, Carol & Owen

Old Fishtown is quite charming and they still bring in a fresh catch to this little port

Schlitts Charters at Fishtown docks hope to catch Salmon, Steelhead, Brown, Lake Trout & Coho. Does that reflection of the cloud resemble a skeleton or is it just me…?

Leland Lake narrows to a channel that runs into Fishtown as it flows out to Lake Michigan

The famous Chubby Mary of The Cove Restaurant, Leland, MI

The Chubby Mary has Vodka, Bloody Mary Mix, olives, a pickle spear and a whole smoked chub caught in Lake Michigan. Photo courtesy of justjodie13