NATIONAL LAKE SHORE WITH DAVE AND MARYLYN

We found out that our friends and neighbor Dave and Marilyn had not visited the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake shore, so we are out today to show them this beautiful part of Michigan.

The quaint town of Glenn Arbor is the gateway to the National Lake shore.

As we arrive in town we first head for the shore and a unique perfumed soap factory on the way. There we found someone riding a small, shaggy Icelandic pony. You can see the pony wading near the beach above.

Here we are in downtown. There was a local art gallery with magnificent acrylic paintings by a local artist. That was enjoyable.

A view of the blue, blue waters of Lake Michigan from the beach at Glen Arbor. The water was smooth enough for kayakers to venture far from shore.

A school group visiting the inland side of the dunes. The climb does not look as steep and difficult as it really is. From the top, you can have a beautiful view of farms, lakes, and forests, and turnaround and have a spectacular view of Lake Michigan.

Below at another section of the National Lake Shore park is a boardwalk that leads gently up to this platform where a panoramic view of Lake Michigan, along with some islands can be seen.

NMC'S GREAT LAKES CAMPUS

This attractive modern building houses the Great Lakes Culinary Institute and the Great Lakes Maritime Academy; both part of the Northwestern Michigan College.

Inside the lobby is this beautiful wooden boat, out the windows of the lobby, is the the ship used for training at the Maritime Institute. Both the lobby and the Culinary Institute, which is on the second floor, have magnificent views of East Traverse Bay from their floor to ceiling windows.

Almost always, a beautiful sailing boat can be seen on these waters.

CULINARY INSTITUTE

I am standing in front of the entrance to the Culinary Institute. To the right is the teaching school and to the left is the teaching restaurant. The students preparing and serving our lunch today are in their last year of training. The Senior class runs the teaching restaurant on Tuesday through Thursday each week of the Fall and Spring semesters.

This is the pastry case where, each day they are open, a different array of pastries are available at very low prices.

A view of the final prep area and the dining room. Each chef in training must work at all the jobs a restaurant has. They do greeting work, setting up tables and busing the tables, they are waiters and also tend the bar. The meals are delicious and are artistically presented.

There are tables for two around the bar that can be had without reservations. The first time we came for lunch we sat at one of those tables for two by the windows. Our waitress that day did a wonderful job for us; however, in the course of our meal, while she tended bar, we must have heard the crash of glasses at least a half dozen times. Apparently, her bar tending skills were not her strongest talent.

LUNCH AT LOBDELL'S TEACHING REATAURANT

This is a corner table near where we sat. Another time we were having lunch here, a seaplane landed right on the Bay in the area out the window. In the distance is the Mission Peninsula famous for their cherry orchards and their vineyards and wineries.

This view of our table just behind the table in the picture above shows the dining room and the food prep area. Walter has a hot pressed pastrami sandwich with a cabbage salad in a pastry shell. I had Penne in a Vodka tomato sauce with grilled chicken. We shared our meals which were very very good.

Another view of the dining area. It is almost impossible to get a place in the dining room without having a reservation. The meals are like those found in high end restaurants but at very reasonable prices.

The master chef getting our selection of pastries to take home.

Who Needs Big Government?

It is interesting to think about what this country would be like without "big" government. Take a look at www.governmentisgood.com for a good compilation of the value we get for our taxes.