“Wheels up” at 6:00 am and we are graced with a beautiful sunrise!  The seas were forecast at 2′ or less which proved to be correct.  No fog today!  We had a pleasant 42 mile cruise and at 10:45 am arrived in Leland at the Leland Township Harbor.   Leland is known as one of the most picturesque stopovers on northern Lake Michigan and an important harbor of refuge.  It is the only harbor for the 70 mile stretch from Frankfort to Charlevoix (not including Grand Traverse Bay).

When checking in with the dock master, he gave us a 3 minute dissertation on what to do in town and where everything was located…from where to get smoked fish to the post office location.  And it only took us about 3 minutes to see town 😉

The first thing you come to is Fishtown.  A National Landmark District, Fishtown is a collection of ancient and weathered ice and fishing shanties now housing an operating fish house, smokehouses, overhanging docks, fish tugs, charter boats and a variety of specialty shops: clothing, nicnacks, souvenirs and a deli along the Leland River in Leland, Michigan. The heart of a commercial fishing village, Fishtown is where we can still see and feel a connection to the long tradition of Great Lakes maritime culture.  Even fish tugs are like family in Fishtown. In 1958 newly built Janice Sue was launched. Better able to endure ice and waves, steel-hulled tugs replaced hand-built wood tugs. The Joy, a trap-net tug, was launched in 1981. The Janice Sue and the Joy are Fishtown icons that were purchased by the Fishtown Preservation Society. In Leland’s historic Fishtown, today’s visitor can experience one of the few remaining commercial fishing complexes on the Great Lakes.

We picked up some delicious smoked white fish and white fish pate.  The smoked fish was like crack!! We could not stop eating it… so glad we’re only here for one day but only because of the smoked fish, any longer and we’d become addicted!

Our next stop was The Cove, a restaurant/bar on the Leland River at the dam from Lake Leelanau.  It is owned by Rick, a friend we met in Punta Gorda, FL.  Rick was out at the moment but we were assured he would be back shortly, he routinely spends 16 hours a day at his two restaurants: The Cove and Rick’s Cafe.  Both feature waterfront dinning, Rick’s Cafe is a casual outdoor restaurant/bar with a party/island atmosphere on the river and The Cove at street level, upstairs from Rick’s Cafe, is a laid-back indoor/outdoor riverside grill with an eclectic fishing-cabin décor. Both were hopping and packed with vacationers.  Fun places!  We surprised Rick on his return and were treated to a tour of the restaurant including the kitchen.  Almost everything is made fresh from scratch!

On our tour, Rick pointed out his Freedom Fenders where he docks his Hinckley on the river at Rick’s Cafe.  In Punta Gorda, Fl, Steve saw Rick tied up in heavy boat traffic and subsequent wake/chop and recommended Rick get a couple Freedom Fenders to better protect his expensive Hinckley.  It was great to see Rick took Steve’s advice and that he enjoys the world’s only self-centering fender (invented by Steve)!

5:40 am, a last look at Frankfort before shoving off

Heading out the channel to Lake Michigan at 6:00 am

We were treated to a beautiful sunrise

Our sweet Abby girl is always with us

A passing tug pushing barges

10:45 am – in the harbor at Leland

Who Cares (Mind Sweeper) at the dock

A view from Fishtown of the Leland River and the fish tug Janice Sue

Fishtown

A view from The Cove (Rick’s Cafe below) of the Leland River and the fish tug Janice Sue and Lake Michigan in the background

Our view of the Leland River from our table at Rick’s Cafe

A fishing shanty across from Rick’s Cafe

Rick’s Cafe

The bar in The Cove

One of Rick’s Freedom Fenders (invented by Steve)

I made Steve pose with his Freedom Fenders

Freedom Fenders at Rick’s Cafe

A view from a bridge above the dam towards The Cove and Fishtown

A view above the dam, towards Lake Leelanau

Leland Champion Cottonwood Tree