BREATHTAKING! (in more ways than one)

My wife Ann and I recently went on a sun searching trip to the west side of Leelanau County.  Anyone who has spent at least one winter in northern Michigan can attest to the fact that is cloudy at least 95% of the time here during the colder months.  Needless to say we were in need of some rays so we hopped in the car and followed the sun.  It took us through Traverse City (we were tempted to stop and watch a movie at the newly remodeled State Theater) up M-72 on the west side of town and all way to the quaint little town of Empire.  Once we arrived in Empire we meandered through a few side streets until we arrived at the beach.  It was blowing a steady thirty miles an hour and was about 20 degrees so we opted to stay in the car and soak up some rays through the windshield.  As the sun was about to go down we headed north toward Glen Haven, an abandoned fishing village that has since been acquired by the National Parks Service and is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore.  The lighting here was so amazing I couldn't resist the urge to take a few photos.  We ended the peaceful evening at Boonedock"s in Glen Arbor, a must for anyone visiting the area.