April 2020 in our household will be remembered as the month we all went a little stir crazy. When we started to name each rock, tree and bush we ambled by on our daily neighborhood walks, we knew we needed to take action.
Joe and I decided to venture over to nearby Frankfort for a day of trail hiking. We had lunch near the Point Betsie Lighthouse. It was still closed for the season, but we explored the eroding shoreline. We were dressed in our lightweight winter jackets. Even with sun shining through the clouds, the onshore wind was cool. The beach was littered with debris that washed ashore during the winter storm season. Lake Michigan’s record high water levels are stealing the sandy beach inch by precious inch. The lighthouse has been a beacon for shipping traffic since 1859. Keepers operated the facility until 1983 when the United States Coast Guard automated the navigation aid.
In 2004, the United States government transferred the title of the property to Benzie County. A local volunteer organization, Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse, maintains and manages the historic buildings. If you visit their website, www.pointbetsie.org, you can book a stay in the lighthouse keeper’s quarters.
It was a beautiful day to be outside and both our eyes and our souls appreciated the break from our daily COVID-19 routine.
