Harbor Springs, on the shore of the Little Traverse Bay, is known as a historic summer resort. With a population of 1,274, and a size of 1.30 square miles, it is definitely a small community. While diminutive in size, the charming town offers a generous array of galleries, museums, boutiques and restaurants and its harbor stakes claim as the deepest freshwater harbor in the Great Lakes.
As we are running low on perishables, our primary objective of the day is to find a grocery store. Googling finds a local store, Harbor Springs Market. As they are almost 2 miles away, it is too far for walking, at least back with groceries. However, on their website, they offer delivery. I call them, and the delivery they mean, is the delivery of YOU to and from the store. We make an appointment for a pickup at the marina, and off we go in their pickup. 
Once our grocery adventure is over, I explore the town while Captain Tom stays behind to “fiddle”.
I pass by the Shay House, built for a prominent European American, Ephraim Shay, known for the invention of the Shay Locomotive. What was so special about the Shay Locomotive? Apparently this locomotive was especially suited to heavy operations, such as logging and mining, in which the cumbersome loads needed to be transported on steep and/or low quality tracks. Shay’s house itself is also special. Built in 1892, the interior and the exterior of the home are clad in stamped steel that is embossed to give the appearance of brick. The main house is centered by a 2 story hexagon surrounded by 4 hexagonal wings, each being a single room with 5 windows spaced around the perimeter. Sounds like a furniture placement nightmare. 
The house was gifted to the historical society in 2016 and is currently undergoing renovations and therefore closed to the public.
Shay’s house is not the only impressive home in downtown Harbor Springs.
For having such a short summer season, the grounds of these homes and the parks are truly impressive!
While Harbor Springs is popular for locals with its golf, swimming, boating, hiking and biking, they have many festivals throughout the summer and fall season which attracts visitors from all over. This weekend, they will be hosting the Taste of Harbor Springs. As I head back to Prime 11, the tent assemblers are busy working readying for the upcoming festival.
As in most cases, craziness happens when you least expect it. Early that evening, as I am enjoying the last of the rays of the day sitting in the cockpit, I hear a loud bang and crash. I look over to see a red Jeep smashing through the tent from the parking lot, driving through the park, nearly hitting picnic tables, and continuing his drive onto the walkway of the restaurant. Luckily, no one was in his way! He was later caught by the police as the tent pole pierced his tire which stopped him in his tracks. The culprit, according to the police who came to investigate, was an older gentlemen apparently overserved.
