Family And Falls

I left the Les Cheneaux Islands and drove to Rudyard to visit my Aunt Doris, stopping along the way to buy some fresh Michigan peaches and blueberries. We visited for a while, watching the hummingbirds fly outside her front window, then drove up to Sault Ste Marie for lunch. Aunt Doris treated me to lunch at the casino, then we both treated ourselves to a little gambling. I won fifty dollars playing video poker, so the next time we go out to lunch it'll be my turn to pay.

After our outing, I headed west and north towards Tahquamenon Falls State Park. I camped for the night at the mouth of the river, walking down to Lake Superior to watch the sunset. It was a gentle evening, quiet and peaceful; the perfect ending to a busy day.

Les Cheneaux Islands

After a week or so of creeping north along Lake Huron's shoreline, I finally crossed the Mackinac Bridge and entered the Upper Peninsula. I turned east towards the Les Cheneaux Islands and my campsite for the night at De Tour State Forest Campground. I rarely turn right at the bridge, usually heading north to visit family, but I soon learned that this side trip was well worth it and hopefully, I'll be returning to this area again and again. The campground was quiet and peaceful, just the way I like, and will go on my "stay here again list". What impressed me the most though, was the shoreline along Highway 134. The line between the sky and Lake Huron seemed to disappear, giving the islands the appearance of floating in the sky. Then, with little warning, a thunderstorm built in the west, giving the sky a marvelous deep blue glow.

Going To The Dogs

I left my marshy wonderland and headed to town. I was thinking about what I should have for lunch when I pulled up to a red light. And, tah-dah, there on my left was a Subway restaurant. I parked at the first available spot, ordered my favorite BLT sandwich and, as I was walking back to Van, I noticed where I had parked. I was next to one of the most amazing and unusual city parks I had ever seen! It was Ottawa Park, developed to focus on Public Art. Today the park was full of dogs of all colors and shapes. Going To The Dogs is a community art installation by the Cheboygan Area Schools. At the far end of the park was also, a giant, mosaic tile fish from a previous installation.

Marsh Magic

Look for me in the marsh...that's where you'll find me at Michigan's Cheboygan State Park. I wandered out into the marsh the other evening around sunset just to stretch my legs. Because the sky was overcast and gray, I didn't bring my camera...silly me. Tiny frogs were everywhere, hopping out of my way as I walked deeper into the marsh. Just as I reached a tiny spit of sand jutting out into Lake Huron, at the far edge of the marsh, the sun burst out from behind the clouds. The golden rays of the sun caused the marsh grasses to glow with a warm amber hue and the sky behind to turn a deep royal blue. I was thinking that I'd never seen a more beautiful sight when suddenly, a magnificent rainbow filled the sky. Every color was bright and distinct and it was a full 180 degrees, touching the ground at both ends. Of course, by then I was kicking myself for not having my camera with me. Resigned, I decided since I couldn't take pictures I would just enjoy the moment. As if as a reward for my decision, a second larger rainbow immediately surrounded the first rainbow. Never have I seen a more amazing sight!

I went out into the marsh the next day in hopes of capturing some of the magic from the previous day. It was pretty, as usual, but nothing like the evening before. It may be I'll never see anything like that sight again, but those memories will be with me forever.

Boats and Berries

When my kids were young, we used to camp most every summer at Hoeft State Park, near Rogers City, Michigan. I decided it would be fun to spend a night there to remember "old times". I wandered up and down the beach examining rocks and watching freighters traveling out on Lake Huron. On the way back to camp, I picked enough sand cherries to cook into a syrup which I poured on my oatmeal the next morning. After breakfast, I met a new "little buddy"---in the shower. It was a tiny little Western Chorus Frog. At least I think it was. As a frog surveyor I'm trained to identify frogs by their calls. And this one wasn't saying anything. I wrapped myself up in my towel then, gently picked him up and set him outside under a bush, where hopefully he stayed hidden and away from trouble.

The Mighty Minnow Hunter

I stopped for the night at one of my favorite state forest campgrounds on the Au Sable River near Grayling. When I went down to the canoe landing to wade in the water, I met a new friend---Sadie, the mighty minnow hunting dog! Her owner and I watched for over forty-five minutes as she stalked and attempted to catch the tiny fish. She never became discouraged, only stopping from time to time to visit with us and shake her wet coat. Although a determined hunter, she never caught a minnow. But, she managed to keep her back dry during all of her diving---a truly magnificent feat!

Lake Huron Sunrise

I rose early, before the sun, so I'd be there to welcome it. Seagulls and other water birds were on the beach and perching on rocks in the water, also facing the pink glowing sky, as if they had the same thought in mind. The sun arrived slowly, the eastern sky becoming more and more saturated with color, changing from pink to rose to orange. A tiny sliver of gold shone above the horizon as the waiting birds preened their feathers and grew restless in anticipation. Suddenly, the tiny sliver of gold changed to a glowing ball of light. The birds greeted the sun and one another with their calls, then we all headed out into the newborn day.

Harrisville State Park

The next morning I drove up the coast to Harrisville State Park. The campground is on Lake Huron's shore, with many of the campsites right on the beach. It reminds me of when I used to stay at Higgen's Lake with my family when I was a kid. We always camped next to the lake and would fall asleep listening to the waves lapping on the beach.

I wandered up and down the beach after setting up camp. The most popular activities seemed to be digging in the sand, playing with boats and just hanging out with friends. Not too long after I took a picture of the blue row boat, it sank while it was being rowed back to shore. The two people rowing it climbed over the side, pulled it back to shore, bailed it out and headed out with it again the following morning.

Lame Excuses, Followed By A Road Trip

First, an apology---I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in the last month.

Next, a lame explanation, in an attempt to weasel my way out of not fulfilling my obligations---I was remodeling my apartment. I sent my computer out to be repaired. I was bored. Take your pick; they're all true, but no reason not to be working. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me tell you about a road trip I took last week.

I love to wander along the shores of the Great Lakes in the summer, especially Huron and Superior. Since I was feeling a bit "out-of-sorts" last week, without my laptop, I decided to visit some of my favorite camping spots. And, as always, I discovered new favorites along the way.

The Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse Campground, near the tip of Michigan's thumb was my first stop. The lighthouse site is the inspiration for the story I'm writing, about Catherine Shook, Michigan's first female lighthouse keeper. The lighthouse and the Keeper's Residence weren't there when she lived there. Her residence burned down when she and her eight children were living in it and the original lighthouse was replaced because it was poorly built.

The lighthouse site is now a quiet county park, its campground close to the water. At night, you can hear the waves washing up on the shore as you drift off to sleep and watch the tower light shine out over the lake.