It has been nearly three months since I last updated my blog. The last time I wrote I was trapped in a campground in Montana, surrounded by curious cows. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I escaped the cows. Since then, there have been a lot of changes in my life, including a move to Austin, Texas and a new grandson! Before I write about my move and the new direction I plan to go with my blog, let me bring you up to date on my travels.
After leaving the cow camp, I headed west to Glacier National Park. When I left Michigan I had a lot of Canadian coins with me and since there was zero chance of spending them in Texas, I decided to drive north through the park, cross into Canada and do a little shopping. Along the way the skies, full of smoke from wildfires in Idaho, produced some eerie and surprisingly beautiful views.
Now, my grandfather was a farmer; along with other animals, he raised cattle. So, I'm familiar with cattle and normally I wouldn't feel compelled to write about them. Today though, I had a unique bovine experience. I had just set up my camp next to a lovely lake in the Nelson Reservoir Recreation Area, in Montana. I was admiring the view when suddenly the campground was invaded by cattle. They seemed to be in high spirits as though out on an adventure. (I was going to say they were on a "field" trip, but I think that's something they do every day.) The most amazing sight was watching them stand patiently in line at the outhouse. A fine example of "cowoperation".
One of the features I really like about Van is that when the top is up, I can unzip the windows and screens, and shoot pictures from inside, using Van as my mobile photography blind. It's especially helpful when I'm in camp and an animal wanders by. If I went outside to shoot, usually the animal runs off. When I'm inside, I'm protected by the gift of temporary invisibility.
Other times, the extra height I get from shooting inside Van, gives me a better angle, allowing me to remove unwanted clutter from the scene, as I did while shooting these pictures from my campsite at Badlands National Monument.
I've lived most of my life in Michigan and because my mother's family lives in the Upper Peninsula, a large percentage of my life has been in the U.P. Most of my visits included camping and much of that camping was along Lake Superior and at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Until recently, I thought I'd seen just about all there was to see at the park, but now I know, I'd seen nothing.
I had never seen the lakeshore from the water. This trip I did what I should have done on my first visit---take a cruise. The two and a half hour sunset trip showed me examples of the awe inspiring beauty and power which made Pictured Rocks worthy of its National Park status .
I continued driving along Lake Huron's shore until I crossed over the Straits of Mackinac into the Upper Peninsula. Once in the U.P. I changed my allegiance to Lake Michigan's shoreline. I camped at two state forest campgrounds along Lake Michigan. The first was near Little Brevort Lake along Highway 2. It was a bit noisy since it's so near the highway, but the beautiful, sandy beach with its clear, cold water made it worthwhile. The water was so wonderful, I went for a long swim in the evening, then a shorter one again in the morning, before I left.
The second campground was in the Big Knob Recreation Area, south of Engadine. Big Knob was the opposite of Little Brevort Lake, with the sounds of birds and wind, instead of trucks going down the highway, with walks along a boardwalk replacing long swims in the lake, since Big Knob was located in a forested area surrounded by marshes. Both parks are special in their own ways and I'd gladly return to either one.
I camped at Hoeft State Park last fall and had such fun walking the dunes and picking berries, that I thought I'd do it again. Unfortunately, this year, probably because of the early spring, unexpected freezes and extended summer drought, I couldn't find a single berry.
I left the dunes and continued walking along the shore until I reached a little stream that borders the park. I worked my way up the stream to a shallow, marshy area where I met three unexpected friends. Now, those of you who know me are already guessing that I'm not talking about human friends. I tend to run into more "cool characters" as in the cold-blooded, amphibian type. (It must be the princess in me.) I met three little frogs that let me sit within two feet of them, giving me the perfect opportunity to show off more froggie photos to my long suffering warm-blooded friends.
My first night out I had planned on staying at Port Crescent State Park, but because of my late start and the busy end of summer weekend, it was full. I checked in at three other campgrounds, but the results were the same---No Vacancy! I didn't really mind; I had a backup plan.
I stopped just down the road at a great little roadside park and enjoyed a picnic dinner. Sitting at my lakeside table, I watched the sunset while a young couple walked along the shore. After it was dark, I drove onto the expressway and spent a peaceful night at a quiet rest stop just up the road.
I stopped just down the road at a great little roadside park and enjoyed a picnic dinner. Sitting at my lakeside table, I watched the sunset while a young couple walked along the shore. After it was dark, I drove onto the expressway and spent a peaceful night at a quiet rest stop just up the road.
