Dan takes a break during a long hike in Cowles Bog. This point was two miles from the parking area, and the highest point on the trail. The views were great - in the winter, the leaves don't obstruct anything.
Most of the snow melted on this part of the dune, but much of the wooded areas were still covered under an inch or so.
Still two miles back to the trail head, Dan took the opportunity to rest on the exposed roots of an oak tree.
I've seen this ride a few times over the years. A local resident who put together a little train ride for the children who visit. It appears to be built of plastic barrels bolted to hand carts. Genius.
LaPorte County, Indiana
Dan takes a ride on a bear at the annual Bass Pro Shops Christmas Fest. Bringing a good old fashioned Christmas to children with free rides, shooting galleries, archery targets, photos with Santa, and crafts.
Our annual journey to the Kankakee State Park , while mom attends a "ladies only" Christmas party. This year, there was no snow or ice, so we took the opportunity to hunt for fossils. Not much luck, but still a nice time outdoors.
We still managed to sneak back to the party and help "dispose" of the leftovers!
The Holland, Michigan lighthouse - often called "Big Red" - silhouetted against a colorful, November sunset.
We arrived in Holland in the late afternoon, with plenty of time for a walk on the beach, and dinner, before heading out to the annual Holland Holiday Open House. It's the kick off to the holiday shopping season in downtown Holland. The stores are open late, and offer holiday treats and refreshments to shoppers. It's our way of getting into the holiday spirit.
Alone at the end of a long sand bar.
Some days it pays to get up early. This particular weekend, we headed out around 5am, and drove the 1 1/2 hours to Mt. Baldy, then hiked the dune and set up some camera gear.
A few minutes later, the sun made a short appearance, illuminating the summit of Mt. Baldy with a gold and red light. Set against the storm clouds, the sand appeared to catch fire.
Figuring it was the last "easy" time I would be able to capture the sunrise at Mt. Baldy, I headed out around 5am. A 90 minute drive and a ten minute walk later, I arrived at the top of Mt. Baldy, a 125 foot tall sand dune on the outskirts of Michigan City, Indiana.
Set up the camera and waited for the sun to rise. Clouds covered the sky above and all around, except for a tiny band along the east horizon - just enough to allow a clear view of the sky.
With only about 10 minutes of time before the sun was covered by clouds, I turned around to capture the first light on the dunes behind.
A colorful autumn day at lock 20 of the Hennepin Canal. This canal connected the Illinois River to the Mississippi River, and was the first major construction project in the United States to be entirely made out of concrete - not cut stone.
The canal was used from 1904 until 1951. There are plans to make 50 miles of the canal navigable again - including three or four locks.
Even though the morning was overcast and a bit wet, the color of these trees was amazing. A golden canopy lining the way to Lake Michigan.
I could only imagine how this would have appeared if the sun was out that morning.
Photography grip for the day, Mike hands Chris his camera after waiting for him to climb up a dead tree for a better view of the surroundings.
The grass was almost four feet tall, and while we stayed on the animal trail (so we didn't kill or harm any plants), an unobstructed view was only possible if one got a bit higher off the ground.
A surfer catches the last waves of September 2012. Not exactly legendary for it's surfing, the Indiana shore of Lake Michigan provides ample wind and waves for exciting surfing, kite surfing and wind sailing.
As long as the water remains unfrozen, kite surfers are often seen December - February despite the bone chilling temperatures.
Not a typical evening on Lake Michigan. High winds and distant storms created waves on the Indiana shore; waterspouts in South Haven (should have made the trip up there)!
A few moments after sunset, the sky turned orange while the lake remained green. I was the only human in sight. It made for an interesting walk back from Kintzele Ditch, and I returned to my car in the dark. Alone. Something unusual for early Fall, but common for the months to come.
A few minutes before 1:00 am, the crowd thins out at Chicago's legendary Green Mill Lounge. A few minutes before, patrons lined the floor shoulder to shoulder. Playing to standing room only crowds every Thursday night for over ten years, the 15 piece Swing Shift Orchestra plays big band jazz complete with old time commercials, for a taste of a 1930's radio show.
The lounge opened in 1907, and continues to this day. Al Capone frequented the lounge back in the 20's (his favorite booth is just behind the dancers).
On the edge of a tiny town in northwest Indiana, kids play on a teeter totter left to decay in an overgrown playground of the empty Lincoln School.
Replaced with a new school a few miles away, the Lincoln School closed well over a decade ago. The monkey bars and teeter totters wait in silence for local children, but rarely if ever are used.
Purchased by a local businessman, the school was used for a time for special events and parties, but now the "for sale" sign begs for a new owner.
I'm not sure what a small town could do with a building like this, but it's sad to see it stand empty, with only the echoes of the children who once roamed the halls, played in the playground, and sang behind the now boarded-up doors.
A small sunflower basks in the warm summer sun at the foot of a Lake Michigan sand dune.
Contrary to popular belief, sunflowers do not track the sun from morning to evening. You can see this proven here, by the shadows on the petals.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
Each Fall, we'd drive out to Eberly Orchards near North Liberty, Indiana to pick apples. The kids enjoyed it. There are countless "you pick" apple orchards around the Midwest, but none could compare to Eberly's.
Visiting Eberly's was a walk into the past. From the hand pruned apple trees, to the old, rustic barn used as the store front, time seemed to freeze around 1949.
Upon walking into the barn, visitors were surrounded by hand written notes and signs - mostly jokes or riddles written by the owner. Hand made wooden shelves held a variety of fresh-picked apples, and a small assortment of empty bags for the u-pick adventurous type.
There was no such thing as a quick visit, as Mr. Eberly would talk at length to every customer as if he'd known them all his life. Kids would be questioned as to what they should do with the core of the apples they eat in the orchard. His response:
Boy: Apple core!
Friend: Baltimore!
Boy: Who's your friend?
Friend: Me!
Then throw the apple core at the person who said 'me'.
Before heading out into the orchard, Mr. Eberly would take an apple or two off the shelf and cut it into sections for you to try.
Only a few acres in size, the orchard was not fancy or manicured, simply left to nature. The trees had dozens of apples underneath, left to rot and fertilize the trees. The types of apples were written on white, plastic can lids, then hung from the branches of the first trees in each row. Eberly could tell you from the barn, exactly which row had Empire, or Red Delicious, "The fifth row is Empire, then the next two rows are Red Delicious, but they're not ready yet. Go over three more rows and you'll see the Gala."
After filling up our bags, we'd head back to the barn. Mr. Eberly would stop and see what we picked. All five of us would hold a half peck bag. The hand penned sign on the shelf read $2 a half peck. Of course he would ignore the sign and say," That'll be $5" -never full price. I think he remained in business just to visit with his customers.
On a wooden counter near the door was an antique cash register used to ring up sales. A few clicks of the number keys and a ratcheting sound followed by a bell, and the cash drawer would open up. He'd put in the money, then continue to talk. On the way out, he often offered the kids peacock feathers he collected from the peacocks that roamed his farm.
While I'm sure we can find lots of u-pick orchards around the county, I don't think we'll ever bother going apple picking again - it won't be the same.
As his hand written retirement sign stated.... "Thanks for the memories."
