Running in the Rays

Nothing beats cooling off on a hot summer day, and these boys found relief in the cool waters of Lake Michigan. Chasing each other in the water, they hardly noticed the patterns in the clouds that created some interesting rays on the horizon.

From Indian Head

A panoramic view of the Mississippi River following a climb to the top of Indian Head, a large rock formation at the Mississippi River Palisades State Park. Resembling the head of a Native American, this formation towers over the river below, and seems to peer out from the dense trees of the cliffs. Approaching from the top, the formation is eight or ten feet away from the rest of the cliff - apparently it has pulled away over time - creating a steep, crevasse that must be crossed to reach the top of the "head." Looking around, one can see several bolts drilled into the cliffs, these are anchors for rock climbing. This area seems to be full of great places to climb. As I stood on the top of Indian Head photographing the landscape and searching for bald eagles, I watched several buzzards fly below me. Perhaps a warning of what could happen with one slip of a foot.

Meandering

The boys walk through Kintzele Ditch, a small stream that flows between two sand dunes, and into Lake Michigan.  The waves and wind constantly change the path the stream takes to the Lake, at times, by hundreds if not thousands of feet. Like us, it meanders along the shoreline. Often, this stream flows directly perpendicular into the lake, but following stormy or windy weather, the sand is piled up by strong waves, so the stream must meander along the shore until it finds a point to enter the lake.



This changing shoreline offers so many new things to explore each time we visit.  Last week, the stream flowed in a different direction, depositing mud onto the beach.  Once the water changed direction, the mud began to dry in the sun, forming familiar cracks in the mud.  However, at only 1/4 inch thick, the mud began to curl as it dried, revealing the sand beneath, creating an unusual pattern on the beach, reminding me of chocolate nonpareils.

All Ashore

Boaters anchored just off shore, wade to the beach for an afternoon of fun on the dunes.  Part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Central Beach is home to rolling dunes, soft sand, and about 100 parking spaces - a premium in this area, especially in the summer.  These people have the best parking spot available.

A few miles west of this area, at Cowles Bog, the beach is a two mile hike from the nearest parking lot.  The beach there is rarely crowded, however, the shore is often lined with boats - hence the nickname Boater's Beach.  Arriving by boat is the easiest way to enjoy the large expanse of soft sand that particular beach has to offer.

Cruise Night

A summer highlight of numerous towns and villages through out America is the weekly Cruise Night, or Classic Car Night. Classic cars from nearby towns are parked along the main street or in the lot of a local drive-in. Gear heads, and wanna-be hot-rodders alike walk up and down the rows of cars, reminiscing about the times when cars were cars. Each cruise night has it's regular showings- the cars that are on display each and every week. You get to know the cars and the owners after a while. But it's most exciting when a fresh classic comes into town, a car that hasn't been seen for a long time, or when you come across a car you once wanted or rode in as a child. The memories begin to flow.



 No plastic grilles, 5 mph vinyl bumpers or airbags, just pure chrome, horsepower, and memories.

30 Miles Offshore

Technically, over 30 miles from the Chicago shore, but only a few hundred feet from the beach at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. On clear days, the Chicago skyline can be seen from the "dunes" beaches, making the distance across Lake Michigan seem short, but at this point, it's almost 40 miles across. The curvature of the earth prevents the bottom of the buildings from being seen so far away. In fact, an average person standing on the beach can only see about 3 miles - that's where the curvature of the earth begins to slope away from them, and the horizon is perceived. Elevated on a hill or dune, and the distance is increased; add a 110 story building on the horizon, and one can easily see it from 37 miles away.

Kite Surfing Emerald Waters

A lone kite surfer tries his luck on a rather calm day on Lake Michigan. The large kite was able to catch enough of the breeze to tow him along, but I'll bet he was a little disappointed in the size of the waves. High winds and large waves give kite surfers a fast and wild ride, which is one reason you'll find these intrepid surfers on Lake Michigan in November. The waters around Silver Lake State Park, near Mears, Michigan, were rather flat, but displayed beautiful bands of emerald and blue - especially when viewed from high up in the dunes, or from the Little Point Sable lighthouse.

Celedon Waves

Overcast skies and windy conditions create deep green waves reminiscent of the ancient Celedon pottery of Asia's Eastern Han Dynasty. On clear days with high waves, the water is deep blue, and one can often see sand in suspension for quite a distance in the water. The waves pick up the sand and move it out into the lake, making the water near the shore a bit tan in color, with deep blue in the distance. Rarely the same twice, Lake Michigan conditions and colors can change by the minute, and never fail to impress.

Midwestern Sentinel

Standing guard since 1867, on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, the Big Sable Point Lighthouse dwarfs the surrounding keeper's house and rolling dunes. Located just north of Ludington, Michigan, an old Midwestern logging town, the 112 foot lighthouse marked the middle of the three most prominent points extending into the great lake - Point Betsie to the north, and Little Sable Point to the south. Open for tourists in the warm months of the year, the lighthouse is a 1.8 mile hike from the nearest parking area, but well worth the hike. Consider hiking in on the trail, and hiking back along the beach.

A Walking Stick on the Beach

Hanging around at the beach, this walking stick (or stick insect) was attempting to hide on a large piece of driftwood, washed up during the last storm. Interesting little creatures, walking sticks mimic not only the shape of a stick, but also their movements. They bob up and down, and sway side to side, the same as a stick moving in the breeze. Harmless to humans, they're interesting to encounter, fun to watch, and can make great playmates for kids.

Behind the Dunes

Just over 100 feet tall, the Little Sable Point lighthouse towers over the sand dunes adjacent to the shore of Lake Michigan.

Open for tours during the warm months of the year (a $3 bargain), the view is worth the climb up. Friendly staff are there to answer questions and guide you through the history of the lighthouse.

Big View From Little Sable

Climbing up the spiral stairs inside the Little Sable Point lighthouse, we anticipated a great view, but instead, we were presented with an awesome view. The sun, waves and sand created patterns in Lake Michigan that I've never seen before - and weren't seen from the ground.

Along the railing of the deck are tags with distances of popular cities around the area. According to one, it's 60 miles across Lake Michigan. In addition to the tags, it's always fun to read the writing in the sand on the beach below. The usual "Cindy loves Bill", and "Hi mom" were trumped on this day by "Don't Jump!"



Built in 1874, the lighthouse stands over 100 feet tall and utilized a third order Fresnel lens.

Trail to the Light

At first, the thought of a two mile hike to a lighthouse seemed a bit much - especially when we were only stopping by for a very short visit on our way down the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. The consensus was to make the trip as fast as possible so we could continue our journey down the shore.

The trail began at the Ludington State Park campground, a wooded area, but soon meandered through a stand of Jack pine, then grassy dune. Signs of dune progression could be seen along the way, as the structure and vegetation of the dunes changed the closer we got to the shore.



Flat and covered in crushed limestone, the trail was easier to hike than expected - more like a road; it's also used a few weekends a year for bus traffic to the lighthouse. Passing a walk-in campsite, I thought about the next trip here, and camping amid the dunes - the perfect way to capture dusk and sunrise at the lighthouse.

Rising up from behind a series of dunes was the Big Sable Point Light, it's cast iron cladding painted white with the middle 1/3 black - a daymark for navigation.  What a great home this must have been for the lighthouse keepers of the 1920's and 1930's - secluded and quiet.



Climbing up higher, I gazed to the north and east at what seemed to be an endless series of dunes as far as I could see.  I instinctively began walking to see what lied beyond, but quickly remembered our tight schedule.

There will certainly be a next visit, soon I hope, where I will give in to my instinct and explore the expansive landscape.

Big Sable Point Lighthouse

A two mile walk from the nearest parking area, the Big Sable Point Lighthouse rises over the seemingly endless expanse of dune and beach. Built in 1867, the light stands 112 feet tall, is built of brick, and clad in cast iron It is one of the most recognizable lighthouses on Lake Michigan.



We followed the marked path to the lighthouse, but decided to walk along the beach on the return trip. On this particular summer morning, we only passed one couple on the beach - pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Morning Light

A morning tradition, I've been told, walking out to the north pierhead light to wave farewell to the passengers on the S.S. Badger. I'm also aware of the evening tradition of welcoming the ferry back to Ludington.

Morning in Ludington, Michigan was quiet, laid -back, and peaceful, broken only by the horn of the Badger as it left port. I can only imagine how it appeared in the early 1900's, with scores of vessels moving in and out of port on Lake Michigan. Now, it seems, the lake is host mainly to pleasure boaters; the commercial vessels are few and far between.

The lighthouse is tilted about 7 degrees from vertical - a nightmare for photographers.  Either the horizon is level or the lighthouse is straight, can't have both.  This occurred during the pier restoration a few years back, when too much material was removed from the base of the pier.  The tilt was not corrected, but it was reinforced to prevent further movement.

Ludington Light

The early morning sunlight bathes the Ludington, Michigan north pierhead light. From what I've seen, this small lakeside town wakes up slowly, but once activities around Lake Michigan kick in, they're slow to wane.The downtown area and lakefront were busy with visitors until well past 10 pm.

Departing Ludington

Our morning began with a visit to Ludington's Sterns Park, a lakefront park with FREE parking, a soft sand beach, and of course, a lighthouse. Built in 1924, the North Breakwater Light marks the entrance to Pere Marquette Lake, and Ludington's port where the historic S.S. Badger extends US Route 10 60 miles across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

2013 marks the 60th year of the Badger's operation as a car ferry across Lake Michigan. The 410 foot vessel makes the four hour trip across the lake twice a day. 180 vehicles can be loaded on the ship, along with 600 passengers, and 60 crew members. A friend of mine was a crew member for a number of years, and often talked about the experience working on a real steam ship.

Farm on the Apple River

The drive north from Savanna, Illinois to Galena winds through a rolling countryside dotted with small towns, and picturesque farms.

Directly on the Apple River, and a stone's throw from the downtown area of the tiny town of Hanover, Illinois, this farm appears to be in perfect working condition.

Up the Mighty Mississippi

Atop the Mississippi Palisades- steep, wooded cliffs overlooking the Mississippi River - traffic on the river can be viewed. This tug heads upstream with several barges on its way to points unknown to us.

Many decades ago, before the abundance of roads and railroads, the traffic here must have been heavy. Passengers and cargo would have passed here, before heading to St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, and even Chicago once the Hennepin, and Illinois and Michigan Canals were complete.

Rolling Countryside

The countryside just south of Galena is more like Kentucky than Illinois. This area of northern Illinois was not scoured by the glaciers of the last ice age, so the hills and eroded rock formations remain untouched.

A viewing tower once stood where this photo was captured, but even without it, the view is wonderful.