Break Time

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.

Good Old Fashioned Fun

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

Round and Round

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.

Boardwalk

In an attempt to keep hikers dry, an elevated boardwalk marks the path through a portion of the Mnoke Prairie. It also keeps hikers out of the woods and off of the delicate plants.

Back in early 2011, this boardwalk was under quite a bit of water. It's raised two to three feet above the ground, and at that time, it was submerged beneath a foot or more of water.

Trilobite Hunt

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!

Carolers On 8th Avenue

Kicking off the Holiday Season, carolers sing on the downtown streets during Holland, Michigan's Holiday Open House in late November.

Each year, the shops and businesses of Holland open their doors to shoppers for a first peek at the Christmas season. Offering many sale items, free gift wrapping, pastries and beverages, the stores are packed with eager Christmas shoppers. There's even a place to try chestnuts roasted on an open fire.

Big Red Standing Guard

A popular place for a walk just before sunset, Holland State Park provides a beautiful view of the Lake Michigan Shoreline, and the historic Holland Lighthouse.

The Half Pipe

A frigid morning on the half-pipe at a local skate park. At ten years old, Mike is able to hold his own while skating with the 15 - 20 year olds. The older skaters tend to show-off once mike arrives, just to prove they're better than him. Let them come back in 4 years to see who's the better skater.

Inferno

Spectators couldn't turn down the opportunity to view the sunset on an unusually warm evening in late November. Even through the sun was mostly obstructed by clouds, the view was spectacular.

Fishing by Big Red

A boy and his father enjoy some quiet time fishing the waters opposite "Big Red," the Holland, Michigan lighthouse.

Holland State Park
Holland Michigan

Sunset at Big Red

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.

Interlocking Tower and Double Diamond

The old Walkerton interlocking tower stands unused next to a double diamond intersection of tracks.

Once three stories tall, this tower was used for switching trains from one track to another in this buys rail yard.

Now, switching is done electronically, and remotely, so interlocking towers are no longer needed (either are cabooses).

Final Outlook

The eternal view for the interred of a rural Indiana cemetery.

Alone

Alone at the end of a long sand bar.

A calm morning, just before the sun broke through.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

R.I.P. VANWINKLE

A gravestone I came across in a small cemetery in St. Joseph County, Indiana.

I Couldn't resist.

Sahara Sands?

The shifting sands of Mt. Baldy glow in the sunshine moments after sunrise, giving the sand dune the appearance of the Sahara Desert.

Beyond the Topsoil

A view into a farm I've always wanted to wander into, just to see what was beyond the pile of topsoil.

Not matter the season, this property always seemed interesting to me, and the warm, Fall sunlight made it all the more inviting.

Path of Pallets

A makeshift path made from wood pallets leads into the wetland bordering Cowles Bog. This was set up by volunteers who are restoring the wetland - eliminating non-native species and replanting native plants.

The sign said "Keep out" and I did, but the path was so tempting!

Restoring Mt. Baldy

National Lakeshore officials and volunteers replanted thousands of Marram Grass plants after they were uprooted by winds from Hurricane Sandy.



Planted just weeks earlier, in an effort to restore and retard the erosion of the dune, the grass didn't stand a chance against the 50 -70 mph gusts off Lake Michigan.



Volunteers walked the beach and recovered the small plants blown hundreds of feet across the dune. Others dug a series of holes for volunteers to drop in the small grass plants.



For about a year, areas of Mt. Baldy have been sectioned off with rope to prevent visitors from walking on the delicate grass until it reaches a state where it is mature enough to hold in the blowing sand. These plants will help prevent Mt. Baldy from "walking" away from shore - literally. Sand is picked up by winds from the windward side of the dune, and deposited on the leeward side, in effect, moving the dune grain by grain.



The dune moves on average four feet a year, but it appears to have moved at least that much during this single storm. Trees on the leeward side of the dune are being buried at a fast rate.



As my son and I helped, around 20 others assisted with the planting on Saturday morning - staying as long as they could. Many people helped out the day before too. Their efforts will help Mt. Baldy remain the largest "living" sand dune in Indiana.

Highlighted Summit

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.