Tuesday outing in August......................

On Tuesday Laura and I took the kids to Leland beach. It was a beautiful and calm day, the temps in the 90s. Way too hot and humid at home but perfect on the beach. We chose Leland to look for Blue stones, simply for something to do. Tristen took his boats and toys, we intended to stay the day. A light breeze and wonderful waters kept us cool. We normally don't use sun screen but at over 90 degrees we figured better safe than sorry

The beach was perfect, the water so calm we could actually see the stones under the water, no waves unless a boat went by and left wake.

This little guy was swimming and we often wonder how they make it through the sand to get back into the greenery

He was happy to stay out of our way though, we have often seen small frogs swimming in the big lake and wonder how they survive.
We had stopped at a deli and picked up some sandwiches for lunch and when we were ready to eat we had a picnic on the beach

The water was so calm Tristen even tried out his swimming technique. He doesn't like water in his face and so when there are waves he is not so keen.


Reina has a great tan going. Her part Puerto Rican blood and our dark skin tone gives her great colour


When we had finally had enough and were ready to leave we were not ready to go home. Gerry was taken care of as far as his supper went so no hurry on our part. We headed for Port Oneida. We see they are working on the extensions on the Bike trails. One goes by a lake we love looking at from the car, soon we can park and get closer to it. It formed from swampy ground over the years. It's been fascinating to see a brand new lake emerge. The house that was close by has been bought now by the park service, as all within the Sleeping Bear National Park has been. A shame for the families but great for posterity.
One of the old farms. One can imagine this, surrounded by farm land on the brink of Lake Michigan. How isolated everyone must have been in winter. I can imagine though how they must have looked after each other with miles between farms.

It's one of the things we have done these past couple of years, explored the history of this area.


All these meadows, orchards and houses and barns will all be preserved now.

We went down to the beach from the farm we usually go by, there were people there. Usually we have the whole place to ourselves. Still they spread out along the beach so we didn't see them really.

We saw raptors in the sky. I think some eagles, young ones and probably buzzards too. We found out why when we found a dead deer on the beach. That was not nice. We had seen what we thought was bear poop but decided it was some form of Canine, wolf? Coyote? (yes I took a picture) sigh!!!!

so when we got to the beach we knew why. Naturally the kids had gone right in before we shuffled down the steps. I have to be really careful, I don't need to fall. My knees are not great and my vision not perfect.

We had taken the back roads through the forests dirt roads. There are still a few homes left up in the hills. The view from the top is beautiful. The pictures do not do it justice.



I always think how awesome it must have been here in the early 1800s and before when just the Indians lived here. I wonder how they got along with these homesteaders. I will look into that. Sorry the next picture is a blur but its cute

So we headed home

We stopped in Cedar for ice cream



Reina and Tristen sharing a laugh over a picture she took of her mum

We stopped to look at some sheep and cows and we saw a mother turkey with a dozen babies in front of her shooing them across the road. Laura tried to find them in the grass but they hid very well. I wanted a picture, we had not seen any wildlife that day


So it was home, bath and bed for Tristen by that time. Can't remember what we had for supper but whipped something up quick and that was the end of another perfect day.