To the Beach................

Yesterday was a perfect day to go to the beach, so we did. It was hot enough but not uncomfortable. It was breezy rather than windy. The water like bath water. So we took the kids life jackets this time because we had said they could go in. I remembered to take Tristen some dry clothes and he had some beach shoes. We set off ready with his swim trunks on and wound up to bustin........we went to lunch first. Figured we just better get that out of the way. Made it without too much stress as the kids were excited. So then on to the beach. We parked at the Lighthouse....bathrooms woo hoo. Nice ones too.
So, the first thing they did was find the mud puddle, yep of cause they did.



Then on to the water (eye roll here)










In the background you can see one of the Manitou Islands. The baby bear cubs.......this is the Sleeping Bear Lakeshore. I have told the story before but will have to tell it again some day.




We ended up walking right around the point just to see what was beyond. The water was not as calm around the corner. It was the original location of the lighthouse, but because of the storms it was moved to its current location. There are a great many shipwrecks in those waters.



We had walked a long way so turned back. We sat and let them play some more in the water. Great spot where the water was shallow and we didn't need to worry. We have to watch for rip tides so we don't let them go in too far. It doesn't stop the enjoyment.


Reina is 7 she and Tristen are like brother and sister. She is really his aunt as his mother Alexandra was/is her sister.


After we left the beach we took a drive up the Dunes on the trails there. This view looks out over Glen Lake at the Alligator...........can you see why its called that? Come Fall or cooler weather we want to climb those trails as I have not yet done so.




This is another view from the top of the dunes It looks down over Glen Lake.


This one looking in the other direction, you can see the same view we were looking at from below.




We stopped at one of the picnic spots, we usually stop there and look for Indigo Buntings. We found raspberries, and wild cherries. Yum and did see a Bunting too.

Here is an Indigo Bunting, I could not get a better shot.

Reina loved the cherries, Tristen "I dont love them"


We met this old gentleman there, he was setting up for a picnic. I thought he was alone so sent the kids over to say hello. Tristen says "hello my name is Tristen and this is Reina" they started to chat. I went over after a bit and he told me he drove this old car all they way to Alaska. Said it took him 12 days to get there and 10 days to get home because it was downhill coming back. (smile) Come to find out he was meeting a group of people there so that made me feel better, I thought he was alone.


on the way down we went through dunes covered in Babies Breath, it looked ethereal

I spotted a deer, through the trees and it was laying down. Took ages to get a shot of it. Turned out to be a small buck. It was the sun on his ears I first spotted.


I gave the camera to Laura and she snuck up a bit closer but we still had to focus through the trees. Ended up with a couple of shots I could use.

He was easy to spot because the sun was shining through his ears. Getting the shot was the hard part. Then we thought there was another one, boy was that ever difficult to figure out. It turned out we were right though. Twice we nearly drove away and then went back. They got sick of being stared at and got up to walk away. Got ya,,,,,,,,,,,,Can you see her? I may only have one good eye working but it does a great job. Imagine back when I had two eyes, they didn't call me hawkeye for nothing

She blended in perfect with that dead pine behind her. Felt bad that they had to leave but ah well........if we saw them......nah, I don't think anyone else would have. We continued on home, everyone tired by then and ready for coffee. Got some in Empire and muffins for the kids to stuff their faces on the way home and tide them over till supper. End of a perfect day.

A Good Afternoon.............

It was a beautiful day on Saturday, so good to be out in the fresh air at last. We ... that is, Gerry, me, Laura, Reina and Tristen got in the car and off we went. We headed out towards Empire and the Sleeping Bear Dunes. The kids were so excited to be going for a walk. We started out on a walk in the woods at Windy Moraine. Here we go......off into the woods.


Windy Moraine is a trail that's about a mile and a half, something like that. All up hill for half of it, then down hill for the rest. You can hear the wind howling through the tops of the trees its wonderful. I think Tristen covered 3 times the amount as we did. He ran and ran. Laura and I felt the winters inactivity in our legs. The kids walked right through the snow, of course they did.

See my garden journal blog for more on the woodlands. After we left the woods, tired out we were. We went to look at the water down at Glen Haven. It was a small lumbering town in the late 1800s, now its taken over by the park. There is a blacksmith there who demonstrates his craft during the summer. The other buildings are kept up and restored one way or other.






The park service is restoring and has enhanced the parking area, built in ramps and walks to the beach. Its great, but I think I preferred it as it was before. We would take the dogs and let them run, now its not allowed. Things change. Still we are lucky that we can go when no one is around, those dogs are gone now so its not an issue for us. I think we felt that it was ours and now we are apparently the most beautiful place in America, and the tourists come in droves. Not yet though. For now its ours. The snow fences are still up, and snow is still on the beach, but further down a couple is sunbathing. That's Michigan for ya.


From Glen Haven we went down to Empire. We let the kids play at a small park before heading for the beach. There is a bigger playground there so I got some time on my own to walk on the beach and take these pictures.


Look at that sand, big pile of the stuff haha.......well I got plenty in my shoes that's for sure.



This is Empire Bluffs, could not do that trail that day. Legs would certainly not take two hikes in one day and that one is all uphill.


This is South Bar Lake.


Deer like the beaches and lakes, no salt. Michigan Unsalted haha


The kids had a grand time at the playground. Tristen makes friends easy and didn't want to leave. They had fun.







We promised that we would stop at another park. We wanted to go to eat at the Hayloft and it was rather early so off we went



I dont know how they had the energy to still be running




Thirsty work.


Reina had a cough, not sure if it was a cold or allergies but it didn't stop her having a great day.


Tristen did not want the day to end, he was devastated when Reina had to go home. They can't imagine that they will have another great day like that, so they didn't want it to end. Next week maybe.

Charlevoix the Beautiful..............

Yesterday we took a day out and went up to Charlevoix. I went really to take some pictures of the Gnome Homes. I will do a seperate post on those because we did so much more. Gerry and me with Tristen, Laura and Reina took a picnic lunch and headed north. We stopped along the way several times to give the kids a break. Besides the mission of taking pictures I wanted them to have a fun day out as well. There is an art gallery that I adore and it has a large garden so that was our first stop. They have built a studio at the back now and so we got to see where they make pottery. Laura and me went inside and I chatted with the owners. They have also taken in Norman Brumms work. That was another place I would always stop when we went up there. Norman has since died and so his work has increased in value, but it still remains some of my favourite things. He had such a gift. Anyway........this gallery is in an old school house and with our kids running around outside it sounded as though it still was an old school house. From there we went on to the Fisherman's Island state park. I am trying to show Laura some of the beaches we used to go to when they were kids. Now to take Reina and Tristen. We had our picnic there. Nothing much, I just took cheese and some good bread, some relish and mustard, grapes and apple sause. Good enough for a quick lunch. Tristen was anxious to play ball and he and Reina did that for awhile as we finished up lunch. We then drove on to the beach. We didn't expect them to go in the water........silly I know. Well the water was shallow and perfect so Reina got down to her swim suit and Tristen to his Angry Birds undies. He was happy. Look at Reina, her mouth is always open and she puts her whole body into her screams. Trouble is she is teaching Tristen. They both love the water so much. Will soon be time to teach swimming. I want to be sure he is safe around water. I can not swim and so it's imperative that he learn. Reina held his hand and encouraged him but we were right there watching and choosing the safe spots for them to go in. The Fishermans Island State park is a camp ground in the forest. The picnic beach is 1 mile and there used to be a small island just off shore. That is all public beach away from the camps. There are miles of hiking trails within the forest and was a place that Woodland Tribes used to come to. There are archaeological sites not marked within the forest where they would make their spear points and arrow heads. After we left and changed the kids we went and took my pictures and then on the way home we stopped at Friske Orchards. I wanted to buy a pie. They have a playground for kids and a petting zoo so they had a great time there. The store is awesome. It has a fresh vegetable section and you can see ladies peeling and canning vegetables and fruit for the bakery. The baking section has wonderful pies, scones and things like that. There are relishes and mustards and gifts as well as a place to eat. The kids were only interested in the park though so here are a few pictures. Tristen Reina The tractor was Tristens most favourite part. They wondered why it wouldn't go, so they figured it out and Tristen was off to solve the issue. He said " It's stook in duh mood" and brilliantly assessed the situation Push it we said.........and he gave it a gallent effort. We took home two tired out little kids. Its hard work walking on sand and hiking through dunes and forest........but what a day.