Friday, July 27, 2012

FISHTOWN (More Michigan)

Welcome To Fishtown, an historic and lively little place on the Leelenau Peninsula, "Up North":


This was one of my favorite places!  The ambiance, aromas, sounds and sights reminded me of places near to my family's property not far from Cape Flattery in Washington.

Fishtown is authentic.  It was established as a fishing settlement in the early 1830s at the site of one of the oldest Ottawa villages in Michigan.
Now the shanties and wharves still serve the fishing tugs.

The local type of fish nets is much different than those of the Pacific Northwest, and offered great photo ops:




I had to chuckle at this one bit of non-authenticity.
First of all, the rope casings look modern, compared to the genuine Japanese floats my family has collected from remote Pacific beaches; secondly, how can an inland lake cough these up?
However, the proprietors laid no outward claims; it was only inferred.
The best part was, the opportunity for a photo "still-life":

To me, the reflection of this boat house was more interesting than the building:

Thursday, July 26, 2012

SOME WILDLIFE

When on our hikes we would come to a boggy area or a pond - of which there were many - the atmosphere would change considerably.  Suddenly there would be a hush and a coolness as a respite from the hotter woodsy areas and the sand dunes.
We walked less briskly; more reverently .


Which may have been a good thing, as we came upon some wildlife which did not run away or plop into the water at our approaches.  Lucky us!


Painted turtles, which I had never seen before:




And in the muffled marshland we heard the most unearthly sound, like rusty hinges on a loudspeaker.  We stood stock still as we waited to see if we could identify it.  "It" identified itself!  Our reward for being stealthy was to see a pair of Sand Hill Cranes coming to water's edge!


Mr. and Mrs. Crane were prodding their only-child-chick into the pond.
Pat was in a good perspective to get a photo of the chick, but I didn't dare move from where I was.
Was the noise because they were cross with their offspring, or because they were warning something else to keep away?

We were in awe.  These birds stood about 5 feet tall, and were pretty huskily-built.

These cranes are on the endangered bird list, so this sighting became a highlight of our trip!


We noted and commented on how other hikers, whenever we would see them, seemed not to be enjoying the details and the experience of being in such wondrous surroundings, but rather were tromping almost disrespectfully through nature as if bent on connecing Point A to Point B.
Our approach gave us the above rewards, and this too, so very close:

Hee, hee.  No, not wildlife.  But I loved his hairy chinny -chin-chin!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

MORE deLIGHTful HOUSES

This is the White River Light, which was erected in 1875:


Pat and I were charmed by its castle-like structure:

With the remnants of a sailing vessel that was perhaps not fortunate enough to see the light, or more likely one of those that met its end before the lighthouse was erected:


From inside:


And this, the Ludington Light in Pere Marquette Harbor.
It was erected in 1871:

It is a mile-long walk from the beach to the lighthouse itself, along the breakwater pier:

This particular evening, these shots were taken in that hour after the sun went down, called "the golden hour". To me, it was the "pastel hour".


Every evening when we returned from a day of adventure, the light at Ludington was like our own beacon to home:

This is the same evening, same harbor, but moments before the other photos were taken: 



COME 'N "SET A SPELL" (More Michigan)


The homes in Ludington and other little towns are lovely grand old Victorians.
The most charming parts of any home - and they all have them - are the porches, which seem to offer an open invitation.  Here are only a few examples of the down-home welcome:








Of course, there is always the beach, though if we sat here, we might have to empty sand from more than just our shoes!

This is more inviting:


Whaaaaa?  Well, it is not as it seems.  Pier-less, yes, but the water here was so shallow, that one would not get wet above the knees to get to this dock.  Gives "Stranded on an Island"  a whole different meaning!

Or there is always one of my favorite places, near a barn:




SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS! (More Michigan)

More than the ever-out sun; more than the knock-you-over sunsets, there were bright colors all around. My memories will always recollect "intensity" in the colors and in the experiences.
Here is a smorgasbord of color pops.

A stroll about Ludington:




A stroll around Sutton's Bay, on the Leelanau Peninsula:


Lake sights.  I love that all the shores, whether at the Big Lake, or other little ones, are white sand:

And speaking of little lakes, whereas this typical scene is not really full of color, it IS colorful in its character.
Lest you lose your way to the cottage:

Yes, this is the true lake color!  I do not "dude up" my photos.  Before going to Michigan I wondered if all Chamber of Commerce photos of lake water and sunsets were enhanced.  Nope, it is for real:

I love old, seasoned wood.  Driftwood, and on barns, walkways, stairways.
Here it is enhanced by this landing of geraniums:

Point Betsie Lighthouse:

Sleeping Bear State Park sand dunes:

We saw this every night!
 Shore of Lake Michigan at Ludington:

And the best colors of all!