MICHIGAN'S GEMS

Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state.  I was excited that we were able to visit 9 of them along with everything else we did.

And each, like a precious jewel, is unique to itself.

Here is the Little Sable Light.

It stands alone now; the living quarters were destroyed some time ago.

And, yes, it lists!  Historic photos show the water lapping right at its feet, and over the years, erosion has undermined the foundation.

Natural sunlight serves as the beacon here:

The listing is more evident here:

As Pat and I strolled the beach, we came across a phenomenon.

There was a patch of what we called "Sand-doos" - 4 to 5-inch-tall wind-formed shapes, like miniscule replicas of the hoodoos of Bryce National Park.

One can chuckle at my subject for this photo here, but I think it is quintessential Michigan.

White sand, nearly as fine as baby powder, and folks enjoying it:

Big Sable Light was constructed  in 1867, about 8 years before Little Sable.

We reached this by way of a 3-mile hike in Ludington Stake Park, through sand dunes and sparse woods. I liked the perspective here, with all the bikes, even as we wished we had taken that mode instead of our tired, hot feet:

Drift fences became one of my favorite photo subjects:

And board walks.  This one taken from inside the lighthouse: