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Published: August 29th 2013
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Natural Arch in Technicolor
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Lake Superior, Michigan August 16—I stayed last night in the Hiawatha National Forest, just a short distance drive from the ferry dock to Mackinac Island. Today I needed some time to rest, process and review all the pictures I took and relive yesterday. I really like that Island! So it was an easy day. I will stay again tonight before moving on.
Bootsie: Yeah! It's about time Marty spent some time with me! She was gone a long time yesterday and I was stuck—again--in one of those boring parking lots. There weren't even any dogs running around! There were quite a few birds, though. Well, I had to let her know that I needed some attention! I do this in several ways: I talk to her with a firm “r-r-ack” sound, instead of my usual sweet meow. That usually gets me more food, water or a treat. Then I sit on her computer, if she hasn't opened the lid yet. That doesn't always work, though. She just lifts me off and opens it anyway. Then I rub my head on the computer top, making it tip back and forth. That usually gets me about five more minutes of stroking. Sometimes I really hate No Computer Available
Bootsie telling me not to work on the computer! that computer. She is
always on it! I even have to remind her it is bedtime sometimes! When I get really desperate, I nibble on her toes. Since that always makes her yell at me I don't do it very often. Finally, I just have to lay down on the table behind the computer. She doesn't stop working, but will talk to me and stroke me pretty often. At least today she slept late and snuggled and played with me when she woke up. Then she spent all day at home so I had company for a change!
August 17: Today I went on up Highway 123 to see the Tahquamenon Falls. (Pronounced tah-quah-me-non with the accent on the quah) I had read that these falls were considered the “little Niagara” of Michigan. I have to say I was disappointed when I saw them. They are comprised of upper and lower falls with some rapids in between the two. The upper falls are shaped like a horseshoe, which is probably the reason they are nicknamed little Niagara. They were pretty, but not spectacular. One interesting aspect about the falls and the river of that name is that some of
Upper Tahquamenon Falls
Note brownish water to the left. Viewing platform on right gives idea of size of falls. the water is brown—not from mud, but from the tannic acid in the soil.
August 18: After leaving “T” Falls I drove west and dry-camped in the city of Munising on Lake Superior. I realized then, that the state of Michigan has shores on four of the five Great Lakes and I had visited all of them. I had also camped on Lake Erie, so I had all five the Great Lakes under my belt this year.
Munising is a beautiful town situated on Trout Bay of Lake Superior and across from Grand Island National Recreation Area. It is also the home of the boat tours to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I had never heard of Pictured Rocks before (but there are a lot of neat things in Michigan I never had known before.) There are simply no adequate words to describe this superb natural attraction. I will have to let my photos speak for me.
The boat ride was about two and one half hours long. I cleared my camera and changed my batteries before we left. I ran out of space on the photo card about five minutes before we redocked. I had taken
Side View of "T" Falls
Horseshoe shape reminds one of Niagara, hence nickname Michigan's "Little Niagara". 600 pictures! (Don't worry. I didn't post all 600.) If any of you readers ever find yourself in Upper Michigan, please do NOT miss this boat tour. Going by boat is the only way to see these colorful rocks and formations. Simply incredible! There is no road along the most of the Lakeshore and only two roads which lead onto the edge of the cliffs. Many people do hike or bike the several miles along the edge, but that does give any view of the cliffs over the water.
As we got ready to start the boat ride, the captain asked if anyone had a tendency to get seasick, because the weather was predicted to get rain and wind with up to three feet swells. No one got off and no one went below to the covered cabin during the trip. We didn't get rained on, but the boat did get tossed around some as we got further out on the Lake. No one got sick, though. Made getting good pictures quite a challenge, however.
I was not the only passenger on the boat that appreciated the unusual formations and variety of colors. Often the only sound from
Prayer of the Woods
Eloquent sign at Tahquamenon State Park. the people was the ooohs, ahhs and the clicking of cameras. I was awed by this palate of God's work. There was nothing of man here except as an admirer or consumer. No man-made additions or designs, no human landscaping, no paint, no man-made stains; just the work of a Master Artist working through nature. As I reviewed my pictures, I saw stories of survival, of shelters, of hardship, strength and even illusion.
Well, since one picture is worth 1000 words, I'll let you “read” the rest.
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Roberta
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Bootsie
Martha what cat was that laying on the computer. Sure looks off for it to be Bootsie.