Memorial Day Weekend

We had a house full for the holiday weekend. Everyone had a good time and the weather cooperated with lots of sunshine and warm temperature. We did get a greatly needed storm on Sunday morning with lots of thunder and lightening, but by afternoon it was all clear once more. We hadn't had rain here for a month, so we welcomed a good downpour. A little more rain came on Monday night, but by that time all of our guests were safely back home.
Nancy and I are settling into our new routine and we both picked up some part time work. I at Anderson's IGA in Glen Arbor and Nancy is serving wine at Good Harbor Winery for all those on the wine tasting circuit. It is getting us out into the community and gives us something to do.
Here are some pictures from the weekend and our trip to tour the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Looking out over the dunes and Lake Michigan from the lookout at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drve.

Only 450 feet to the lakeshore from here. Anyone want to go down?

Contemplating the walk back up.....

450 feet to the bottom and a mile and a half back up!

Bill and Barb Wright

Laura and Sean and Kara and Nolan

Saturday in Empire

Stan and Cindy came out with Jake and we did the Empire Asparagus Festival on Saturday. In Romeo we had the peach festival and here it's asparagus! (If you wait till July there's also a Polish Festival in Cedar!)

Here are some pictures from the festivities...

Chalk was provided for anyone to do some street art during the festival. There was a tent down the street with wine tasting and various foods with an asparagus theme. Local restaurants were putting on the displays.

The Asparagus King posing with Stan.

The parade was kind of low key, but the festival brought a huge crowd. There was no parking left in the village, and cars were strung out all along M-22.

Birdhouses for sale from one of the local grafters.

Stan and the Asparagus Queen.

After the parade we went out to Esch Beach to cap off the afternoon.

This is for the birds!

Enjoying the warm weather and sunshine the past few days. We had a couple of bird encounters recently including spotting a bald eagle near Lake Michigan. Here are a couple of pictures.

This Rose Breasted Grosbeak was flying around our yard this week.

A hummingbird flew into the garage and couldn't find it's way out even though I had the big garage door open.

A Beautiful Day

We had a gorgeous day today following the warmest day since we got back from Florida on Friday. The sun was out this afternoon and we took Tom and Evey for a hike at Pyramid Point. We hiked back to the dune and climbed to the top to see the wonderful views out over Lake Michigan. Evey climbed all the way up by herself with Tom walking right behind her. After hiking to the look out we watched as a freighter cruised past us to the north.
After hiking the loop and getting back to the car we drove around to the Lake Michigan shore line west of Shalda Creek and near the bottom of Pyramid Point to walk the beach and search for Petoskey stones. We had some success and enjoyed the warm sun and calm winds off of the lake. It was almost a perfect beach day, although nobody was in the water except Evey up to her ankles!

At the start of our hike everyone was nice and fresh!

Tom was checking out this fixer upper. After careful review he decided against making any offers.

This vulture was perched over the ghost house. It added to the atmosphere of the place!

My view from the top of Pyramid Point. Schell Lake and Sugarloaf in the distance.

Tom and Evey made it to the top of the dune.

The view from the top of the dune is awesome.

Some old folks we saw along the trail.

The trilliums are in full bloom through out the woods.

Evey wanted to climb the dune again!

The beach on Lake Michigan

Erosion is taking out trees along the shoreline.

My prize of five petoskey stones from the beach.

Wednesday Morning

It's been pretty quiet in the north country. Brother Bill and Margaret were here over the weekend and we had a nice visit with them. Grandpa s still in re-hab in Suttons Bay, but is doing well and can't wait to get home. We have been dong some small jobs around the house and getting last minute details finally finshed.
We are looking forward to seeing Tom and Evey this weekend and whoever else might want to come up for Mother's Day. Hoping that everyone is well and the new jobs are working out.

Congrats to Sean and Dave.

May 2, on our way to summer.

We have been doing a few odd jobs around the house, and getting outside to enjoy the warm weather the past couple of days. Yesterday afternoon was warm and sunny so we got out for another hike around the farms near Point Oneida. We parked near Thorsen Road and hiked for about two hours through the woods and fields and around a couple of the old farms left on the park property.

The weather forecast calls for chances of rain and thunderstorms but warm temperatures through the weekend.

The park service has been cutting invasive species of trees and bringing the logs to a field near this barn. They have been using a portable sawmill to cut the logs into planks for use in projects around the park such as renovations of buildings and boardwalks across the dunes.

A farm on the south side of M-22. They have an annual farm festival on this site each summer and demonstrate some of the old farming techniques used in the past to make a living off the land.

Exploring on Sunday

We went to church this morning and then after a quick lunch we went hiking and saw the work of GOD on this beautiful peninsula of ours!!
We hiked up to Pyramid Point from the east side and across the dunes and saw some views across Lake Michigan that were absolutely incredible! We could see North Manitou Island, South Fox Island, North Fox Island and even Beaver Island out from Charlevois!! Leland and Sugarloaf Mountain were visible as well as Whaleback and the clay banks north of Leland. After we hiked across the ridge to the west, South Manitou Island became visible and we were amazed at the panorama folding out in front of us. This is surely one of the most awesome places on the planet. It was the best hike we have taken yet.

A view from our starting point off of Basch Road. I think that this is the most beautiful spot on the National Lake shore. So far it is little known and doesn't get the crowds that the Dune Climb and Pierce Stocking Drive see each summer.

A view across Good Harbor Bay. The cliffs of Whaleback Point are visible to the left.

Looking east across the forest and Shell lake. Sugarloaf Mountan, the abandoned ski resort, is in the top left of the picture.

Across the dunes, a view of North Manitou Island.

Another view across Good Harbor Bay to Whaleback on the right, then Leland Harbor further left, then the clay banks north of Leland.

Here's me baby!  We hiked a trail at the top of the sand ridges across the dunes. The dunes pile up from the lakeshore here and are pushed up against the edge of the forest. It's an awesome spot!

A couple of beachcombers walking below us on the shoreline.

A view west to South Manitou Island.

Looking east to Shell Lake from the top of Pyramid Point.

The forest is blooming with spring growth.