Wednesday, June 18, 2014

We continue along the northern coast of Michigan, with lovely views of the lake from time to time.

We take an occasional side road, just 'cause, and one of them leads to the Fox River.  Nothing there except a small sign that informs us that Earnest Hemingway fished here!

Wooded countryside with lots of acreage for sale.  Several home-made signs "2,282 acers" or "350 acers" for sale. They are probably better with numbers.

We come to Grand Marais and pass by the Pickle Barrel Museum, which isn't open yet (oh darn).

It is cold  -53 - and foggy.  Many fishermen on the jetty at Grand Marais,

What a jig-saw puzzle this would be!

and we walk on the beach a bit and collect some pretty stones.  There is a park service person here checking on some nesting Piping Plovers, which are endangered.  They have a protective cage over three nests but the birds can come and go through it, and that area of beach is roped off.  You can barely see the four eggs to the right of the bird in this photo, as mom (or dad) stretches her (or his) legs.

Next adventure is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - one of four such designated areas.  We stop at the visitor's center and are directed to a few of the park's highlights.  First is Sable Falls, a pretty falls with a short trail.

Next is Log Slide Overlook.  In the late 1800's there was lots of logging of red pine and white cedar in this area.  This site on the dunes is where the logs were slid down to the lake where they were bundled into rafts and transported.

We still see quite a few logging trucks on the road.

The Au Sable Light Station Trail was recommended, so that is our next walk, about 3 1/2 miles.  At the trailhead there is a stream in which we see Coast Brook Trout, called adfluvial,  which live part of their life in the lake and then travel upstream, a la salmon, to spawn.  These seem to be resting and steeling themselves for the fast water ahead. They are about 18"-24" long.

downstream, the fish come from the lake

upstream, where the fish are headed

The trail is through woodlands and we see some unusual flowers,

 but after a while we take some stairs down and walk on the rocky beach.  Nice breeze = fewer you-know-whats and we pass a few remainders of shipwrecks.

 Can't collect rocks here - National Park - but there are some pretty ones.  Most of the rocks on the shores of lake Superior have come from Canada, via glacial action.  Agates are what people tend to look for and are fairly rare, though we just like pretty rocks, of which there are plenty!

The trail leads to yet another lighthouse, Au Sable (French for "with sand") Light Station.

 As early as 1622, Au Sable Point was recognized as treacherous due to sandstone reef and thick fog. The lighthouse was built in the late 1880's.

 Spring has just arrived here as lilacs and butterflies attest.

 The hike back to the car is another "Michigan Power Walk" as Greg refers to our brisk walk to deter mosquitos.  We see some pink Lady's Slippers which are one odd-looking flower, and later some apple blossoms - the Michigan State Flower.

lady's slipper (the Minnesota State Flower)

Apple Blossom, the Michigan State Flower

Next stop is Miner's Castle Overlook where we can get a peak at the famous Pictured Rock cliffs which (we have been told AFTER coming here) are best seen by boat from Munising for a mere $36 each.  Or from 10 mile + trails.  Miner's Castle is 75' high and some of the cliffs we are told are up to 200' above the lake and very colorful.

We stop at Munising Falls

and the Northern Beach of Sandy Point and see the Picture Rocks in the distance.

There is a beautiful field of lilies of the valley here which easily wins the Scratch 'n' Sniff of the Day.

We head onto the city of Marquette and stay at a Lowe's, doing some cleanup and getting a good night's rest.