Summer Happenings

With a fall chill in the air and the threat of frost looming, I'm determined to finish the summer posts that have been hanging around half-finished for far too long. Here's a glimpse of a few Michigan adventures that have kept me busy lately, along with raising chickens, gardening, and not posting blog updates.

We had such a chilly, rainy June that summer didn't actually get started until July. So this tour begins with a few photos from a Fourth of July hike at Pyramid Point.

Yes, it's a l-o-n-g way down that dune to the blue-green waters of Lake Michigan. (And yes, we did run and leap all the way to the bottom, then crawl one limb at a time back up to the top. Not something I'd do on every visit, but I'm not sorry I did it once!)

Back at the top, we ate our picnic lunch and then found a young fellow to take our picture. He was not very confident in his photography skills. But he did a fine job.

 

In case you weren't convinced already, it just so happens that Sleeping Bear Dunes was named the most beautiful place in America this summer. What a place to call our backyard!

Later in July, Nick's mom and sister (and two small dogs) arrived for a visit from Wisconsin. We fit in all sorts of summer highlights, from backyard dinners and a concert at Interlochen, to a pontoon ride on Lake Leelanau and an afternoon of organic(!) cherry-picking followed by a sunset stroll on the gorgeous, wild Elberta beach.

Nick, Christina, and I also squeezed in a weekend trip to North Manitou Island. Here we are at the ferry dock in Leland, loaded up with gear.

 

Sunset view from our island campsite on a perfect summer day.

A view of shore from the ferry dock, where the island's few remaining buildings form a historic village. Both North and South Manitou islands were once home to thriving populations of settlers but have since been converted to parkland.

Relics of the old days can still be found all over the islands, including this threshing machine that reminded us of a dragon.

Like last year's North Manitou trip, this was a chance to step out of time for a little while, forget the to-do list, and have nothing more important to accomplish than to pick raspberries, walk barefoot on the beach, soak in the lake, and watch the stars come out. We didn't find the potholes, the one goal we had in mind, so we'll have to save that intriguing destination for another trip. That's because, when the ferry comes only once a day, you'd best remember that time exists at 11 am sharp. Here are the siblings, with matching smiles, awaiting the boat's arrival.

 

Then along came August, the Burt Lake trek, and, back in TC, a chance to spruce up for the inaugural Seersucker Bike Ride. I had just one piece of authentic seersucker fabric, but I put it to good use.

Bella missed the photo shoot, although she did get the first turn in the bike trailer. We swapped for Maisie halfway through, and all enjoyed our roles on this dapper two-wheeled tour.