Basking and Reflecting Times Two

Goose Island Campground near La Crosse, Wisconsin lends itself to basking and reflecting. I did a lot of that here because the Mississippi backwaters made me. It held me with all the wildlife two times over.

A-Sailing We Will Go

From Big Sable Lighthouse in Ludington, Michigan, to Point Beach Lighthouse on the other side of Lake Michigan(near Manitowoc, Wisconsin) and me in between feeling very fortunate. To get both photos, I had to hike a lot over sand dunes and wooded areas, and take a

  ferry crossing with The Turtle underneath holding her breath.

Over the Hill to Martha's Home We Go

There is something magical about being at Martha Fricke's home near Charlevoix, Michigan. I had more than a room with a view. I had a room with great hospitality by Martha. The fairytale flavor left a good taste in my heart. Thank you, Martha!

A Bear Goes over the Dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Lake Michigan... surprising what you find when the bear goes over the mountain or dune. What does he see...here you have it! It took some trudging to get these as well as some flying skills.

Between the Dunes

Some re-leaf from sand and sand hills...something unexpected lies between heaven and earth..

Riding the Dunes

My first experience riding on dunes at Silver Lake Dunes.  I didn't know all this dune recreation existed. It was like being on another planet. I floated along on the Mac Woods dune buggy ride like an astronaut on the Lunar Rover. Later I trudged through the sand as if I had reached critical mass to get  high enough to witness the sweeping views of Silver Lake, Lake Michigan and dune buggies sliding along like the waves of sand like surfers. I was in total wipe out!

The Crowded and The Close

 The Turtle's back window is in the middle behind the bowed tree..

KOA near Muskegon, MI. The most crowded KOA as they have a lake with an inflatable water slide, boat rentals, self-propelled scooter things, and a jumping pillow. There is a walk around the lake that I took when I wanted quiet. The close proximity also brought about neighborly interactions that I don't find at state parks. Even a new puppy, a coton. I got to hold him close. Then off for the wide expanses of the dunes at Silver Lake.

Tangled up in Blue

There are lakes and there are lakes. This is a great one. Whatever we leave behind will be small in comparison.  Here's to ya Lake Michigan! All that wide angle of tangled blue has left me footloose and fancy free.

Life is a Beach

It doesn't matter which beach. This could be the Atlantic, Southern California or Warren Dunes on the shore of Lake Michigan. I can only give you my perspective. And it is coming from a place of recreation right now. And joy.

Warren Dune Perspective

Coming up from the camp side and seeing this view of Warren Dunes along Lake Michigan was enough to make the sand in my shoes weep.

Turtle Interior, Fashion Icon Heads North

Each year before my big trip in The Turtle, I like to do something special to the interior. Last year I painted all the upper cabinet doors, and the bathroom door a sunny yellow. This year I added curtains to the back window. I didn't have enough time to piece together some upholstery scraps I  had at home so I went to a fabric outlet store looking for material. In the back room was a bin marked: Curtains, $4.00 a pound. I found one large valence that was just the right size and a tan insulated curtain that was also the correct size. I cut both curtains in half so they could open in the middle and sewed the insulated one to the retro café curtains so that they filled in the part that the cafe's didn't cover. All this for a bit over 5.00 and a couple hours at the sewing machine. A true find. Now The Turtle is on her way to becoming a fashion icon. And on her way for her third major trip.

I leave tomorrow for Knoxville(to visit Corinne Rovetti), Indianapolis(to visit Judie Hansen), Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan, a few other state parks along the banks of Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Northern Michigan, Charlevoix, MI to visit Martha Fricke. Then over on the ferry from Ludington, MI to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Then to St. Paul, Minnesota to visit Linda Kantner, a fellow artist/writer I met in Wyoming in 2006 while I was at the Jentel Foundation. Then I will head back home by some unknown route. Maybe along the Mississippi or Rt. 66 out of Chicago.

Leisure

I am living the life of leisure after working the winter away. Five new pieces of art, off to a good start on my book, Travels with The Turtle. Time to get on my boogie board and surf at Edisto Beach State Park near Charleston, SC , but if it is too cold, I can boogie on down to Jacksonville, FL as I have reservations at Hanna Park right on the beach.