Presque Isle, MI
May 22-28, 2010
When we arrived on Saturday, Dan was getting over a bad cold. He also was recovering from having a wisdom tooth pulled just two days earlier. So, he basically rested the entire weekend. By Sunday he was feeling much better and we decided to take a couple of sightseeing trips during the week.
On Monday, we went to Thompsons Harbor State Park. Normal temperatures this time of year along Grand Lake are in the mid- to upper-60s. This day it was 88 degrees and humid! We were unprepared for such heat! I didn't bring a hat. We both forgot to bring water bottles. I also forgot to bring a camera, though I did have my cell phone camera. After a tiring short walk (I decided not to walk to the harbor itself), we decided to come back another day when the sun wasn't so high in the sky and it would be cooler. Then, we'd trek to the harbor. Here are a few pictures from Monday.
Here we go on our hike...
When we arrived on Saturday, Dan was getting over a bad cold. He also was recovering from having a wisdom tooth pulled just two days earlier. So, he basically rested the entire weekend. By Sunday he was feeling much better and we decided to take a couple of sightseeing trips during the week.
On Monday, we went to Thompsons Harbor State Park. Normal temperatures this time of year along Grand Lake are in the mid- to upper-60s. This day it was 88 degrees and humid! We were unprepared for such heat! I didn't bring a hat. We both forgot to bring water bottles. I also forgot to bring a camera, though I did have my cell phone camera. After a tiring short walk (I decided not to walk to the harbor itself), we decided to come back another day when the sun wasn't so high in the sky and it would be cooler. Then, we'd trek to the harbor. Here are a few pictures from Monday.
Here we go on our hike...
Columbine. We saw alot of this. My cousins even had some growing by the lake in their front yard.
Ladyslipper. Also a common wildflower in these parts.
Way in the background is a marsh. We saw a hawk flying over the area, no doubt in search of lunch.
We don't know what this is, but we thought it pretty unusual that it's growing up out of an ant hill. There are a few of these in this park.
The last stop on our trip this day. Dan standing in front of a placard reading about lake levels from the ice age onward.
On Tuesday we decided to take a trip into Alpena. One purpose of this trip was to check on our kitty, Calliope. We have never boarded her before so we didn't know how she would do and we were both kind of nervous about it. The Paw Print Inn, where she was staying, has a camera set up so that we could log into the internet and check on her. Provided she's in camera-eye view, that is. My cousins don't have internet access, so we had to go to the Alpena Public Library to access their wifi connection. When we checked, she seemed fine. There was another cat out in the play area and Calliope was in her enclosure. We decided that we'd check back later in the week, at a different time, to see if we could see Calliope out in the play area. The cats are supposed to take turns.
After the library, our next stop was the Alpena Lighthouse and Thunder Bay.
Kiwanas Park. Thunder Bay in the background. Dan and a spectacular tree in the foreground.
After the library, our next stop was the Alpena Lighthouse and Thunder Bay.
Kiwanas Park. Thunder Bay in the background. Dan and a spectacular tree in the foreground.
Same park, but a bit farther east. Thunder Bay in the background.
To get closer to the lighthouse we had to walk on a long walkway. Here we're watching a boat come back to the marina. The funny looking red thing off to the left of the picture is the Alpena Lighthouse, a.k.a. "Sputnik", believed to be the only lighthouse of its type in the United States. To learn more about the Alpena lighthouse, visit this website: http://www.michiganlights.com/alpenalh.htm
On either side of the walkway there are interesting things to see.
Here a catfish.
Here a catfish.
Here a large bush growing in between the rocks.
At the end of the walkway we saw a seagull sitting on a light
The Alpena Lighthouse. A closer look.
Directly across the way in the opposite direction this ship was docked. We concluded that it must be unloading salt. Note: I zoomed in with my camera. There's actually quite a bit of water in between the walkway and where this ship was docked.
The marina looking toward Thunder Bay.
The walkway as seen from the part closest to the lighthouse.
Me standing at the other end of that long walkway. Thunder Bay in the background.
Another view of Kiwanas Park from the walkway.
After that it was on to Walmart, the only large grocery store in the area, to pick up a few things for us for the rest of the week, and to pick up a few things for my aunt.
It was also nearing lunchtime so we picked up a few things for a picnic in the park.
On to Duck Park, also in Alpena. (We didn't actually see any ducks though.)
It was also nearing lunchtime so we picked up a few things for a picnic in the park.
On to Duck Park, also in Alpena. (We didn't actually see any ducks though.)
Beyond those trees, and beyond the parking lot we found a picnic table in the shade. Monday was sweltering, but today was chilly. I wished I had brought a jacket! (Found out later, it was only chilly in the shade. When we got to the meadow in Island Park it was hot again!)
Just behind our picnic table there was this sign for Island Park.
After our picnic we took off on a little hike.
First we had to cross a wooden bridge. Here are views from each side.
First we had to cross a wooden bridge. Here are views from each side.
Next we turned right and came across this memorial.
This is what awaited at the end of the pathway. A swan and signets in the background
Then we walked back, passed the wooden bridge, to see the other side of the park. We came to this fork in the road.
We took the left path and passed through a meadow. This meadow had enormous dragonflies. Unfortunately none would sit still for the camera.
Then we went down some wooden stairs and walked a ways more. More swans and signets.
We then walked back to the wooden bridge and I saw a semi-secluded area with a bench. We sat here a while before heading back to my cousins' house.
Now it's Wednesday and I have a splitting headache but I'm bound and determined to see Thompsons Harbor. So I took some Excedrin, filled a water bottle, grabbed my camera, sun hat, and sunscreen and we were off, back to Thompsons Harbor State Park. Come join me...
More ladyslippers.
We took a shorter route, so we came from the left branch of the path. ("1" actually points behind us.) We want to head off to point "6"
We're now under some red pines.
The gouge in the trunk is indicative of a fire that once swept through this forest.
Now it's off to the harbor.
First we stop to look at more wildflowers.
A placard describing all the invasive species in Lake Huron.
Thompsons Harbor. Dan and I spent some time sitting here taking in the view.
Then we're off again, headed back. Stopped to look at a fern.
Then some columbine.
Then some other wildflowers.
On Thursday it was definitely apparent that I had caught Dan's bad cold! And, with a 5-year old who doesn't understand the words "I have a cold and don't feel well," I sure wasn't going to get any rest that day... Dan was feeling well, so he went back to the Alpena Public Library to check in on the cat and to check his e-mail. He was also nice enough to stop in at Walgreens and get me some cold medicine so I could get a good night's rest. What a good husband!
Friday morning we headed back home. Oh I was SO glad to be home!
Here's what greeted us when we got home:
My backyard perennial garden, flowers starting to bloom...
Friday morning we headed back home. Oh I was SO glad to be home!
Here's what greeted us when we got home:
My backyard perennial garden, flowers starting to bloom...
...and some lovely strawberries. Dan picked them from our garden out back. First of the season! Yum!
Created by Joyce P. Simkin
Last updated in HTML: June 5, 2010
Last updated in Weebly: August 9, 2016
Last updated in HTML: June 5, 2010
Last updated in Weebly: August 9, 2016