Ten Degrees Better

  Cathy and I went for a short hike at Ludington State Park this afternoon. The heat continues to be brutal at my house, but as is usually the case in summer it was literally at least ten degrees cooler at the lake. Much nicer for walking.

We took the Island Trail north. This is from one of the boardwalks over the shallows of Hamlin Lake.

Lots of yellow flags (wild iris). It's too bad the yellow ones are alien because they are so pretty.

Just an interesting stump in the water.

You know I'm a sucker for nifty patterns. I like the contrast of the dark rippled reflections of the stems with the white ripples of the water.

Hamlin Lake at the north end of the Island Trail

Then we turned around and went back to the Lost Lake Trail and took it away from the lake, then cut back toward Hamlin on the Lighthouse Trail. I'm going to show you more about that section another day. When we got back to Lost Lake, the trail is once again on boardwalks beside the water. Saw this gorgeous wood strip canoe.

By the time we were finished, the fog was rolling in from Lake Michigan. Here's the obligatory big lake picture. Ha! Can't see a thing. That's why lighthouses were invented.

By the time I got home, these thunderheads were building. Someone may get rain, but I don't think it's going to be us.

We hiked about 4.5 miles.

In other news. You need to be proud of me. I was outside at 7 am, before I even had coffee, digging the rest of the autumn olive out of the yard. Now I can mow, as soon as I get gas. It's been too hot to even think about digging up bushes. I also got groceries on the way home and did some editing.

Ludington State Park, MI, Island Trail and parts of the Lost Lake and Lighthouse Trails

See My Favorite SP Loop

Ludington State Park with Cathy and Marie

  Today was a typical non-stop Tuesday. All good. Marie and I met Cathy at the State Park after lunch, and we set out on the Coast Guard Trail in a biting wind and 37 degrees.

That trail goes east-west across the park, but our goal was to get to Lost Lake. Today we walked up the west side- not a view I've showed you recently. It's a very pretty lake, and there are boardwalks all along this side.

At the north end, this view across the lake is the same one I've shown you at least twice from the top of the bluff, but this one is at water level.

There are already early spring paddlers out!

From there, we connected with the Island Trail- one of my favorites- and headed back. This tree root is on its way to becoming driftwood. Kind of artistic.

This log is only a couple of seasons away from really being driftwood. Lots of textures there.

The sun tried to come out, just briefly, but it made light patterns on the water.

We arrived back at the entrance and the outlet of the Big Sable River at Lake Michigan.

Three happy hikers!

Total distance- about 5 miles, probably a little more, but I forgot to turn on the app, and the trail maps don't have the mileage of every segment listed.

Ludington State Park, Ludington, MI, Lighthouse Trail to Coast Guard Trail, to Lost Lake Trail, to Island Trail, to Sable River Trail. About 5 miles

In other news: We cooked a big casserole for some meals over the next few days, hiked, did grocery shopping, and had bell choir practice. Next stop- rest time!

See Friends and Footsteps

After the Rain

 

OK, so I took this picture a year ago after a rain. But it could have been today. I like it, but never shared it.



I worked all day. Tired, but trying to finish some things around the house.

	See Two Awesome Days
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