A Ludington Day

 It was miserably hot today. I had to do some work in the morning, but then we headed for Ludington. It's usually 10 degrees cooler in Ludington in the summer and that was true today. We went for lunch at House of Flavors and split a Great Lakes Cranberry Wrap. Yum.

Then we drove around and looked at a few historic buildings and places. The beach was next. Pure Ludington, although things are winding down for the season since many schools have already started.

The goal was to walk out to the Lighthouse, which we did.

Nothing but blue lake and sky behind us!

Then we went back to House of Flavors for ice cream. I mean, we do know what HOF is for!

After that it was home again to do a few tasks around the house, but it was so hot we ended up watching a few funny videos.

The goal of the evening was to watch the Badger come in. That's a favorite Ludington pass-time, but I haven't done it anytime recently. I'm glad we went. Here she comes. See her?

I'm pretty sure you can find her now. She's being escorted by a Sheriff's boat. Also the Ludington Harbor Patrol was on duty. There have been some problems lately with small boats not staying out of the way, so they may have upped the escort presence.

Just a reminder. This is the only remaining coal-fired passenger ship in the U.S., and it's a registered Historic Landmark. The Badger and its sister ship the Spartan (also docked at Ludington but not seaworthy) are the two largest such ships ever built.

It has to turn around to dock because vehicles and any cargo are loaded off the back. You may remember that part of the docking system broke last summer and they lost about a third of the sailing season. But that's all fixed, with a new "apron" and counterweights. Watching it do that maneuver is quite interesting. Here is it almost backed into place in front of the Spartan.

It was still hot, so we drove around to the other side of Pere Marquette Lake for the view of the ferries from that side and also to visit the memorial to Pere Marquette. This is one of the most likely places for his death, although there are a lot of theories pointing to other locations.

Home again, salads for dinner- it was just too hot to eat, some visiting. Today was as full as it was going to get.

Miles hiked so far in 2024: 372.8.

Ludington breakwater to the lighthouse and back 1.0 mile

See Working Our Way Home

Mini Tour de Ludington

I did a little walking tour in Ludington today before bell choir practice. This was partly for the exercise and partly to make sure I'm getting things right for the next mystery.

I started out at Copeyon Park on Pere Marquette Lake. The picture is a little blown out, but I had to shoot right at the sun, with it hidden behind the tree. The lake is a natural one, although the current outlet that flows past the lighthouse, is not where the lake originally emptied into Lake Michigan.

On the far shore is the Pere Marquette Memorial. This is supposedly the spot where explorer Jacques Marquette died in 1675.

You know I have to picture the carferries. This is an angle I haven't shown before, I'm pretty sure. From here, the Spartan is in the foreground, with the Badger behind. Good news on the Badger. They have the final permits to rebuild the part of the dock that failed this summer, and it's looking good for a full 2024 season. There have been cross-lake ships from Ludington to Wisconsin since the 1860s.

Do you remember this picture? Well, not this exact one. But I first photographed this scene in 2014. The trees are significantly larger now, and not as white. The first picture is better- better angle, better light. But it's become kind of an old friend.

Couldn't resist showing you the size of this maple leaf. Wowzer!

I edited, I puttered in the trailer but need to buy yet another length of screws (I can hardly believe there is a size of screw I don't yet own), I went to bell practice. And the words in Vacation from DMS are up to 7589. For any author friends, "No, I'm not doing NaNoWriMo. I just happened to get inspired on this book in November."

Walk from Copeyon Park to downtown Ludington and back, about 3 miles

See First Snow and History

Liquid Air

Cathy and I took an evening walk. We went out to Buttersville on the south side of the Ludington Channel and walked out to the marker light. From there, you can look across the channel to the Ludington Lighthouse. You might note that it's just a bit hazy. Like seriously hazy. Like liquid air hazy.

On the way, we passed the Pere Marquette Shrine. I hadn't really been there since the base was rebuilt. It looks good. This is supposedly the place where Marquette died, although there are several places which claim that fact.

The carferries, both the Badger and the Spartan are at their docks. Remember, the Badger had to end its season early. The Spartan just sits there anyway.

Coming back on the pier the light was hitting the rip-rap. Just rocks, right? But photos are always about the lighting.

The haze made for interesting lighting as the sun got lower.

The day was oppresive with heat and humidity. I managed to do a few things this morning, and then just petered out. How did I ever walk in this stuff last summer? It was about all I could do to breathe today. Tomorrow I need to be functional, that's for sure.

See 2011 Trip to the South Channel

Bernie's Very Bad, Very Good Day, and More

Today was non-stop, but the important things happened. Bernie was here all day. We spent the morning talking about things he should know concerning the trail in Vermont and the Adirondacks.

The reason for the title is that the afternoon was very good in that Bernie got some much needed dental work done. The bad part is that he has to deal with the pain of that and antibiotics on the trail, etc. Because you know he's not going to take any more time off. Hopefully, the pain of the dental work will be much less than the pain he's already been dealing with on the trail. He called every dentist in the county, and did find one that would see him.

While he was doing that, I took a little walk in Ludington. There is a little urban loop that goes along the marina and the channel. Here's the marina.

The Badger, the carferry, is sadly sitting in port. The rest of the sailing season is cancelled. The "apron," which is part of the dock, not the boat, collapsed and the removal and rebuilding is going to take months. Without that part, vehicles can not be loaded onto the ferry. You can see a crane already working behind her.

Kayakers were taking advantage of the protection of the breakwall to enjoy some time on Lake Michigan.

This is a relatively new addition to the Mason County Sculpture Trail. This is an actual propeller from the Badger that was damaged in ice. The date is not given, but it was many years ago when the ferries sailed year-round. You can see the big chunk missing from one of the blades.

When Bernie was released, we went shopping so he could get medication and supplies. We arrived home in time for a downpour! It only lasted for about a half hour. Southwest salad and corn bread for dinner.

One of the strangest and most humorous events from Loretta's arrival is that we have twin cars. Supposedly hers is 2012 and mine is 2013, but we can only find a couple of minor differences. The body and lights are exactly the same. They are the same color. Usually there are at least changes in the taillights from year to year. But unless one of us has a faulty title, they are not the same year. We both have NCT stickers. It's really weird. We've each gone out and momentarily thought we were in the wrong car!

So that's a total mish-mash of stuff from today. But that's how the day was. Bernie thinks he's going to be good-to-go to hike a full day tomorrow!

See Long Distance Hikers

When Trails are Too Mushy

  Cathy and I wanted to do a good walk today, but with our sudden spring-like temperatures the trails have turned to total mush. Rather than struggle and not be able to get very far, we chose a road walk in the county that isn't just squares, and has some nice things to see. It also has some decent topography to enhance the workout factor.

We began in some agricultural areas, mostly fruit farms. Orchards can provide some great pictures, but this is not one of them. Couldn't get a good perspective. You'll have to settle for a view that does at least show acres and acres of rows of fruit trees.

Here's the joke of the day. Carom boards are made in Ludington. Someone has found a use for old broken bases- as the backboards for their No Trespassing signs!

Eventually, we ended up on the back side of Pere Marquette Lake. So we were across the channel from the Ludington lighthouse. Not a great picture, but I like how the water and the sky are almost the same color. The lighthouse is the blockier tower toward the right. The building in the foreground is on the same side of the lake we were on, and the round tower is a channel marker.

Another interesting destination on that road is White Pine Village, a living history museum. There are 30 actual historic buildings that have been moved there, and during the season there is almost always some fun demonstration going on. This house is actually an administration building, but it made a nice picture, and is visible from the road. I haven't been there in a while- I really should go. It's a treasure of a destination, but when it's open, it's so overrun with tourists, I end up avoiding it.

Here's a winter view of the two carferries, head on. This side of the lake is the only place one can take a picture like this. The link below shows a similar shot taken in the fall.

And one more... this is definitely not a great picture, but these bird are so skittish I was just thankful to end up with a picture that has the whole bird in it. This is a pileated woodpecker. They are really large, over a foot from crest to end of tail.

How did we do? We walked 10.8 miles!

In other news: After that (and clean up and lunch) I had an appointment about some editing. Now I am home and crashed for the evening!

See Apres L'Autumne

Pure Ludington Winter Walk

  Cathy and I did a fast five miles through town today. Most of our route was on residential streets, but we took a loop through the carferry docks. Please note another sun and blue sky day! Wow, wowowowowowow! Can't beat it.

If you live near Ludington, or have followed my blog for long, you know about the ferries. Otherwise, see links below for more info if you want. You can see both ships in this picture, but the operational one, the Badger, is the farthest from the camera. This is the Great Lakes- ice, snow, storms. It only runs from May- October, when it makes two trips a day to Wisconsin and back.

The closer one in the above picture is the Spartan, sister ship to the Badger. She has not been in operation for years, but is docked in Ludington. I just liked the various mooring lines.

The Badger has been designated a National Historic Landmark, and part of US Highway 10. I hadn't actually seen that it has been painted on the gate at the end of the loading apron. I like it!

We continued along the lakeshore, past the marina. In the winter, with no boats, you can see the lighthouse across the way! You'd never see that in summer. All these slips are filled in warmer months.

The wind was cold, and we did 17-minute miles. A good workout.

In other news: I finished chapter 30, did a couple of odd jobs, and after our walk went to bell choir practice.

See Twin Queens of the Lakes See Pure Ludington Evening

Pure Ludington Evening

 
After the Artisan Fair was done for the day, Loretta and I went to the Celtic Praise concert at Waterfront Park. It was a Pure Ludington evening. Sunshine on the channel.



One of my favorite of the sculptures on the Sculpture Trail.



A good sized crowd for the concert. I think about 500 people.



The group was called Zach and Maggie, from Nashville.



I was prepared for it to be too loud for me, and it was borderline, but mostly it didn't hurt my ears. And the music was great. They did a few new songs, but a lot of it was older songs with very upbeat Celtic accompaniment. And they handed out songsheets and encouraged us to sing along. It really was quite wonderful.





And, as I've mentioned, it's pure Ludington. While the concert was going on the Badger came in to port.



You can begin to sense the size as it comes down the channel behind the park.



And then it has to turn around and back into the dock. There it is (the one that's steamed up), in front of its sister ship, the Spartan.



Long day, but all good. The weather was about as perfect as you can get. I had really good sales and saw some people I haven't seen in years. I'll be back at it tomorrow.

	See Twin Queens of the Lakes
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