My Favorite Ludington SP Loop

  I didn't get a lot done today, but I did get over the uglies. I know it's time to go for a hike when I get them. Anything and everything and everybody annoys me.

Decided to go to Ludington State Park and do my favorite loop which takes the Ridge Trail north and then returns via the Island Trail. I hadn't done it in a while! And it looks like I haven't really taken you on a tour of that loop, either.

The Ridge Trail heads up to the top of a stabilized dune which I think is a relict sand dune, since it has a gentler slope on the west and a really steep drop on the east. This is just a nice curve in the trail. The Ridge Trail has a decent amount of topography and will give you a good workout. Not to mention all the loose sand at the north end.

I took a ton of pictures. You may see more tomorrow. The afternoon light was great. When you get into thinner woods and more open dunes at the north end, you can look west and see Big Sable Lighthouse. If you look east from the same area you see Hamlin Lake, which is where you are headed.

Now you are really getting into more open dune area, but the trail remains in the edge of the woods for now.

Finally, you make a sharp turn back to the south and drop down to the level of Hamlin Lake. This is one of the remaining CCC shelters in the park, and I love it. There was a hiker there with his dog who had a fire going in the fireplace. Smelled great, but he was talking on his phone and didn't seem to want to be friendly, so I hiked on. But I have spent more than one pleasant hour in the same place, doing exactly what he was (except for the phone).

At this shelter, you get your first real view of Hamlin Lake.

I like to take the Ridge Trail out for the challenge, and return via the Island Trail for the sheer beauty. Except for several bridges, there isn't a lot of boardwalk, but this one curves around the edge of a backwater. Sometimes the water is high enough that it's needed.

The sun was getting low, and it was just one gorgeous view after another. This is looking south, down the main portion of Hamlin Lake.

To the west, I had to shoot pictures right into the sun, but it made things very dramatic.

Just a short while before I arrived back at the road and the paved trail to get back to my car, the light shining to the east turned small islands golden.

Total miles about 6

Ludington State Park, Ludington, Michigan, Ridge and Island Trails. 6 miles

In other news: Well, I did get over being grumpy! I only managed to write 376 words, but I improved chapter 11 quite a bit. I couldn't sleep last night and realized at some point that a small change would make that chapter much better. I did a tiny bit of cleaning and cooked a package of Brussel Sprouts. I suppose I'm grasping at tiny accomplishments to tell you that! Just remembered I did laundry too, so that's better.

See Another Adventure at Ludington State Park

Water You Thinking?

  Today had a lot of potential. It was really nice outside. But I had a hard time getting myself into gear. Nevertheless, I did take a 3-mile walk. Yesterday we did wood. Today we'll do water.

If chevrons aren't your thing, how about vertical stripes?

In one way, I liked how amorphous this one is. Is it out of focus, or just a fuzzy pattern? I'm not sure!

But this is probably my favorite of this group. Nothing spectacular, but maybe a little mysterious.

In other news: I did manage to accomplish a few things. I wrote all of chapter 11, 1284 words. I did one more tub of cement in the well pit. I took care of one large annoying object. Well, OK, it's not REALLY where it belongs. But I started to clean it up and moved it closer to where it is going to live.

And Josh is fine. He has some kind of infection in the leg- the medicine they gave him is an antibiotic. He says he feels a lot better and the swelling is down.

See More Patterns

Wood These Do?

  Took a five-mile road walk today. Looking for anything of interest. Trees, alive and dead, can offer interest. This needle would be easy to thread.

Dead and rotting wood actually can be quite interesting. Notice the white strands of the mycelium of a fungus. Nice shapes too.

Farther along the same log were these insect holes, and interesting textures. All the natural forces working to return that tree to the soil- wind probably first took it down, fungus, insects, maybe woodpeckers, bacteria, soon ice will have a turn.

And this is on a living tree. A branch was cut off, probably a number of years ago, and the tree has continued to create scar tissue to cover the wound.

In other news: I finished chapter 10 in Dead Mule Swamp Singer and thought up more of the details for chapter 11. Did a few odds and ends, and the evening ended with a trip to the emergency room for Joshua. He has a foot that is swollen, and because of his history with blood clots, he's supposed to really pay attention to that. I'm not entirely pleased with their conclusions, but because of COVID I was not allowed to go in with him. I'll have to try to find out more tomorrow. I think I'm ready for a book and bed.

See What a Glorious Day

Cartier Park Quickie

  Cathy and I met this afternoon for a fast four miles at Cartier Park in Ludington. Covid cases have been on the rise here, so we kept our distance, but it was nice to chat a bit.

There weren't a lot of photo opportunities today. The best is the view of Lincoln Lake with light coming from under the clouds.

A rock covered with moss and a chalky corner broken out. That seemed a little odd.

I liked the jelly-roll log quite a bit. In better light this has possibilities to be an interesting picture.

There were lots and lots of squirrels out, both the regular gray ones and the black color morph. But none of them was very interested in having their picture taken.

We walked about four miles on the loopy bicycle trail. That was nice- to be off pavement. I took more pictures, but none of them are really much good. Then I went to bell choir practice. So far, we are still being allowed to practice.

In other news: I wrote 859 words for Dead Mule Swamp Singer. That's about all- oh, a tiny tiny bit of cleaning.

See Cartier Park- Ludington

First Snow- Winter 2020- 2021

  And... here it is! It started late afternoon, and probably won't last long. I always think the first snow is so pretty- the way it decorates everything. The grasses aren't broken down yet, and the flakes are soft and puffy.

I love the monochromatic tones of winter sky and snow against the trees.

First snow of any significance was November 6 last year.

In other news: I wrote chapter 9 in Dead Mule Swamp Singer. I walked to town to meet with someone. I walked a total of five miles. Then I came home and have been editing a book for someone else ever since.

See First Snow Winter 2019-2020