This morning the bird song was louder than the waves
crashing and it was the cheerful chirpy sounds that woke me up and greeted me
today. The day was grey and misty with
the fog lingering into the tops of the trees.
I took my time with morning preparations and even spent some time making
sure my travel notes were up to date before heading on the road.
My first destination was Spring Lake where I stopped at Mill
Point Park for a view of the Grand River.
The sun was now shining and the fog was abated and I had hopes that today
would be a clearer day.
I made a stop at a nearby McD’s for wifi but service it was
so slow that all I managed to do was read my emails and send of a few
replies.
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| Grand Haven Lighthouse |
Next I drove to Grand Haven State Park for a walk to see the
Grand Haven Lighthouse. The closer I got
to the Lake the more dense the fog became.
Walking to the lighthouse was done in fog and taking pictures an
exercise of composition to utilize the fog as part of the theme.
My next expected stop was at Rosy Mound natural Area for a
hike to the water front. However there was a parking fee and I figured a walk
to see fog was not in my opinion worth it.
At Kirk Park I stopped for lunch but again did not hike to the coast. In Sheldon I stopped at Know Park where I walked
to the waterfront, and you will see in the pictures just how foggy the scene
that greeted me was.
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| Diving fun! |
Another fog bound stop at Holland State Park and a walk
along the pier to see the Big Red Lighthouse hazy across the channel. I had some fun watching some teens jumping
and diving off the pier!
Now it was
time to circle around Macatawa Bay to get really close to Big Red but I stopped
along the way at Kollen Park and a stroll along the Heinz Waterfront
Walkway. This park is further inland and
the sun was shining but the fog was drifting up the river and filling the bay
with wisps of haze drifting in and out and making visibility a thing of chance.
My next stop was at Macatawa Park, which is actually a
residential community. It is a gated
community and the gate keeper directed me to the special parking area for
lighthouse explorers and told me that it was a ½ mile walk to the actual
lighthouse. It was a very interesting
walk leading through newer homes and then older cottages and then some homes
that look like they are restored / remodeled lighthouse keeper abodes.
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| Big Red |
The final stretch is through dune landscape
and always the ever present fog. I tried
to taste the fog laced air sticking my tongue out and feeling the moisture on
my face. I inhaled deeply and imagined
the strands of fog entering my lungs. Is
that the marine life of the lake that I taste?
Well on a foggy day you have to go with the flow!
In the town of Saugatuck I stopped to see the Chain Ferry
crossing the Narrow portion of Kalamazoo Lake, and in Fennville I did a quick
walk to see another foggy coastline in West Side County Park. Then I headed to South Haven North Beach and
a walk to see the South Haven Lighthouse across the mouth of the Black River.
Once again, no surprise, there was another foggy view.
It was now just a short drive south of South Haven to
Van Buren State Park and another campsite for the evening. The camp sites are a ways back from the lake
and the sky appears clear here as I sit by my picnic table and write up my
notes.
As the sun set I made one last
walk to the waterfront and saw…..clear skies!!
The sun set into a bank of clouds still fairly high on the western
horizon, but at least the fog had lifted and finally I got to see some blue sky
over Lake Michigan.
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| Watching the setting sun over Lake Michigan |
Now I am settled in for the night in my cozy car bedroom and
listening to the night noises. I will
have to check the map, but I hear road noises so this park must be close to a
major thoroughfare. Time to edit some
photos and then get some shut eye.
2014 – 07 – 30
Renate Dundys Marrello
Pictures link
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