Time in Hell, MI

After the Mason show I spent a couple of days with one of my Ann Arbor friends and then met up with my sister, Diana.  We rented a house near Hell, MI in the Pinckney Recreation area.  It rained the first day so we played games and watched movies.  The next day we went on hikes and had a great time.  Thanks, Di!

Mason, MI Gem and Mineral Show

I apologize to all my regular blog followers for my lack of posting as of late.  This past month or so I have been way too busy.  Some things just fell off the priority list.  Now that the museum is closed for the season, most or all of my visitors have come and gone, and the Mason show is done -- I will have more time.  Although I'll be starting work on the second in the book series Rocks Through Time, I'll have time to get out on adventures and post photos.  This second book in the series will be on the geology and formation of the Great Lakes.  I am really looking forward to working on this project!

This past weekend I had a booth at the annual Central Michigan rock club show in Mason, Mi. Thank you so much to Rich and Marcia O'Brien for your hospitality and to Marcia for helping to pack up the booth! Also thanks to the club members for putting on another great show -- and for feeding us dealers so well all weekend!

 

 

Club's fluorescent rock display....

At the show there are a few dozen rock collection displays....

There is also a silent auction for rock specimens and several demonstrations and participatory booths.  

 

Log Slide to Hurricane River -- Post 2

Today I'll post the second half of the photos from the hike I took a couple days ago with my friends, Steve and Linda.

When hiking the trail heading west, it is always cool to break out into the open at the Au Sable Lighthouse.

Then we continued on to the Hurricane River along the Graveyard Coast.  The water level is so high, there is not much of a beach along this section of shoreline right now.

Hurricane River...

There are new lifesaving rings at various places in the national park....

Log Slide to Hurricane River Hike--Post 1

Thanks to friends, Steve and Linda, for a great visit!  Yesterday we hiked from the Log Slide to the Hurricane River in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  Temperatures were in the 50s with sunny skies and not too much wind.  The fall colors were at or near peak.  It was a beautiful day!

Sable Lake...

Steve (one of my college friends) and Linda....

View of Au Sable Point from the trail.....

Climbing down to the beach to take a break....

Looking east from the trail....

Rugged shoreline...

A weekend with my grandson

For the first time ever I had the privilege of spending the entire weekend with my four year old grandson.  I met my son and his wife in Saint Ignace.  After having lunch, they headed over to Mackinac Island to celebrate their wedding anniversary.  Keenen and I headed out to begin our adventures.

The first stop was the Mystery Spot, located three miles west of the Mackinac Bridge.

Then we drove to Grand Marais.  Over the next 2 1/2 days, we played lots of baseball, cards, other games, went on hikes, explored the Grand Sable Dunes, and had a blast.  Here are a few of the photos.