Au Sable Days -- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore -- Post 2

Today I'll post more of the photos taken by my sister, Diana, at the Au Sable Days celebration.  First is one more shot showing a section of ship wreck remains, along with a modern freighter shown on the horizon.

There are two ways to get to Au Sable Lighthouse from the Hurricane River.  You can walk down the old road or down the beach.  As you approach by beach, here is the view you first see of the lighthouse.  The lighthouse was opened on August 19, 1874.  The structure is 105 feet tall, with the light beam at 97 feet above the level of Lake Superior.  The original 3rd order Fresno lens was found and returned to the lighthouse.  When the lighthouse was in service, there were 3 keeper families including one head keeper and two assistants.

Here is a shot of the shore below the boat house, showing Jill standing up on the cribbing.

More light house pictures....

Staff in the National Park, with the help of the National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation, the lighthouse keeper's house has been restored to what it would have looked like 100 years ago. In this next picture you can see one of the first recliners ever sold on the market.

Now isn't this a beautiful and ornate wood burning stove!

I love the detail in this Victorian era couch. 

Then as part of the celebration, groups of 15 at a time were allowed to walk up the lighthouse tower.

Here is a shot Diana took of the Fresno lens.

Although it was a cloudy day, the view from the top of the tower was still spectacular!

Au Sable Days -- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore -- Post 1

This past Saturday staff at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore held Au Sable Days at the lighthouse. I had to work the museum, so my sister, Diana, and friend, Jill, went to the event. At my request, Diana took pictures for this blog. One of the things Di and I do when we are together is to take photographs. She is more than willing and able to help take pictures, especially when I had to stay behind.  Thanks, Di, for the help!

First is a shot she took while driving into Grand Marais the other night. Those of you who have driven M77 during fall colors know this curve, located around 12 miles south of town.

Although it was not supposed to be windy, Lake Superior was kicking up her heels as Diana and Jill walked down the beach to check out the shipwrecks.

The sandstone in our area comes from two main eras of time.  Pictured below is my favorite -- Jacobsville sandstone.  It is around a billion years old, which is twice as old as most of the more plain colored sandstone on our beach.  The cliffs at Au Sable Point are made up mostly of Jacobsville sandstone.  Broken and beach-shaped pieces lie all over the place.

Because of the sandstone shoals that jot out a mile from shore, the waves and ice of Lake Superior push large boulders across the rock to the beach.

The shipwrecks lie between the Hurricane River campground and Au Sable Point.  Primarily there are pieces from two ships.  The "bones" of the Sitka and Gale Staples are mingled.  The two craft were much alike -- both were double decked wooden bulk freighters.  Each had two masts and were 272 and 277 feet in length, built in 1887 and 1888.  The Sitka stranded on October 4, 1904, in heavy fog and high winds.  Downbound and loaded with iron ore, the ship ran aground, filled with water and was abandoned in heavy seas.  Lifesavers from Grand Marais rescued 17 men from the ship.

The Gale Staples was upbound on Octover 1, 1918, laden with coal for Port Arthur.  Driven by high winds, she veered off course and grounded on the reef.  All hands were eventually rescued.  Pieces of these two ships are strewn across the beach, as well as lying on the reef in shallow water.

This artifact looks like it is something you can carry away (which is illegal).  It is many feet long and weighs a couple of hundred pounds.

As Diana and Jill were examining the artifacts of old ships, a modern freighter happened by.

Grand Marais Sunset from the Breakwater

My sister, Diana, arrived in Grand Marais last night. For the eleventh year in a row we are getting together in September. This year we are going to stay in Grand Marais for the long weekend, but make some day trips to seek adventure and nature photos. Last night we walked out onto the breakwater to catch sunset. The clouds did not allow a great amount of color, except right on the horizon.  Thanks again to the telephoto lens on my camera for allowing me to capture the splendor. I took lots of shots of the color and could not decide which to select for the blog posting, so I narrowed it down to a few.

Muskallonge State Park's Rock On Agate Show -- Post 2

Today's posting includes the remaining pictures taken at the agate show last weekend.  At the event there are not only dealers selling agates and other things, but some of the booths also displayed their agate collections.  The jars below were displayed by Dean and Marilyn.

Jeff Anderson and his dad also displayed their collection.

Here is a shot of Jeff's agates for sale.  He sells agates and jaspers from all over the world.

My friend, Dean, showed me this unusual specimen that he found on the local beach.  The best we can figure is that it contains lots of individual little thunder eggs.  Does anyone else have an opinion?

Here is the date for next year's show.

Muskallonge State Park's Rock On Agate Show -- Post 1

Last weekend was the 4th annual Rock On for Lake Superior Agates show at Muskallonge State Park, located 20 miles east of Grand Marais. I was not able to go last year since I had to be in Ann Arbor, so it was good to be back again. This year the event expanded to a two-day format. Many of the people who attended on Sunday said they were happy with the expansion since they have to work on Saturday's and have not been able to attend in the past. The event is working well for the state park, too, since they filled up all the campsites with mostly agate enthusiasts! I exhibit at several mineral shows, but I must admit that at no other do I see the quantity of agates. I do believe that a lot of agate enthusiasts live in the eastern UP. The weather was chilly but the rain and winds stayed away. A good time was had by all. I would like to thank the staff at Muskallonge for a job well done. A special thanks is extended for the dinner you served us dealers on Saturday night.

Terry, Dean, and their friends again brought their lapidary equipment.  All weekend long they cut and face polished people's agates.  Although there was no charge, they do ask for donations to help cover the wear and tear on the equipment.  For face polishing, two work side by side on the monster 8" titan arbor.

Dean has a home-made set up with several different saws and work stations.

Here are some of the park staff standing behind the silent auction table.

I did not get much of a chance to walk around since I was either in my booth all weekend, or giving my agate presentation.  But I took a few seconds to snap off some pictures.

Michael Pung from Midwest City, Oklahoma came a long way to demonstrate his gold extracting machine.

There were several dozen dealers in all selling agates (of course), jewelry, gold prospecting equipment, and mineral art.

Park staff and the campground host held kid's events all day long -- both days!  Pictured below are the kids searching for agates in the sand pit.