Very Sad Day

Today is a very sad day for us.  We received word late last night that Darlie’s sister’s granddaughter was killed suddenly yesterday.  She was in the prime of life.  A beautiful young lady serving her country proudly.  Today our thoughts and prayers have been directed towards those suffering most at this time, her parents.  It is beyond my comprehension the pain involved in losing a child.  Our prayers are also directed to her siblings, grandparents, great grandparents and all the extended family.  It is at times like this that our faith sees us through knowing there is a far greater reward awaiting in heaven to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

We started our day by visiting a small church near Petoskey.  The time of worship and fellowship with like believers was very uplifting.  We were made to feel at home and were warmly greeted by all.  It helped lift our gloomy spirit this morning.

Shortly after saying goodbye to all of our new acquaintances at church we were on the road again.  We crossed the Mackinaw Bridge and traveled Rt 2 along the northern Lake Michigan coastline.  This is beautiful country.  The sparkling blue waters stretch to the horizon.  This would make a very pleasant place to spend the summer.

The great lakes are truly great.  They are so immense, so crystalline blue.  Gazing out over them is like looking out over the ocean.  They seem boundless.  They are so unique in all the world.  There is nothing on the globe to compare.

We traveled the upper peninsula making our way toward Marquette, Michigan.  Our desire was to see the largest and greatest of all the great lakes, Superior.  The highway across the peninsula was straight and flat.  You could see for miles ahead.  Not a car was in sight much of the time.  This is like a forgotten land.  No one seems to live out here.  

We noticed on the map Hiawatha National Forest campground, Bay Furnace, located right on the shore of Lake Superior.  Though we had only traveled 166 miles today we knew we couldn’t pass this place by.  

Our View

Our campsite in right on the shoreline looking out over the lake with the Painted Rocks National Lakeshore in sight across the bay.  All this for only eight bucks a night!  

The Water Is Clear.  The Rocks Are Red

We strolled along the beach for sometime.  The rocks are heavily stained rust colored.  It is due to the high iron content of the water here.  A neighboring camper told me there are many iron ore mines in the area.  Darlie spotted a glitter in the water.  It looked like a nugget of gold in the rock.  It was fools gold.  It sure looked like a nugget though.  I hated to burst her bubble.

Do You See The Nugget?

Darlie spent a long time on the beach.  Picking up stones and examining them.  I think she should have been a geologist.  She hauled a ton of rocks home last summer from all the places we visited.  She has a growing collection started already.

The weather is sunny and bright but the air has a chill.  Darlie is in her element.  Buddy and I search for a place out of the wind to sun ourselves.  We are just a couple of warm weather wimps.