FIELDS OF GOLD ARRIVE

 These sunflower images were taken along U.S. 31 N between Traverse City and Elk Rapids.  They invited car stoppers and gawkers.

 

 

TRIAL AND ERROR

I’ve been itching for a good sunset, but the Canadian wildfires created too much haze.  When I saw some blue skies yesterday, I got my hopes up.  As sunset time approached, I headed west for a Lake Michigan sunset.  I started at Tiesma Beach on Platte Bay, but the view was over the dunes.  So I moved on to Platte Point, where I got the water scene I was looking for.  While the hazy skies still occluded the sun as it approached the water, time at the Lakeshore is always good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SMOKEY SCENES

 The Canadian wildfires have dimmed our sunny days to hazy gray-browns.  And cast a pall over some of my photography, too.  Undeterred, I headed to the Lakeshore with friends Don and Diana Burton to share another backroads adventure.  I introduced them to Thoreson Road with its rolling meadows, historic farms, and abundant plein air painters capturing the scenery.  We all agreed that the jewel of Thoreson was the secluded beach off Sunset Trail.  Several pathways led to the beach, but we chose one with stairs.  Even though it was Saturday in high summer, the beach was nearly empty with lots of room to roam the fine sugar sand.  The smoke occluded many of the lake views.  Sleeping Bear Point was barely visible across the bay.  Still, we spent a peaceful morning enjoying the water as we walked the beautiful beach.