Our plan today was to travel through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore pausing to drink in some of the beauty and history here. Today’s adventure was the 1.8 mile hike along the Lakeshore Trail, a portion of the North Country Trail to Au Sable Light Station. With the RV parking a bit remote from the trail head, our round trip mileage was closer to 5 miles and a constant companion along the trail was Michigan’s “State Bird”, the mosquito. A fine hike along a wide level well graded path ended at the picturesque lighthouse. Although not open today for interpretation, we’re slightly knowledgeable about lighthouses of this era and could appreciate the responsibilities and hardships borne by the keepers and their families here on the shore of Lake Superior. We also just relished the quiet opportunity to drink in the beauty of the rocks and the water, the breeze and the sunshine and a respite from those mosquitoes. We chatted briefly with some hikers making the full 42 mile trek along the Lakeshore Trail then turned and headed onto the return trail pausing briefly at one of the shipwreck viewing locations. Then as we headed back to our rig we sidetracked to drink in the beauty of a rushing water headed downstream into the great lake.
Love the exploration combining historical perspective and appreciation of natural surroundings as you trek west. Brings back memories of a great trip with 11 other Girl Scouts and of a sleepless night in sleeping bag under the stars on north shore of Lake Superior in summer 1971. Nasty little blood suckers! Protect yourselves!