Point Betsie, Near Frankfort, Michigan - Lake Michigan

In the recent June issue of Traverse Magazine I have a story regarding some of my experiences dealing with both patience and perseverance when traveling and working in the Great Lakes. It also has a little bit to do with my theory on "the second sunset."  The above photograph is from Point Betsie which accompanied the article. 

Usually when you get your work published you never really know if it gets noticed, but then there are times when you receive a note like I did yesterday, that you realize that you may have actually resonated with a reader. Here is an excerpt from the note, reposted with permission, regarding this traveler's recent experience up north in Michigan.

"Hello, Ed. 

I wanted to relay a Memorial Day story to you, since you factor into it:

Annmarie and I took a long weekend in the Leelanau peninsula for Memorial Day. While enjoying a salmon sandwich from Folgarelli's in Traverse City on our way to Sutton's Bay, we leafed through the new Traverse Magazine to find your fine article relating your photo excursions with your son and the importance having the patience to wait for the right moment to happen.

The next night, our innkeeper took us to Peterson Park near the tip of Leelanau (her favorite sunset site). Just as scripted in your story, we were there with a handful of other people, all of whom left within seconds of the sun dipping below the horizon, leaving the three of us alone on the bluff high over the lake.

With your story fresh in our heads, we waited about 5 minutes, and the sunset illuminated the underside of the low cloud cover, resembling a blood-red, laser-like beacon emanating from an imaginary lighthouse far out in Lake Michigan.

Very dramatic and very satisfying.

Thankfully, we didn't share your car troubles on our trip.

Just wanted to share that story while it was fresh in my head today. Hope all's well with you and yours. Ciao!

 --- Mike"

Thanks for sharing Mike. It is really appreciated!

Receiving this note was such a pleasure on a couple of counts. One, that the story resonated with Mike and his family and two, that the story allowed for the opportunity to reconnect with an old friend. I haven't seen Mike in years, but he and his design firm had a hand in designing one of my coffee table books, the Michigan Notable Book Award Winner 2003 for "Voelker's Pond - A Robert Traver Legacy."

If you are ever in need of a talented designer for your business, consider checking out Mike's work at Savitski Design. 

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Ontario, Canada - Lake Erie

Who jumps at snakes, right? Well, apparently I do. I was meandering my way down a wooden path to make my way out to the Lake Erie shoreline. It was a long walk of about a 3/4 of a mile and I was completely drifted away in my thoughts as I made my way along the trail. I guess what I am saying is that I was pretty much spacing out at the time. I had hit the opening at the end of the trail, made about six steps out on to the rocky shore, when this snake darted light lightening from the lake, up the beachhead and into the bushes. 

Fortunately, nobody was around (hopefully) to hear me scream like a little girl, but I quickly grabbed my camera instinctively and made one photograph of the snake in action. Well, it got my heart racing pretty quickly as I reminded myself to breath once again. 

I spent the rest of my time along the shore thinking about that snake. To think that it made its way down to the lake shore for a little drink. How cool, right? For me, the experience gets filed under the, "well, that's a first" category. 

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Southern Ontario, Canada - Lake Erie

QUOTE:      Better a thousand times careful than once dead.  ~Proverb

Couldn't have said it better myself. We don't often hear the stories over on the west side of the Great Lakes, but Lake Erie, the smallest Great Lake is a wicked lake when it comes to its storms. The lake is shallow by Great Lakes standards and it is not a lake to be taken lightly. It can a be a monster in waiting. Just ask the people who have survived its stormy grasps over the years.

Carden Bay, Marathon, Ontario, Canada - Lake Superior

One of the most peaceful and beautiful bays in the world in my opinion. It is a great place to rest for the weary traveler. Oddly enough, this place actually sits tucked between a railroad track and large factory on the other end of the bay. But seriously, it is beautiful. It is the kind of place where you can just imagine the voyagers coming in off a stormy Lake Superior for a respite. 

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Muskoka Lakes District, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada - Lake Huron

Want to know a little secret?

Muskoka is one of the most beautiful locations in the entire Great Lakes. When you think of  the ultimate cottage country, you have to start with Muskoka. When you think wooded and rocky shorelines, you have to start with Muskoka. When you think classic wooden Chris Craft Boats, you should start looking in the heart of Muskoka. It's that simple. 

By the way, if you own a summer home or cottage or bunky here, I am offcially jealous. 

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To see our new galleries, or if you're interested in purchasing prints like the one above, please visit the gallery section of The Fresh Coast Project website. 

The Apostle Islands, Sand Island, Wisconsin - Lake Superior

Slowly the earth is overcoming man's toil as it absorbs these once well driven cars on a island that is no longer inhabited by people, home or business. No matter how long it seems to take, it all comes full circle. 

Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse, Michigan - Lake Huron

A highlight for me working on this project over the years has been seeing firsthand what many others will never get a chance to see except through photographs and one such place is the Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse in Lake Huron due east of Alpena, Michigan. 

This particular lighthouse has been meticulously restored on the outside by a handful of diligent volunteers from Michigan that have had the foresight to understand the importance of preserving our Great Lakes heritage. It was an honor and a memory I will truly cherish forever to have visited this island and to have photographed for one brief morning this stalwart icon of the Fresh Coast. 

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To see our new galleries, or if you're interested in purchasing prints like the one above, please visit the gallery section of The Fresh Coast Project website. 

Empire Bluffs, Empire, Michigan - Lake Michigan

If I didn't know any better, I would think I was sitting on a beach in southern California watching the sun set into the ocean. Instead, I am perched high above Lake Michigan on Empire Bluffs smiling to myself and thinking how lucky I am that when I leave here that I get to drive down M-22 and not the 101 Freeway. 

Life is good in the Great Lakes. Really good. 

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Port Crescent State Park, Michigan - Lake Huron

I had arrived well before sunrise to make my photographs along the tip of "The Thumb" and the morning could not have gone any better. It was a beautiful morning. It was off-season and I was the only one at the park all morning. I was starting to make my way back to the truck when I looked back over my shoulder. The sun was still coming up over the deep dune landscape, the sunlight was running across the top of the grass and the scene just stopped me in my tracks.

I am not saying in the least that this a great photograph, but for me, it just seemed to sum up another great morning along the shores of Lake Huron. If you're patient or just simply aware and you take the time to watch natures ways, you can be mesmerized by the simplicity of it all, like the sunlight that dances along the tops of the dune grasses. Sounds overly poetic I suppose. But I enjoy the idea of nature and its simple forms. 

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To see our new galleries, or if you're interested in purchasing prints like the one above, please visit the gallery section of The Fresh Coast Project website. 

South Haven, Michigan - Lake Michigan

We have been traveling around Michigan the past few days visiting elementary schools and providing programs about writing and the Great Lakes.

Last evening was spent in Kalamazoo and I decided to run over to catch sunset at South Haven. I wasn't disappointed in the least. It was a gorgeous evening. Today we start to make our way back towards home after another full day of presentations. 

Consider becoming a fan of the Fresh Coast Project on Facebook.

To see our new galleries, or if you're interested in purchasing prints like the one above, please visit the gallery section of The Fresh Coast Project website.