Rainy Day, Sunshine and a hike to Miner’s Falls

Thursday morning was bright with beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures!  A rainy day was on the horizon, and forecast to last all day from noon on.  After a leisurely morning breakfast with my sweetie, we headed out to enjoy the sunshine while it lasted.  Au Train Beach is just across the road from our cabin so I grabbed the camera and we headed out.

Beach Walk

Such a sweet treat to walk along the beach enjoying the calm gentle waves.  I couldn’t help but notice the contrast to yesterday when their were white caps on the water and the waves pounded into the beach.  We took note of how the waves shaped the sand with an even distance between peaks and the lines left behind on the top of the sand.  I also captured the cliff side nest holes of the birds I’d seen earlier in the week.   We walked about a mile down the beach, noticed the dark clouds growing closer and headed back.   Not long after our son joined us raindrops began to fall and we headed inside.

To Munising

We headed into Munising to check out the Pictured Rocks Interpretive Center and their well stocked gift shop.  I was on a quest for a cute warm hat, preferably with a pom-pom on top. We also check out a couple new stores, Roam and Down Wind Sports.  Down Wind Sports had an impressive collection of sporting goods for a small store.  Clothing, hiking shoes, backpack meals, bikes and Joe’s favorite kayaks!

A fact we didn’t know before our first trip to the area…. the U. S. Forest Service– Hiawatha National Forest as well as the Picture Rocks park people recommend that you use ONLY sea kayaks on Lake Superior, NOT recreational kayaks (the type we had strapped down so well to our car).  After a short jaunt on Lake Superior an article popped up in Joe’s Facebook feed, in that creepy way the Facebook seems to know our every little move!  He didn’t even take his phone with him on the kayak!  I’ll attach the article to the end of this post.

Back to Down Wind Sports

Down Wind Sports had a nice little collection of kayaks including a few different sea kayak models.  The guy in the store was clearly an avid kayaker!  He was extremely knowledgeable and his face nearly lit up as he talked about the kayaks and their different features.  Joe left the store much more educated on how/why a sea kayak makes a difference on large lakes, as well as a few of the different features of sea kayaks.  I’m very glad to say, we did NOT leave the store owning a very expensive kayak.

Sunshine!

After a short stop for ice cream, the rain that was supposed to last ALLLL day had stopped!  We could actually get a hike in!  After changing into hiking shoes and we were off to Miner’s Castle.  This was a part of the Picture Rocks we hadn’t seen before, and the girl at the ice cream shop highly recommended it.  It did NOT disappoint!  The view of the rock formation was great!  The water below was a beautiful turquoise blue, like something you’d see in the Caribbean. My son has started enjoying nature photography.  I love watching him stop to take photos with his own unique perspective.

A Hike to Miner’s Falls

After checking out Miner’s Castle from a few different vantage points, our next stop was Miner’s Falls.  Wow!  The earlier rain had the falls moving fast.  The view from above was great!  The view from the lower observatory deck was AMAZING!    And I took the opportunity to practice the technique of smoothing out the water of the falls in the photographs.  I won’t say I’ve mastered it, but it’s definitely an improvement from where I started.  Such an amazing view!  Definitely the highlight of the day!

 

So much fun to watch my son develop a love for photography. 🙂

Who doesn’t love a father and teenage son getting silly for the camera.

Can you hear the water rushing ?

Take a break from the heat this holiday weekend and check out Friday’s blog post about Kayaking, Hiking and Wicked Tuna.

 

To learn more about the places mentioned in this blog post check out:

Waterfalls-Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Munising Pictured Rocks

Down Wind Sports

Talk with a knowledgeable expert about kayaking safety.  Here is the link to the information provided by Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Kayaking Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

 

 

If you’re a bride check out the Simply Seeking Photography Wedding Experience 

Seniors check out the Simply Seeking Photography Senior Experience

 

A week in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

More posts in this series:

1-We’re Off for a week in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

2-Cabin at Au Train Beach

3-Glass Bottomed Boat Tour

4-Marquette

6: Kayaking, hiking and Wicked Tuna