Sam

This is Sam my beagle dog. He was a great dog with a ferocious appetite.  When he was done with his Bowl of dog food and tried for our second dogs food. Buff lightly growled to deter him. Sam was very affectionate but his appetite finally did him in. The veterinarian told us that he found rat poison in some food and ate it. I really loved this dog and this hurt a lot. Even Buff our second dog missed him. Sam wasn’t with us long but he will be remembered forever.

Tis the Season

oh the weather outside is frightful but inside it’s so delightful. Now where have I heard that before? This is not good driving weather unless of course your mode of transportation is a snowmobile. A dog team also might be able to make out well. What are your feelings on snow or are you a Michigan snow bird? If you need to consult the Audubon Society on that one you really aren’t from Michigan.

Harper Lake Fun

The speed boat has really taken off at Harper Lake. This lake has two islands on it and they are in close proximity one to the other. Harper Lake also has a resort on it that has been around for some time. You can link to it on our blogroll. In the event you are taking a vacation this would be a good Resort for Your Base. This particular boat will give our water-skier a great test. I will have more on Harper Lake in the future.

The Nordhouse Dunes Dilemma

This is a tough one. Darlene asked me recently about where exactly the Nordhouse Dunes are. This has been a dilemma for me for years. Some say it is part of the Hamlin Dam/Ludington State Park area and then again, some do not!  This could well be at the northern tip of the State Park area.  But is there a marking to tell us where one ends and the other begins?

Then there’s the Lake Michigan Recreation Area dilemma for many of th trails that lead to Nordhouse Dunes commence from there.  Again the question begs as to where the Recreation Area begins and ends in connection with the Nordhouse Dunes?  This might be a good question for Jeopardy?

Then, since the State Park and Recreation Area each have dunes also, just where do the Nordhouse Dunes begin and end?  How do we tell the difference between a Nordhouse Dune and a recreation one, not to mention a State Park one?  After all, they all have sand to them. 

Yes, I do see the sign in this picture telling me about Nordhouse Dunes but it is not on the beach.  The safer bet is to say that all three are part of the Manistee National Forest.  Then again, I’m not sure if the State Park is or not?  You could go crazy thinking about all of this! 

Now the Nordhouse Dunes are said to end at the southern most part of the Recreation Area so it might be safe to say that, imaginary lines aside, that the Nordhouse Dunes is that area between the Ludington State Park and the Lake Michigan Recreation Area.  And after all this, the latter may be the place to go to recreate oneself!

Oh, by the way, does anyone know what Nordhouse stands for besides dunes?  Seriously, though,  after northwestern Michigan was heavily logged in the 19th century and early 20th century, the U.S. Congress re-designated much of the cutover land as the Manistee National Forest in 1938. Congress listed the Nordhouse Dunes as a wilderness in 1987.

As a wilderness, the Nordhouse Dunes is not penetrated by road. Two parking lots, Lake Michigan Recreation Area on the wilderness’s northern edge and Nurnberg Road at its southeastern corner, provide space for persons seeking to hike into the wilderness itself. While the wilderness nominally enjoys free admission, drivers of vehicles using the parking lots are requested to purchase a vehicle pass for display on the windshield of the vehicle.

Both parking lots are located relatively close to U.S. Highway 31, the primary road serving the Lake Michigan shoreline north of Ludington.

Turtle Advice About The Hamlin Dam

First Turtle: Hey, Sammy, you know more people need to get out of their shell and visit Hamlin Dam.

Second Turtle: Sheesh! What are you trying to do, Bart, get me arrested for indecency?

Cottage in the Narrows of Big Bass Lake

What a great vista to view water skiers or jet skiers at Big Bass Lake. The “narrows” are the perfect area as all traffic proceeds through this passage going north or south.  Can you imagine holding a picnic for friends on your picnic table just a few feet from the lake?  And, what a place to observe the Fourth of July Boat Parade.  Within the narrows you are always close to the action.

Imagine stepping out your back door to where you are only a few steps away from your dock.  A paddlebaot at this location could easily explore the shoreline all through the narrows.  On the north end are the twin islands, Four Winds and Turtle, and if you follow the east shoreline you will be at the passage way between Big and Little Bass Lakes in no time flat.

This area is also where Camp Martin Johnson once stood and one can pass his burial site marked by a boulder along this course.  Or encircle Four Winds Island for even more history of that camp.

I really like that enclosed picnic table area.  What a great location for a cottage don’t you think?