The Great Sand Dunes of Lake Michigan's Eastern Shore  |
| Beach scenes are Dunes on eastern shore of Lake Michigan |
On the way I had the opportunity to spend the weekend at a place called Paw Paw, Michigan. Arriving on a Friday with a wait for a Monday job, I didn't relish a weekend of the cheap room blues.
Not a lot of choices of where to stay or eat in Paw Paw. I've probably stayed in more cheap hotels than than the law allows and some arn't bad. It just depends on where you are and the clientele.
The reason I seem to end up in the cheapies is the same as the old real estate saying, location, location, location.
If I have a photography job early the next morning, in an area strange to me, I would rather stay cheap and close to the job than find a nicer place with a long early morning drive.
Paw Paw was different. I had a choice. The town was near Lake Michigan and my buddy in Detroit had talked of it's beauty.
If I was going to have to kill a weekend somewhere I might as well do a little sightseeing. The cheap motel happened to be the only new looking place in town.
The people running the place had a good brochure rack. I picked up info on some state parks on Lake Michigan and learned I was in apple orchard country.
That night, I had dinner and made plans. The next morning I was off to see Lake Michigan and explore the two lane road country in the area.
The fall orchard scenes were beautiful. Not long after leaving the hotel I begin to warming to the area.
I had the opportunity to get lost on the narrow two lane roads.
I didn't mind one bit. There were neat, well kept farms with the classic red barns and out buildings. The roads were lined with big trees with broad overhanging limbs. It was a morning drive designed by Norman Rockwell.
The whole way from Paw Paw to the Lake I could see pride in homes and workmanship.
I thought about the coming winter and what these farms would look like with a couple of feet of snow.
I wished I could come back in January just to see the difference.
Then I thought. Are you nuts ? Do you have any idea how cold it will be ? Never mind.
Before I got to the lake I had no idea what this sand dune business was about.
But after struggling up a couple of the hills I began to get it.
When I finally reaching the lake the beauty was almost overwhelming. The one hundred foot plus dunes were covered with huge trees. The lake looked the size of an ocean. The water, a beautiful blue, the air crisp with a constant cool wind, it was a perfect fall day.
If you can imagine a series of huge sand hills in a forest with a shady sand path leading to the edge of a beautiful blue inland sea. That's what the walk from the parking area to the shore is like.
Here are pictures of the dunes and the people who came to enjoy that perfect day.
I explored both Van Buren State Park as well as Warren Dunes State Park that day. These pictures are a mix from both.
It doesn't matter, you can't go wrong with either place.
All pictures were shot with my little shirt pocket Canon G-9 camera. I do not recommend that camera for indoor or flash situation pictures. It's fine for daylight but that's it. The series is too expensive and does not deliver.
John B. Boykin
"The Hard Hat Photographer"
If life is boring, don't just sit there !
Do something !
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