The Great Outdoors!

I finally have time to post some pictures from my recent adventures. I took a trip up to Escanaba last week to attend a conference on Forensic Nursing. I talked my co-worker into going up a couple of days early to do some hiking. So we went out to the peninsula at Big Bay De Noc, where there were hundreds of monarch butterflies that were preparing to migrate down to Mexico, and were getting ready to set off across Lake Michigan. Guess I am niave' and didn't think butterflies migrated that far! Anyways, there was an awesome lighthouse at the point. It was built in the late 1800's and is no longer functionary. There was discussions of tearing it down a couple of years ago, but funding was found and it was restored to its current state. You are able to climb up the spiral staircase to the top where you have a 360 degree view. It was pretty cool! We also visited a couple of waterfalls while we were up there. I just love the UP.

Once I got back, I headed back to work for a dreadful 7 day stretch. Overall, it wasn't too bad. I survived.

Since being off, I've been out on the bike quite a bit. I've been riding to my friends house everyday to feed her cat while she is in Ireland. It is only a couple mile trip, but it forces me to get out there. I've also ridden into town a couple of times. I set out to the Pigeon River yesterday and did a rather quick 10 mile hike. There were some pretty dark clouds headed my direction, and it gets dark a lot earlier than I realized, so I didn't have much time to waste, but did snap a couple of pictures while I was out there. I'm hoping to head back in a couple of weeks, when the leaves should be at their peak.

Tomorrow, I'm getting up early to head over to bike along Lake Michigan, between Charlevoix and Harbor Springs. The weather is supposed to be in the upper 60s. Lets just hope it isn't too windy! More later....