Escape Pod Rambles: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

July 25-27, 2023 Sleeping Bear Dunes

Arrived at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in time to have dinner with Joanne and Brenda Appleby, and Joanne's friend Sunny Rae. When we saw Joanne in St Louise and learned she was going to be here we coordinated to surprise Brenda, who is a NP Ranger here this season. After dinner, Brenda headed to choir practice and the rest of us went for a hike the Empire Bluff Trail.

Deer on the ridge

Beautifully fragrant and horribly invasive baby's breath

Next day we saw Brenda "in her natural habitat", educating visitors at the Dune Climb.

Brenda explaining why baby's breath is so problematic - the roots go very deep, it spreads easily, competes with native plants, and provides no food for wildlife

Since it was overcast and raining we decided it was the perfect weather to tackle the climb. It was a challenge!

(taken on a different day when the heat would have made the dune climb even more challenging)

Catching my breath

Made it!

Very wet and out of breath

We met up with Joanne and Sunny Rae and toured the historic town of Glen Haven.

Light house glass

Decorative rope actually served purpose of protecting the bow

The cannery turned into the Coast Guard lifesaving historic museum

The faking box where rope was woven in a specific pattern to keep it from tangling when it was attached to the projectile that was shot out of the cannon to floundering ships.

The Lyle Gun, the cannon used to shoot a the projectile to wrecked ships

Tracks from boathouse to water for rescue boat launching

The historic Coast Guard Station

The piping plover nests along these shores and they put up protective barriers to keep the eggs, which are nestled amongst the rocks, safe. Evidently, once the juveniles have fledged the females take off and the males stay with the fledglings until they are strong enough to make long flights.