Catching Some Southern Waves

Yesterday was windy.  So windy that the power went out for about four hours -- at least here!

A combination of a windy day and two curious women, Aaron's mom and I, made for some unique adventures.  We drove down the Gay/Lac La Belle Road toward the south shore.

Our first stop was at Isabel, a little roadside beach with just enough room to park.  We stepped out into the light rain and high wind to walk along the shore.  This is what it looked like.

Head-size rocks along the sandstoney/slatish shore

(I tried to figure out the geology of this area to no avail.  Any answers?)

I haven't seen a shore like this on any other part of the peninsula

The sandstonish rocks washed up

A view toward the Big Lake

This tree's trunk got buried in the sand

The wind kept our steps swift as we walked south.  As the rain dampened our backs, we took in the beauty and rareness of the area.  I am always surprised to see how the same peninsula is so different on all its parts and shores.  This was a real treat.

Going back toward the car helped to soak our front side.  It was a little more difficult to enjoy the beauty when rain pelted our eyes, but we still had fun.  That's what girls do!

After that site, we found our way to Big Traverse, and parked at the mouth of the Big Traverse River.  We stopped because the waves crashing over the break wall were  enormous!  Here is a video of some of what we saw.  I apologize that my camera got spewed on, but I didn't realize until I watched it on my computer.  Also, at 40 seconds into it is, what I would call, the most impressive wave.  You'll know it by my reaction.

We stayed a bit to watch the surfer dudes catching some waves, but we were really getting wet and cold, so we went to dry off.  To the Gay Bar!

Surfer picking up a wave on the left

You'd have to be a big stickler not to have fun at the Gay Bar.  The bar itself is in a "u" shape, so everyone faces each other like at the dinner table.  

My big icebreaker was when I went to use the ladies room.  Well, there's a little door above the loo that reads "PEEP HOLE TO MENS ROOM."  Of course I had to lift it up.  I was just looking back at myself in the little mirror, but I heard some beeping noise in the bar area, and people started laughing.  Oh, boy, I thought.  I'm busted.

Sure enough, everyone was teasing me when I came out, asking if I saw anything good in the men's room.  I noticed a yellow light on the ceiling that would blink and beep when one of the ladies fell for that trick.  I did, but it was worth it.  We all had a good laugh.

Soon it was time to head back north.  But by then it was pouring rain.  Puddles and running water were on the loose!  Good thing I knew where I was going!

Since we weren't quite ready to go home, we stopped at Big Betsy.  I angled the car with the windshield facing the lake, wipers on.  We just watched the waves roll in and bounce off each other.  It was fascinating for a few minutes.  Oh, that lake... she gets me every time.

We continued north, and I realized that Linda had never been to the Bear Belly in Lac La Belle.  Never?  Never!  So I had to take her to show her where I work in the winter and where we go after a long day on Mount Bohemia.  

It was pretty quiet in there except for the thunder and lightening.  We saw a big bolt hit just across the lake, and the boom echoed immediately.  Whew!  That was a close one!

Right as we buckled our seatbelts in the car, it started to hail.  What a day for weather, and we got to enjoy all the fun parts of it!

And just for fun, here is a picture of me and Gilly at halloween: the dynamic super duo.

Super Yooper and Bait Boy

Yoooooooooooooooooou betcha!