Turnip Rock, Port Austin and The Thumb

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Turnip Rock, Port Austin, Michigan

Turnip Rock, Port Austin, Michigan, photo by jensenl.

It’s been a while since Michigan in Pictures got out with the incomparable Lars Jensen, for my money one of Michigan’s best outdoor photographers.

His winter visit to The Thumb offers this photo and many more larger and he writes:

Turnip Rock and Kai standing on the “thumbnail” in Michigan’s thumb area. Unfortunately, this area is privately owned so Kai and I skied to it from the harbor at Port Austin (about 2.25 miles away) on Lake Huron. We then skied out to the Port Austin Lighthouse which sits out in the middle of the bay on a shallow shoal (about 2.5 miles from the shores of Port Austin). We saw all sorts of interesting ice formations along the way and had a great time on a cold and blustery day.

Click over to his site for the whole day of photos. Here’s more of Lars Jensen on Michigan in Pictures and I also recommend kicking back for his Michigan slideshow.

PS: Too cold for you? He has summertime photos in Kayaking the Thumb!

The William Peter Mansion in Columbiaville

Posted on by farlane

William Peter Mansion
William Peter Mansion, photo by Sentrawoods

The latest in our series of Mansions Where You Can Spend the Night features the William Peter Mansion. The William Peter Mansion Bed & Breakfast site says that:

William Peter came to Columbiaville in the mid 1800’s as a German immigrant working for the lumber industry. Though he was young and spoke little English, he was a man who worked hard, saved big, and took advantage of the opportunities that came his way.

In 1852 he married a girl by the name of Roxannea Clute. Just 17 at the time her father strongly disapproved of the union due to Peter’s citizenship. Having no other choice the couple decided to elope. They worked hard over the years and built much of the town we know as Columbiaville. With business interests in the town of Toledo the couple decided to move. It was there that they bore and raised two children, Harriet and Alvin.

In 1892 the Peter’s decided to move back to Columbiaville and the Mansion was begun. The materials used in the Mansion’s construction came from Peter’s own lumber yards. Peter’s hired craftsmen and artists from all over to finish the woods and paint the walls and ceilings with gorgeous designs, birds, and flowers. The sixteen room Mansion took four years to complete.

The Mansion possesses a unique architectural style featuring the cubic form of the Italiante which was popular during that time. The main hall and entrance feature a rich paneled oak on the walls with a beautiful parquet floor made from hard oak. Mr. Peter was an expert on timber and enjoyed surrounding himself with its fine specimens.

You can see it bigger and check out the historic marker from Sentrawoods.

The Morning After (summer)

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Northern Michigan morning

Northern Michigan morning, photo by onewildwest.

As students all around the Michigan head back to school, I’d prefer to take a last look back at summertime (and to hope that we get a nice, long Indian summer this year).

Brent writes that this was taken on a perfect, peaceful morning on a gorgeous lake in the Pigeon River State Forest. Check it out bigger in his slideshow.

52nd Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk ~ September 7, 2009

Posted on by farlane

2008 Mackinac Bridge Walk

2008 Mackinac Bridge Walk, photo courtesy Michigan Department of Transportation & Mackinac Bridge Authority

The annual Mackinac Bridge Walk is a Michigan tradition that has been held every year since the Bridge opened in 1957. This year is the 52nd annual and it takes place (as always) on Labor Day  (September 7) from 7-11 AM. The walk is free and you can get all the details from the official Mackinac Bridge web site.

There’s more info available on Wikipedia and you can learn all about the Mackinac Bridge over at Absolute Michigan.

The Mackinac Bridge

Caseville Sunset (in Paradise)

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Caseville Sunset

Caseville Sunset, photo by StormchaserMike Photography.

Be sure to go bigger and to check out Mike’s 11th Annual Cheeseburger in Caseville set (slideshow).

What (you ask) is a Cheeseburger in Caseville?

…and apparently this is atmospheric illusions week on Michigan in Pictures.

Evening at Harrisville Harbor

Posted on by farlane

Evening At The Harbor

Purpley delicious!!

Check it out bigger and have a wonderful weekend!

Making tracks for Harrisville … and the Sunrise Side Wine Festival

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Untitled, photo by Werwin15.

Werwin15 sugests that you view it on black (or view it bigger).

The Sunrise Side Wine & Food Festival takes place next Saturday (July 18) at the Harrisville Harbor. It’s Northeast Michigan’s largest wine and food festival and features Michigan wines and culinary delights from area chefs.

I’ve never been but my vintner friends tell me it’s a really cool festival. Here’s a writeup from a few years ago:

Harrisville is the “almost” undiscovered jewel of the Sunrise Side. This friendly small town, halfway between Tawas and Alpena and be easily reached from both US-23 and M-72, offers a tree-lined Main Street filled with shops offering antiques, gifts, jewelry, fudge, ice cream and chocolates. Several restaurants provide everything from a casual outdoor lunch to fine dining.

In the past few years, the area has grown into a small artist colony, a favorite vacation spot for numerous artists and authors. Novelists Judith Guest’s and Fred Wolverton have each each used Harrisville as their book’s setting.

The best of Harrisville and its surrounding area, however, is absolutely free. A brief stroll through town will take you from the 100-year-old stone railroad depot past the mill pond with its working waterwheel , around the courthouse lawn lined with huge old maple trees, and – if your legs are up to it –through one of Michigan’s prettiest State Parks. Three historic bed and breakfasts are available, each with lake views, and a five-minute drive brings you to Sturgeon Point Lighthouse and the beautifully preserved 1800’s Bailey School House.

The Wine and Food Tasting weekend kicks off on Friday night, with a 50’s dance beneath the big tent. A real family event, the dance brings together everyone from small children to senior citizens, many in 1950’s costumes.

…As winter takes its sweet time shoving off, it’s nice to dream of relaxing with a glass of Michigan wine, a taste of London broil, brie or pate, and a relaxing view of Lake Huron. The Harrisville Wine and Food Tasting is one of those rare things that’s even better in reality.

Check out Harrisville Michigan in Wikipedia.

Michigan White Cedars on the banks of the Au Ausable River

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Au Sable HDR *

Au Sable HDR *, photo by brionline.

Over on Absolute Michigan we have a great video feature by Scott Allman about the planting of Michigan white cedar trees along the banks of the Au Sable river by the group Cedars for the Au Sable. One of the group members explains that although cedar trees can live hundreds of years, they are so vulnerable in the first 15 to deer browsing that they can’t be re-established without human help.

Check out the video!

Brian says that you better view this HDR image bigger and that he took it while standing in the river.

Afton…now and then

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Afton...now and then

Afton…now and then, photo by smartee_martee.

Marty writes:

21 September 2008; Afton, Michigan.

The postcard is postmarked Sept 2, 1920.

Patrick O’Connor opened a lumber camp in Ellis Township in 1887. Ellisville was the name given to its first post office in 1905. It was asked to be renamed Afton, for that it was thought to resemble Afton in Scotland because of the Pigeon River flowing nearby. It was officially Afton on Feb. 12, 1906.

This photo is part of Marty’s amazing Overnight Photo Trip September 2008 (slideshow). He drove nearly 2000 miles through northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, chronicling small towns, hamlets and crossings.

The River: Photo Kayaking on Pigeon River

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Photo Kayaking on Pigeon River

Photo Kayaking on Pigeon River, photo by Fellowship of the Rich.

Here’s a photo taken while kayaking on the Pigeon River in Port Sheldon, about which the DNR says:

The Pigeon River is located in the north-central part of the southern peninsula of Michigan. Its headwaters are located a few miles northeast of Gaylord. The river then flows in a northerly direction to its mouth at Mullet Lake, a distance of 42 miles. The Pigeon River system drains a surface area of approximately 88,000 acres and include 80 linear miles of stream.

The DNR’s Natural Rivers page says that Michigan has more than 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, including over 12,000 miles of cold water trout streams. Get a list of those Michigan rivers from Wikipedia.

Be sure to check this photo out bigger and in Rich’s The River set (slideshow)

Rich also created a new Flickr group called The River, about which he says:

Life stems from flowing water and life grows around flowing water. Cities and towns build up around the river. This group is about documenting rivers from all over the world. Activities in and around the river. From swimming, boating, fishing to taking in scenery and wildlife. Iconic rivers to locally known fishing rivers, we’d love to have them all.