What the Walrus said . . .

Photos and Anecdotes from a vagabond!

On the road again . . .

First, let me thank my best friends, Tim and Sharon Atkinson, for letting me crash at their home in Michigan. I have not seen either of them for far, far, too many years (my fault!!) but it will not happen again!! Next time Tim, we will remember to put the sunshade up on the boat!! LOL Driving west today, with the sun beating down through the car window on my left, sun-fried, arm was no fun!! You would think that at our age, we would know better! LOL Now I just need to get the kids to all come up and visit you both!!

I am back on the road! While at Tim and Sharon’s place, I had the opportunity (and internet connectivity!) to be able to make reservations across the remaining parts of this great country through July 15th when I arrive (hopefully) somewhere near Olympic Nation Park. It has not been easy finding places to stay because it seems that the entire nation is on the move, regardless of the gas prices! Speaking of gas prices, I paid the most I have ever paid in the U.S. at a BP Station outside of Chicago, Illinois, today. It cost me $5.20 per gallon . . . OUTRAGEOUS for a country that was only two years ago exporting gasoline because we produced enough!!

On my way west today, I swung by a National Park that I had never heard of until I started this adventure . . . Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore!

Lake Michigan laps gently along 17 miles of National and State parks in Indiana. The water is cold, clear and fresh . . . no salt! The sand is smooth and white, with no shells! For someone who has always grown up along an ocean, to see this much water and it not be salty was more than slightly strange.

Indiana Dunes National Seashore is EXACTLY what the name says it is! It is not a very deep park, but it runs along the shore of Lake Michigan for 17 miles, through three separate counties. Besides having some incredible sand dunes and trails, the park also has an entire section dedicated to showing one of the early 19th century farms that existed along the lake. And if you do not like sand, sun, or farming, there is also a section of the park on the edge of the lake that features homes designed and built over the previous century, highlighting the changes in architecture and building styles.

Indiana Dunes National Park looking west. and yes, the lake really is that blue!
The dunes are not just on the beach. The sand has been building for thousands of years and has formed hills of over 100 feet in height that are covered with hard wood forests.

If there are sand dunes, then there are also wetlands behind the dunes. The Park has a large marsh and an even larger bog that you can hike through. I opted for the marsh, hoping to see marshy animals . . . no luck but I did find more blooming flowers.

Bluejacket or Ohio Spiderwort.
Black-eyed Susan.
Orange Day Lily. I have found these growing in every state east of the Mississippi that I have visited.
Pickerelweed. These seem to form their own island in the marsh.
A beautiful Wandering Glider. When the sunlight flashed off their wings, they turned a bright copper-gold color.
Marsh Mullein. Found growing in the sand along the marsh trail.
Creeping Thistle. I did not see it until I was processing the photo, but I was photobombed by a beetle. Look slightly below the flower on the left.
Common Milkweed and a Silver-spotted Skipper.
Marsh Rose. These very delicate flowers seem to not survive long in the bright sunshine, and any breeze that blows by folds and cringles their petals.
Psyche. These tiny butterflies can be found in white, yellow or sulphur. They are very erratic fliers and usually stay low to the ground and near the tops of grass and plants.

I am on the road in a few minutes, headed west again! Today (with luck) I should end up in Sioux City, South Dakota. By mid-day tomorrow, I will be nearing my next longer stop in Badlands National Park. I promise to post more when I see more! LOL

Until then, be safe and enjoy your sunny summer!

majik756

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