Page 79 - USA ROAD TRIP SUMMER of 2000

It was time to begin the exploration of geologic wonder of

Pictured Rocks. This area was formed of sedimentary rock from
shallow seas. The glaciers did their work several times and left

200-foot cliffs stretching 30 miles along the lakeshore. The tourist

bureau suggests viewing the cliffs from the lake by tour boat. We
decided against another boat ride and instead found a trail that

wound its way down through the hardwood forest to the bottom
of the cliffs.

There we found a splendid beach. The sand was a fine a granular

sugar and just as white. The white bottom out into the lake
produced a turquoise blue as splendid as any seen in the

Caribbean. A sharp shelf further out resulted in the change in

water color to a deep brilliant blue. The sky remained clear of all
clouds. A river up the cliffs flowed into the lake at the beach. The

water flow of the river pushed into a depression at the shore so
the waves of the lake pushed up and over the outgoing river. Quite

a fight, but the lake won every time.

After climbing back up the cliff, we walked to the falls. This walk
was also through what they call the Northern hardwood forest of

beech, birch and maple trees. It’s an open forest with sunlight

filtering down to the floor with ferns and hemlock growing in the
low light. The path was wide and smooth and quiet. We had such

a nice day today.

There are trees turning fall colors along the edges of marshy
places. Yes, fall colors in August. I have pictures to prove it. If only

the Internet connection would stay up so I could document my
claim.

The cinnamon bun was as good as advertised. But I enjoyed the

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