Page 81 - USA ROAD TRIP SUMMER of 2000

The banks of the sandstone cliffs along the lakefront are 300 feet

tall topped with the reddish fine granular sand of the dunes.
Those dunes are another 50 to 100 feet tall and roll along back for

a mile off the coast to the road. There are grasses holding the

sand in place in many places and some evergreen trees are trying
to take hold. But there are many places where there are only

mountains of sand. The fun was in trying to get to the top of the
very steep slopes, sinking deep and sliding backwards one step for

every two upwards. After a lot of effort, huffing and puffing, we
could get to the top. Then, what a hoot to run back down at

headlong speed. It peculiarly gave a sense of flying as you could,

without fear or hesitation, propel yourself straight out into space
to land in the soft deep sand of your step. We didn’t try rolling

down – we would have never gotten the sand out of our clothes.

We went to the site of an old logging operation where an overlook
platform made possible a view east and west along the coast for

several miles. Not only were the cliffs spectacular but so was the
vast expanse of deserted, wide, rocky beach at their base.

The drive to the overlook was just grand. There were no other cars

on the way so we could enjoy the solitude. We were in the early,

yellow-green light of morning driving along a well-maintained
gravel road. The way was closely lined by an allee of tall maples,

various evergreens, and birch that arched over us with that
stunning light filtering through mile after mile. The effect was

particularly appropriate to a Sunday morning.

There was the obligatory falls to visit down the inevitable line of
stairs. Then a picnic lunch and departure for the south coast of the

UP and the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Our final destination –

here in Saint Ignace from which we will take ourselves and bikes

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