Leelanau With a Friend

I returned to Michigan in May to spend some time at home before heading back to Vermont for an internship. Most of it was spent relaxing, reading, and catching up on sleep, but my friend Mika from college did come to visit for a few days, so we spent that time romping around Leelanau County. It was a really great excuse to go to all the less accessible parts of the county, as well as catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. 
Empire Bluffs

A female  Black-Crowned Night Heron- trust

At the Sand Meadows- before her first time running down the dune. 

After running down the dunes.


 Our most intense day was spent on a camping trip to South Manitou Island, for some legit wilderness experience. Sometime along the way, we had the brilliant idea to hike all the way across the island, which is a 7,5-mile round trip hike. The nice part was that it brought us to most of the major attractions of the island, but it was tiring by the end, especially after getting about 3 pounds of sand in our shoes along the way. 

By the shore of Florence Lake- we got to watch a dragonfly emerging from its larval shell (seen to the left). One of the coolest things I've seen in nature for a long time.


The wreck of the Francisco Morazan- always a bit shocking to see for the first time.



Giant Millipedes: secretly some of my favorite island residents.


Mini-bears. But cure mini-bears.
 After getting back, I had the even more brilliant idea to walk BACK across the island to watch the sunset from the sand dunes on the west side- making for a 15-mile hike in the day. It was brutal, but the sunset was nice at least.







My first attempt at an HDR- I messed it up a little bit, but at least it was mostly successful. 

Planet South Manitou


The South Manitou Island lighthouse




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