I bet most of you out there think I've fallen off the face of the Earth - I haven't been here in months!! I started a home-based business selling vintage costume jewelry on eBay earlier this year, and it's had me so busy, I'm just now getting to these images I'm about to post. Fran Dollinger came to stay with me for a week in July, and in that week, we managed to hit almost everything land accessible in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. And, on a whimsical idea that was one of the best decisions I've ever made, we took an airplane trip out of St. Ignace and I got to see several of the Straits area lights from the air, which was a dream come true for me, as I've been visiting the Mackinaw area since I was a child. The weather was perfect - sunny, no wind, 70 degrees, and the Lake was like glass (very much like the Isle Royale day we had on the WILD cruise in 2004, for those of you that remember "that perfect day!"). We started with the St. Martin Reef Lighthouse, which is a few miles east of the Mackinaw Bridge, near Les Cheneaux Islands on the upper part of Lake Huron. You can see why there were lighthouses established on these reefs!



Next is the elusive Spectacle Reef. Hard to reach by boat sometimes even in good weather, we just happened to get lucky!



Spectacle Reef itself - WOW.



Next is 14-Foot Shoal, which sits off the Lake Huron coastline near Cheboygan, and I know a lot of you saw these next few on the cruises during the HL Reunion. I loved the sunlight reflection in the water on this one.



Another of my favorites, Poe Reef, just a mile or so away from 14-Foot Shoal.



Round Island, probably the most viewed in Michigan, since it's right on top of Mackinaw Island and all the ferries pass by...



A freighter passing right between the Mackinaw Island and Bois Blanc Island narrows:



And perhaps the highlight, the Mighty Mac from the air!



I have over 3,500 images from this trip and 25GB of RAW files to sift through, so I will try and get some more posted as I get time (between going to estate sales and auctions, LOL!). Enjoy!

Wow ... great pictures! Those reflections are fantastic! Thanks for showing them ... and ...
MORE PLEASE

Welcome back Jen! Definitely has been awhile...I've missed the spectacular pictures that you share.
How are the kids doing? I bet they have grown!
Awesome photos!!!! I enjoyed the Spectacle Reef photo that showed the size of the reef. WOW is right!
Thanks so much for sharing these and look forward to more when you have time!

Mary started first grade and Michael was two in August. Man, how time flies! Here is a recent shot of my two from Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park in Washington end of August.

It is nice to be able to see the reef in several of these pictures.

I've missed your postings Jen! Welcome back.

I love seeing the lights from the air. Very cool shots. It's amazing how calm the water looks. It sure gives you a good perspective of the reefs. Thanks for sharing.

Stop in more often.

Great aerial pics !!! Thanks for sharing !!!

Jen-
Oh MY Gosh... have they ever grown!!! I can't get over how big Mary has gotten...first grade...where does the time go?!
Thanks for posting the photo...WOW!

Welcome Back...

Love those aerials!!!!
And my-oh-my, those kids are sure growing!

Don't be a stranger!

Jenifer

Wow!! Spectacle Reef is square and not a rectangle like the HL182.

Fantastic pictures

Jenifer,

You have such a gift with photography. Thanks for posting such wonderful memories.

Love the photo of you and the kids too.

Judy

The aerial pics are some of the best pics I've seen at the CF, Jen! It's so nice of you to share them with us. It certainly gives all of us a different perspective of lighthouse photography.

Interesting point, Daniel! How do you suppose that happend? Is it another Chatham?

Bob

Jen,

Good to see you back. the phgotos are spectacular as they always are.

Dennis