When I say “home” in conversation, I am no longer referring to New York or New Jersey, I mean Belize. A country I love and have lived in, full time, for 8 years. A place I have no intention of leaving…
But I still love traveling. And though I have been to over 40 countries – there are 196 in all – I’m realizing how much I still need to do and see in my homeland. Sitting here on Beaver Island, in the upper part of Lake Michigan, eating cherry pie and watching a little Donald Trump on TV – perhaps our next president – I remember that I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!
Anyway…here are a whole bunch of pictures of gorgeous Beaver Island. A remote, ridiculously beautiful and fascinating small island – that had a Mormon King, a place that produced the most fish in the world at some point in the 1800s and is absolutely drop-dead all-American gorgeous.
Last night’s sunset – no filtering or touch-ups.
So it was last Monday and we were landing on the “Emerald Isle”…
The air strip…
Good news.
And then right across the street, next to a field full of wild turkeys, a breakfast spot.
We got to the house on the west shore, here is a photo from the lake at sunset…
This sunset. There have been more beauties…
Simple but gorgeous over the deck.
And last night as a flock of merganser ducks floated by…
We went hiking.
Thru the woods and along the shore…
Either sandy bottomed or lined with gorgeous rocks – many pushed down from Canada and rolled smooth by the ice ages. They are my new obsession and my luggage should contain about 5lbs of them.
And we visited the tiny town of St. James. The only one on the island. Totally oozing small town charm.
The kinda spot where you could give a child $2 and they could spend hours picking out a bag full of things. From stickers to wax lips…
An ice cream shop for the whole family.
A gorgeous GORGEOUS spot where they hand make boats and canoes from cherry and cedar. The St. James Boat Shop.
We are in a part of the country where soda is called “pop”.
The United States truly is a melting pot for people and useless statistics. Though Beaver Island is not labelled (I circled it in orange), we are clearly in pop-country.
There is DELICIOUS smoked white fish. On some home made toast, a schmear of cream cheese and a thick slice of August tomato? You’d swear you were in NYC.
With some handy signs inside…
And an interesting and delicious Michigan delicacy – pickled bologna.
And the harbor with a view of one of the island’s two lighthouses.
Some fun cars…
I’ll wrap this up…I promise! But one quick(ish) look at the lighthouse on the other side of the island. This one is just a museum now…
The stairs to the top.
So there it is. Beaver Island. One gorgeous spot that may be a bit tricky to get to…but is totally worth it.
Well, that’s just ridiculously charming and gorgeous. I’m envious once again, and you’re not even in Belize! 🙂
I bet the charm is something different when the temperature dips below 0. But right now? In the low 80s? Gorgeous.
Looks like you are really roughing it. I forgot to tell you about the pickled bologne. Especially good when hand ground up with sweet pickle relish and a little mayo. Coney dogs and pasties are also Michigan necessities.
The pickled bologna is so good…sweet pickling. A delicious snack. I’ve had cherries galore…brats…white fish…fudge in ice cream…
I went from TC to Alaska one time and took 40 pounds of pickled bologne with me. People on the plane kept saying, does anyone smell vinegar. Then one popped up and said, I know there is pickled bologne on here, I can smell it. Then you know you are with real Michigan peeps.
Looks like a great time!
I love traveling too, all over the world….but I always can’t wait to get back to the land I love and respect the most…the U.S. of A. We have plenty of flaws, but we are exceptional and generous to a fault.
Agreed…we may be loud…but we are good people. And sometimes you need to travel to really feel it.