As Fall approaches, good times, some rain, lazy days

 

August 20, 2021 about 1:45pm - Weko Beach

31 days to the Autumnal Equinox - "Lazy, hazy days of summer"

In 31 days Fall will arrive.  In the meantime everyone is enjoying most of August. It's been wet and humid with rain every three or four days.  That means hot (87F) and humid (70%).  The temperature of Lake Michigan has been about 62F while breezes are westerly.  The beachgoers are loving it.  On the weekend it has been crazy at the beaches.  The photo above was taken on Friday before the weekend crowd arrives.

The flower garden at the campground is beginning to wane.  The butterflies and bees have been very busy.  It is a bit early for the rush of yellow jackets.  We do have hummingbird visitors.  Many campers have emptied their bird feeders out of concern about the die-off of song birds this year.

Bumblebees

Hummingbird at our campsite feeder

I took the opportunity to expand the cook station. I took some scrap wood and built a small cabinet for seasonings, olive oil and other stuff I would like to leave outdoors to facilitate BBQ and cooking. I set it on the removeable rack for a grill which hangs on the side of the travel trailer. I'll be adding screening.  When I took this photo G was setting up to make Marinara sauce................

Small cabinet made from wood scraps

With hot and humid weather, we bicycle to the lake early to beat the mid-day heat.  On our ride we encounter the occasional wild turkey.  They don't wait for me to stop and pull out the camera.  They head into the woods, scolding as they leave.  G is only a few yards behind me on the curve, but she can only hear them as she passes.  "What was that?" she asks.   Arriving at the shore, it is very quiet.

Peaceful with few sun worshippers at 10:00 am

It seems the annual Monarch butterfly migration has begun.  It seems early this year.  Perhaps the butterflies are expecting an early winter, or it is simply because of the recent cool nights.  We bike to the shore, sit and watch them drift by, travelling in a southerly direction along the shoreline.  

Monarch butterfly passes overhead, en-route to Mexico

We relax before bicycling back to the campground. 

Relaxing and counting butterflies

The occasional cloud and curious gulls fly overhead.  The gulls I have learned from my sailing days are attracted to royal blue, and that is the color of the shirt I am wearing.  There is a possibility of a stray shower, but it doesn't happen until nightfall.  

A gull checks us out while a few stray clouds pass overhead

Nights have been pleasant with lows of about 65F, aided by mild breezes off the lake. Excellent weather for campfires. The campground has been quiet during the week, but with the arrival of the weekend things will get busier.  After dinner we start a fire and watch hummingbirds at the feeder.  Life is good, they say.  I say it really beats the alternatives. I'm a very lucky guy......

9:00 pm August 19 - No bicycles were ignited - LOL

Original Material: Roadtrek210.Blogspot.com (c) 2021

Monarch Butterfly Migration, Rain, Sunsets and Campfires

It's that time of year and the annual Monarch butterfly migration is underway. The evenings are becoming cooler as the sun moves northward in the sky.

We've experiences wetter weather this August. But on our trek we've had a lot of wonderful sun, too. Warm water temperatures (70F). cool evening breezes and lovely evenings and sunsets.

When it rains we don appropriate clothes and hike a few miles into the woods or state parks. I prefer hiking boots, jeans and a lightweight Marmot rain coat with a wide brimmed hat. But we take what we have and what works. Then as a group, off we go!

When the rain stops the sand drains quickly and we dance and laugh. 

With the rejuvenating rain mushrooms come up.

Returning to our campsite we prepare dinner. After dinner and as dusk approaches I light a campfire, and when darkness falls we sip tea and tell stories.