You all know that my happy place is just about anywhere on the shores of a Great Lake, but especially Point Betsie, a lighthouse on Lake Michigan.

It has sentimental value because it was a favorite place for my parents, who camped near it on their honeymoon back in 1952.

Though when I think about camping in a green army pup tent in October I have to wonder what my dad was thinking.

But they stayed married for more than fifty years.

This week I had the opportunity to wander the beach at Point Betsie with a friend and her two cocker spaniels. We had a beautiful day, cool for the dogs but a bit of sun for us.

I took my camera equipment including the tripod, in case it looked like we’d have stars. My friend was willing to stay up late with me while I tried to capture the Milky Way.

I don’t think she realized how late that would have to be; the Milky Way isn’t really visible until almost morning at this time of year.

But as we walked the beach the clouds rolled in and after a few hours of rock hunting, and a great lunch at a park beside the Platt River in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, we decided to head home.

The next day I saw beautiful images posted on Facebook of stars and the Northern Lights, taken the night before at Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Yep. I told my friend if I ever suggest we head home early she should just kick me.

Katie says it serves me right for going on an adventure without her.

Sigh.
May 2, 2022 at 4:04 pm
Ace and Deuce are adorable. Oh, dear–delete this before Katie sees it. You went to the beach without her AND with other dogs?! Oh, Mama…
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May 3, 2022 at 8:47 am
Katie is on mama strike, since mama went and dog sat the two little ruffians up the street earlier, then went out and petted a neighbor dog when he was being walked by his owner. OK. TWO neighbor dogs. Then she went on an ADVENTURE with some other dogs!
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May 2, 2022 at 4:29 pm
Katie might be right. It always seems to happen that way. I hope the next night sky opportunity comes around for you soon.
Lovely images. 🙂
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May 3, 2022 at 8:48 am
Skies might be clear tomorrow night. But I have a meeting at noon on Thursday that I want to (have to) not miss, so it will be strategic if I make it out into the dark early Thursday.
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May 2, 2022 at 8:02 pm
Aw, so nice you got to visit at the beach with Ace, Deuce, and their mom. But oh, my, there was a Princess who surely smelled that you’d been “cheating” and probably wasn’t happy about it! Sorry you didn’t get to see the stars, but as you said: next time. By the way, Monkey has NEVER been off-leash like that — don’t even hint that other dogs can handle it, ha!
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May 3, 2022 at 8:48 am
LOL. Ace was sooooo good. My friend wasn’t sure about his recall, but it’s spot on.
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May 2, 2022 at 8:24 pm
Beautiful, beautiful pictures, even if they weren’t exactly the ones you were after. Absolutely loved the photos of the dogs. Glad Ace got to run free.
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May 3, 2022 at 8:49 am
He had soooo much fun! He was wet and covered in sand by the time we left. He had to go to the groomer the next day. He says it was worth it.
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May 3, 2022 at 5:44 am
Dawn your images made me feel like I was there. So beautiful
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May 3, 2022 at 8:49 am
It’s a very beautiful place.
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May 3, 2022 at 9:33 am
The dogs are posing nicely. Great pictures.
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May 5, 2022 at 9:29 am
Thank you. Yes they were very good about posing. Of course treats were involved.
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May 3, 2022 at 1:49 pm
Ace and Deuce are cute as can be. What a duo, wandering the beach, kind of blending with the color of the sand.
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May 5, 2022 at 9:30 am
We seem to both have dogs with coloring that goes so well with nature!
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May 5, 2022 at 9:12 am
Cute dogs, no wonder Katie is jealous! Too bad about missing the Northern Lights….I have missed them too:(
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May 5, 2022 at 9:31 am
I think it’s not easy to stay up all night on the off chance that there may be lights. On the other hand, I wouldn’t mind living (for awhile anyway) in the part of the country that you have a better chance of seeing them!
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May 6, 2022 at 1:54 am
Ace and Deuce are super dupe. And yet I must admit that I like your photos of the water and the dunes every bit as much as your photos of the night sky … ok maybe even more. I love water. As a 40-some-year boater in the pacific northwest, I love water! Ok, I love camping in my little trailer now too. But mostly I love your photos. 🙂
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