Mackinac Bridge

Approaching this bridge you tend to get second thoughts about crossing it.

The Mackinac Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac to connect the Upper and Lower peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan. Opened in 1957, the 26,372-foot-long bridge is the world’s 24th-longest main span and the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere.

Longest suspension bridge spans in the US:

  • Verrazano-Narrows. Lower New York Bay
  • Golden Gate. San Francisco Bay.
  • Mackinac Bridge

Have been on all three!

Click on the photo for a larger version.

Sunrise on the Lake

Sunrise Lake Minocqua

Early morning on the lake brings a burst of color. The Loons are busy and fishermen head out in their boats to try their luck. Most of the tourists will be asleep for a while longer so everything is quiet.

Sounds: Echoes of the Loon by John Grout

Storm on Lake Minocqua

The Thirsty Whale

One of the great places on Lake Minoqua is the Thirsty Whale. Have lunch on the deck and drinks in the bar. It easily accessible from Minoqua’s main street or by car or boat. I only remember this as an old boat livery on the lake where you could store your boat, get repairs and gas. The building is originally built around the turn of the 20th century.

Click on the photo  for more info.

Sunrise at The Beacons

Beacons at Sunrise

Across Lake Minocqua from the Thirsty Whale lies the Beacons, a resort and timeshare property that was once the summer home of Fred. B. Snite, Jr. The Beacons’ distinctive lighthouse-style boathouse was built in 1908 and, according to local legend, was used by Snite to watch boat races, using mirrors and a periscope. Snite, son of a Chicago financier, contracted polio in 1936 at the age of 25, and spent the next 18 years lying on his back in a 700-pound respirator, which enabled him to breathe. famous as “the man in the iron lung” and “the Boiler kid,” Snite lived a surprisingly normal life and was known for his quick wit and ready smile. Using a chest respirator, he was occasionally able to leave the iron lung, but only for a couple of hours at a time. He married in 1939, and before he died of natural causes at age 44, he and his wife and three daughters enjoyed summers on Lake Minocqua.

Laona and Northern Railway

Minocqua, WI

The Laona and Northern Railway is a heritage railroad in Laona, Wisconsin. A former freight railroad, it was incorporated in 1902 for the R. Connor Company of Marshfield, Wisconsin, to haul lumber to its mill in Laona and then transport it to the Soo Line interchange 8 miles north in Laona Junction.

This train is pulled by a “4-spot” Steam Locomotive built in 1916 by the Vulcan Iron Works in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. It was purchased September 22, 1926, and was brought to Laona for use in the logging industry. The steam engine pulls two all-steel passenger coach cars, an open-air observation car and three cabooses.

Chevy Truck

Mt. Pleasant Estates

Friday was winery day. We visited the Defiance-Augusta area in Eastern Missouri having lunch at Chandler Hill in Defiance and then visiting Mount Pleasant in Augusta. Mount Pleasant had this great truck on the side of the road so I had to stop to take a few photos. This looks like something from the 40’s but perhaps a new retro model?

This looks like it will come in handy on their property! Click on the photo for a larger version and more information.

Peafowl

Three Creek Fram

Peacocks and peahens—these are the birds known as peafowl, members of the pheasant family. Although most people call them all “peacocks,” the word really only refers to the male bird. Just like among chickens, where the male is called a rooster or cock and the female is called a hen, male peafowl are peacocks, female peafowl are peahens, and babies are peachicks! There are two peafowl species: Indian or blue peafowl and green peafowl. Most people are familiar with the Indian peafowl, since that is the kind found in many zoos and parks.

Eyes Have It

Three Creek Fram

This Peacock’s feathers seem to be looking back at him in a mysterious way. I have a photo of this bird showing all of his feathers but I thought this was a little more interesting. While busy showing off his feathers, he let me get in close.

You do not see many Peacocks around and if you find one he probably does not have his feathers extended so I was lucky to find this guy.

Click on the photo for more options and to see more peafowl.

Dogwood Canyon

Dogwood

Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is a one-of-a-kind experience for nature lovers and adventure seekers of all ages. Covering 10,000 acres of pristine Ozark Mountain landscape, the park has miles of crystal-clear trout streams, dozens of cascading waterfalls, ancient burial caves, unique hand-built bridges and bottomless, blue-green pools. And, they actually have Dogwood trees there.

%d bloggers like this: