Morning sun lights a blanket of low cumulus orange against a delicate blue sky. The first bit of light warms the face against the wind.

Day five, packing up. Sun spills through a gap between dark blue waves and low cumulus at dawn and lights the point. Farewell for now. Not much walking to speak of today.

#pointTurnstone

A close look at a mossy pillow. Lay your hand down and feel it smoosh.

Day four, six-odd miles off trail through dense forest. A few brutal sections of blown down beech, a redtail alarming over the canopy, tired legs. A lovely mossy spot for lunch and a wild, dizzying swim in huge waves back at camp.

#walking #pointTurnstone

The sun rises over birches dotting the dunes.

Day two, seven steep miles. Another spring, a cabin in ruins, one dune fossilized by forest and a second still at work. Feeling good.

#walking #pointTurnstone

A wide sandy beach curves around to the northeast. A forested moraine lies on the horizon.

The first of five days of fieldwork on the island. Twelve miles off trail led to two springs, steep valleys flanking the moraine, endless beech thickets. Back along shore for a swim at sunset. Cooked.

#walking #pointTurnstone

A thunderstorm approaches over rough water. At the horizon, a band of clear sky glows peach.

The downwind side of a perched dune is smooth and light against a stormy sky.

Death camas just coming into bloom, a crab spider waits.

A smooth bit of marbled quartzite sits on a rough granite boulder.

A week of solitary work on North Manitou Island wraps up. A storm delays the boat, so it continues for now. Damp, thundershaken, sipping tea.

#walking #pointTurnstone #lakeMichigan