Fall Expectations by Fire Fighter’s Wife
“You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light … but you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen.”
― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast
As usual, Beth has a great photo/quotation pairing to start your day with! See more in her For the love of Camp! gallery on Flickr.
Life is like a mirror by Fire Fighters Wife
“Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it.”
As usual, Beth shares a beautiful thought to go with her equally beautiful photo. See more in her Hello Fall! gallery on Flickr.
Michigan State Capitol by David Marvin
Most of the photos on Michigan in Pictures come from the Absolute Michigan group on the photo-sharing website Flickr. The group has nearly 300,000 photos in it, and this morning it is positively on FIRE with photos of fall color from all over the state.
David’s photo of the Capitol was the first I saw this morning & is absolutely perfect for this post. See more in his Michigan State Capitol gallery & have a wonderful week!
PS: You can also share photos in the Michigan in Pictures group on Facebook or @michpics on Twitter!
M-119 – Michigan’s Tunnel of Trees by Dan Gaken
A couple of weeks ago a shared a photo of a tunnel of trees. Several commenters informed me that it wasn’t the Tunnel of Trees. They are of course right as the M-119 Tunnel of Trees has long been one of Michigan’s best fall drives. It begins just north of Harbor Springs & continues for much of the 20 miles to Cross Village. Fall color remains really strong up north, so if you want to explore, head over to Pure Michigan for some great stops along the route!
Dan took this yesterday. See more shots on his Flickr & have a great day!
Misty Bond Falls by Yanbing Shi
The GoWaterfalling entry for Bond Falls near Paulding in the Upper Peninsula, says (in part):
Bond Falls is in the western U.P. on Bond Falls Rd, east of Pauding MI. This is the most impressive waterfall in Michigan with the possible exception of Tahquamenon Falls. The main drop is 40 feet high and 100+ feet wide. Above the main falls are a series of cascades and rapids that must drop a total of 20 feet.
The water level is controlled by a dam, and a steady flow over the falls is maintained for scenic reasons. Of course during the spring melt the flow is much higher.
Bond Fall is a Michigan State Scenic Site. The site was renovated around 2003. The old parking area was upstream of the falls, and a steep concrete stairway led to the base of the falls. The new parking area is near the base of the falls, and a level boardwalk leads you to prime views of the falls. The area is not quite as wild looking as it once was, but it is accessible to everyone. The trail on the east side of the falls is still wild with some steep rocky climbs. There are other trails that go off into the woods, and there are campsites nearby.
In addition to being very picturesque, this is a very popular waterfall, and unless you visit early in the morning or in winter, you are going to have a lot of company.
Bringing back this November 2014 photo I featured of Bond Falls for another look! See more in Yanbing Shi’s Landscape gallery on Flickr.
Mac & Trees by Noah Sorensen Photo
Here’s a shot with a banger of title from Noah. Head over to Noah’s Instagram for the latest!
PS: Dozens of photos & articles about the Mighty Mackinac Bridge on Michigan in Pictures.
Fall Color from Sugar Loaf by Andrew McFarlane
Every so often I like to sprinkle in one of my own photos on Michigan in Pictures, and today is one of those days! I took this photo on October, 22, 2018 at the long-shuttered Sugar Loaf Resort on the Leelanau Peninsula. The ski run was called Devil’s Elbow, and you can see Little Traverse Lake, Lake Michigan, and South Manitou Island & Pyramid Point in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (shout out to the Lakeshore for yesterday’s 51st birthday!)
While the color isn’t as spectacular this year as 2018, it’s still pretty nice. Also, fun fact: when I was 11 years old an out of control man ran me off the left side of the Elbow. I slid over 100′ down a very steep hill, broke my arm & had to be pulled out by a rope with a snowmobile by the Ski Patrol. You know I was right back at it as soon as the arm healed!!
If you want to read the long & depressing saga of the ski area, head over to Sugar Loaf Resort on Leelanau.com!
Sunlight through the autumn trees by T P Mann
Fall color remains in full swing across much of Michigan. Here’s hoping you have a chance to enjoy it before it’s gone!
T P took this photo way back on October 20, 2007. See more in his Michigan Autumn Colors gallery on Flickr.
More fall color on Michigan in Pictures!
Peak Colors at the Cut River Bridge by Michigan Nut Photography
John got a fantastic angle on one of my favorite Michigan bridges, the Cut River Bridge. He shares that when he was a kid it was known as “The Million Dollar Bridge Over the Ten Cent River” 😂 Historic Bridges says that the Heath Michael Robinson Cut River Memorial Bridge was built in 1947 by the Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company:
This bridge is large enough that MDOT actually has maintained this bridge as an area attraction. Surrounding the bridge is a roadside park and a series of trails around the bridge. The intent to make this bridge something more than just a crossing goes back before this bridge’s status as a historic bridge to its initial construction. The bridge was designed as an attraction even when it was built, since sidewalks above the bridge in this rural area are present. Also, a set of stairways, part of the original design, take pedestrians under the bridge where they can view the supporting trusses. The abutments and piers were also given unusually exceptional detail, in particular the use of decorative stone facing. The two main piers give the appearance are attractive cut stone arches.
The bridge includes a total of 888 tons of steel and its height over the Cut River is 147 feet. It offers views of Lake Michigan from its deck. The bridge was originally painted a silver color, but is today painted green. This bridge is a steel deck cantilever truss bridge. This structure type is much more common in more hilly states like Pennsylvania, but is extremely rare in Michigan. The structure has visual complexity as a result of the extensive lattice and v-lacing on its riveted, built-up members, which are all very massive, typical for both a bridge of its size and its age. The bridge retains original standard-plan metal guardrails (Michigan’s “signature” type R4 railings) on the sidewalks that flank the roadway on each side. It also retains standard Michigan State Highway Department plaques.
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More Michigan bridges on Michigan in Pictures.
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