On July 31, 1910, the the beacon of Split Rock Lighthouse was first lit. The lighthouse was built in response to the loss of ships due to the Mataafa Storm of 1905 on Lake Superior. There were no roads in the area so all materials and building supplies came by boats and had to be lifted to the top of the 133 foot cliff.
Lighting the Beacon
I wasn’t nice to the orioles this year as I didn’t feed them any grape jelly. I had the jelly on the front porch and they shook their beak too often with a mouth of jelly and coated and stained my white posts and railing. So I was trying to scrub and wash those stains off today but I rather watch a rock getting scoured by waves instead.
Washed Rock
It seemed like every time I went outside today, it started to rain. It even rained on me when I was at this beach last week and the tepee like structure didn’t provide a lot of cover from the raindrops.
Wet Evening at the Beach
The little rock family looks at the storm clouds that are threatening to rain over Lake Superior as sunset approaches.
Rock Family on Beach
Thunderstorms have been rolling through the state last night and this evening too. And some have rotational spins prompting tornado warnings. This storm had a cloud drop down with a slight spin so I was glad it was far enough away from me.
Thunderstorm Over Superior Waters
This goose looks a bit taken back at the sign about swimming at own risk. The goose had just brought his whole family (plus some relatives and friends too) out of the water. But apparently they accepted the risk as it wasn’t long before they were back out on the waters of Lake Superior.
Goose at Risk
While visiting a beach, I look for pretty rocks and interesting pieces of driftwood. This one was a way too big to fit in my bag or car. It reminds me of Stumpy from the movie Tremors and does look a bit like a monster.
Stumpy
During some winters, County Road H in Bayfield County contains of 2.25 miles of an ice road across Lake Superior to Madeline Island, otherwise the ferries transport vehicles across that stretch of water.
Ferry to Madeline Island
The long holiday weekend has some people venturing out to lakes, cabins and other places even during the pandemic, but many things have needed to changed to allow social distancing and still allow some activities like watching freighters on the lake.
Ship Leaving Port
After heavy rain which caused my pond to overflow can sometimes stir the water and make it difficult to see the fish in the water from the sediment, but it didn’t get churned up as much as sometimes Lake Superior can after a storm.
After the Storm
