Congratulations Marty & Amy

What a story Marty and Amy have of their wedding day. They began their lives together as Husband & Wife at the Church of the Dunes and celebrated at Porto Bello in Grand Haven.

As we do for Brides and Grooms that elect to see each other before the ceremony, we arranged a secluded special time for Amy and Marty to see each other privately. This time alone is almost a ceremony in itself. Seeing each other for the first time on this special day. No crowds. No Pressure.

Amy and Marty chose to exchange gifts at this time. They gave each other watches. If they turned their watches back an hour at midnight, their wedding day was extra special. It was 25 hours long.

A Color Tour -- Day Three

The third and final day of our Picture Michigan Color Tour we end up in the Eastern portion of the Upper Peninsula. Here, we are above the Cut River looking west toward Epoufette Bay.

The next stop is the Mighty Mackinac Bridge. Here we see the bridge head-on with a freighter braving the wind and waves.

They say the bridge sways in the wind up to several feet in each direction. Well, it's actually a fact. It's not that it sways back and forth like a swing. Rather, on a windy day, such as today, the wind will push the center section and hold it until the wind dies down.

This shot is the same as the above image, zoomed way in. The highest portion of the road deck is the center section between the two main towers. Take a close look at the center yellow line.

Wow! It really does sway!

Back on solid ground, the final leg of our Picture Michigan Upper Peninsula Color Tour ends in the Lower Peninsula. The following two shots are under the canopy of the famed Tunnel Of The Trees north of Petoskey.

What's particularly ironic, is the tour two years ago started in Mackinaw City, with a light dusting of snow. I thought at the time, "what are the odds?" After this week's color tour, I won't say that again!

- Jon

A Color Tour -- Day Two

There was a day when Michigan license plates read Winter Wonderland (instead of today's Great Lakes State). Heh.

Day Two of the Picture Michigan color assignment brings us to Watersmeet, home of the Nimrods, snow, ice cream (hand dipped AND soft serve), and the nearby Bond Falls.

It's unbelievable how beautiful these waterfalls are.

Like yesterday's tour of the Western UP's autumn colors..., well, never mind. But is this not the most breathtaking site? This is not merely making the most of what is handed to you. This is spectacularly awesome, no matter how you slice it!

A little further east, we find ourselves in Iron Mountain. There's still some color here, but not nearly as much as there was a couple days ago when we first passed through on our way to Wakefield.

A little light snow blowing through the air like a light fog, but nothing close to the winter storm warning further west closer to Lake Superior. A clearer sky would allow a greater view here from Millie Hill.

We shall see what tomorrow holds. In the mean time, back to the game.
GO TIGERS!

- Jon

A Color Tour in Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula

Wouldn't you know it, instead of the bountiful color associated with the Western UP, it's a winter storm warning!

The following image is the escarpment overlooking Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains. And yes, it is a full color image.

In all fairness, there was still some color, but it required a little creative framing with the camera's eye.

And even occasionally some color would poke out its head and say, "hey, here I am, look at me."

So instead of some fall color shots on this assignment, it turned into a set of winter shots, including this shot taken at Manabezho Falls on the Presque Isle River.

I truly love the Upper Peninsula, and even though there was no explosion of fall color, there was an explosion of frozen precipitation. Simply one more reason to love the UP!

So as Autumn holds on with dear life, we trek forward tomorrow a little further east to see what's in storm, er, I mean, in store. A little further east and out of the areas covered by the winter storm warning.

A special thanks to Dick Swanson and the Regal Country Inn for the warm hospitality!

- Jon