In celebration of Kat’s birthday (she’s got that insurance now) we went on a field trip to the sugar white beaches of Muskegon.  The water is Lake Michigan, and while its coldness and lack of salinity means you won’t see porpoises, you will relish the ten degree drop in air temperature.  On most summer days the wind blows from the west, meaning it flies over fifty or so miles of cool water, shedding some of its heat.  This makes for a most pleasant beach, much like being on the Atlantic when the wind blows in.

Beach people tend to be sun worshippers, whether it’s good for them or not.   They were everywhere on this beach, most already sporting hides in full summer dark.  Kat knows all about Mohs surgery and wants nothing more to do with it.  I noticed the color of my paws holding up a bowl of cole slaw in a picture a few weeks ago; I clearly need no more sun until oh, maybe March.  The best thing about fresh water beaches is trees:  without salt they thrive just above the high water mark.  In our beach visit we took full advantage of their shade.  It was cool and much easier on the eyes.  We even spotted a bald eagle; they are the only huge, brown, powerful flyer with a white head and tail.

Something else was different about the conduct of locals on the beach.  On Gulf or Atlantic beaches the tanners typically position their chairs facing the water.  Sunlight reflects off the sand, so you’re catching UV rays from several angles.  Why not watch the waves and seabirds?  But in Michigan, even with its white sands, the hard core beachers point their chairs into the light.  For most of the day they look up and down the beach.  They don’t look at the water, the boats, the girls or the gulls.  They follow the sun, unless they have brought their kids.  Those little buggers are will run amok anywhere there’s sand or water.   Schools are about to open in Michigan, perhaps explaining why we saw so few children.

As for Kat’s birthday celebration, we picked up Subway sandwiches and some chips.  Then we iced down a bottle of Korbel Champagne, and nabbed a Snickers and a Butterfinger for dessert.  I failed to find the mocha ice cream cone she craved, but the hunger is still there.

We’re gonna have a soft mocha cream cone before Amazon cranks up.  I must find or create one, even in Campbellsville.  My work is cut out.