I lied to you all yesterday.  It turns out that they lower the lake in the Winter and raise it in the Summer.  In my after the fact, fact checking with the Drain Commissioner, the lower Winter level is mandated so the spray and ice doesn’t encroach on the roads around the lake.  I love it when I find that I’ve been putting out bad information for 50 years and get corrected…..(somewhat like the lady on the North shore who, for 15 years, pointed out to all of her guests the rotating Frankfort lighthouse beacon……(read airport beacon))….
Be well,  Jay

I was down at the Crystal Lake outlet last week, shortly after they had raised the Winter boards, to allow the lake to lower 6 “, for the normal Summer level.  I hadn’t seen the dam flowing for several years.  (They have a new hi tech system in place to raise the boards. The boat trailer cranks in the picture).   It’s still cool but sunny.  So all is good.
Be well,  Jay

Trip report…All of tonight’s pictures were taken in Maine. So please don’t ask for the location of the Eagle nest.  I was out in Blue Hill visiting family and playing on the salt water..strange stuff and the tides were interesting to say the least…I think I’ll be happy to keep paddling here, where you can drink the water and if you fall overboard, you’re still at the top of the food chain.
( The world has changed since my last road trip….Did you know that there is a Gas Station TV network?..Trailer parks have been replaced with Manufactured Home Communities…and road side memorial markers have advanced to the stage of :landscaping, 8×10 color photos, a 5 foot statue of the Virgin, and seasonal decorations.)
I read today that the Dune Cruise boat will NOT be operating this Summer… The Lighthouse Restaurant in Elberta, will only be doing breakfast and lunch this
summer….The Trillium are starting to bloom but are spotty at the moment. We’ve had flurries 3 times this month, so the early start to summer has been cancelled out and we are back to normal  Spring weather.
Be well,  Jay

The couches etc, were all removed last Spring and the access from which they were dumped has been closed off.  The
Gwen note card tattoo is quite real…. Cable on the beach, you will have to wait and see….Thanks to all the eager investors in my very suspect business., but seriously, I do have access to a 20% interest in the Mackinaw bridge and traffic has been up the last three quarters.  and it’s a really nice bridge.

Be well,  Jay

posted April 1st

I am offering, only to Crystalnews recipients , a tremendous business opportunity. Construction of Beach Side Bed and Breakfast LLC, is under way.  I have acquired all of the lawn maintenance equipment, the IT supplies, a portion of the bedding and furniture.  (minor water issues with one love seat). I will be accepting silent partners up to 49% of the total cost.Cash only… Paperwork will be kept to a minimum so we are not going to trouble the folks at EPA, DEQ, OSHA, INS, IRS or Benzie county in general.  This should increase the bottom line nicely. The location and design are being held close until the Grand Opening ….more details as they become available… or as my imagination gets sparked…

Be well,  Jay

posted April 1st

In order to improve the “beach experience”. I have arranged for an upgrade…Please, no thanks are necessary….Jay

Well, as expected, the wonderful weather didn’t last.  Snow due tomorrow, but the past few weeks were a fantastic break from the cold and clouds.  The first Trillium are up but not blooming as yet.  April is shaping up to be a great outdoor month….
Earth science 101…..Fulgurites: the fused glass result of lightening striking sandy soil. … In my case it was a down power line instead of lightening but the results are similar.  The outside is cooked sand and small stones, the insides are melted glass.  Pictured are the biggest pieces that I was able to dig up.  I find them fascinating .  Grab me when you run into me and I’ll show them to you in person…..The rock picture is an underwater shot from the MI beach on a clam day….  Look for some fun issues of Crystalnews on April 1
Be well,   Jay

and the Summer temps continue.  I feel totally selfish. For all intents and purposes it’s Summer and I have the complete use of all the beaches, rivers and lakes….and I don’t have to share.  I was on the MI beach yesterday and there wasn’t even a footprint in the sand. That just doesn’t happen..Crystal is up to 51 degrees.
My local spies have sighted several huge flocks of migrating water fowl…Snow Geese, Cranes, and Canadas. (the Snow Geese numbered in the thousands).
We have rain forecast for later this week, so the wild flowers should explode in the woods by next week. (a full month early)
Be well,  Jay

Greetings from the sunny North…
The weather is just too strange.  Two weeks ago we had 14 inches of wet snow, since then it’s been in the 60’s and 70’s.  The temps say Summer but nothing had greened up as yet. The normal sequence of Spring is out of hack.  Every day there are flocks of  geese, blue herons, and cranes, headed North. The Trillium aren’t ever out of the ground as yet. (the only green in the woods is the garlic mustard) Based on the mild Winter  and the trends so far, we should have progressed to summer mode by early April  (a 5 month Summer works in my world).  I was down on the Crystal beach this AM and it was so strange, it was a “beach day” but there were no people, boats, docks, or boat hoists.
The storm recovery has progressed to the road crews trying to remove all of the trees and branches from the road side.  They have several weeks of work ahead of them.  The power and cable is all back up and running.  The whole storm experience was eye opening for a lot of people.

Be well

Well this weekend is looking like the Official end of cabin fever and the unofficial end of Winter.  Nice temps and a violent blue sky, if a bit windy..It doesn’t get any better….The Artist is playing at the Garden Theater and Dinghy’s will re open Friday, after their re-model…..The new bar is quite something 31 feet long, the front is Oak and the top is locally harvested Cherry.  I’m glad to see some of the Cherry being used for lumber. There is so much of it in our woods and it usually just ends up as firewood, which is sad….Wherever you are, try and get out this weekend and enjoy .
Be well,  Jay
FYI.   The Hawk, was in fact a Red Tail.  (who better, to go after my Red Squirrels)