Lake Michigan

The view of Chicago from the 31st Street Beach pier is rather nice. The water was a beautiful choppy blue:

Chicago skyline on Lake Michigan. September 2, 2025 © Dawn Nelson 2025

A warm blue sky day journey to Lake Michigan on the beach in New Buffalo, Michigan:

The beach in New Buffalo at Lake Michigan. September 2, 2025 © Dawn Nelson 2025

The beach in New Buffalo at Lake Michigan. September 2, 2025 © Dawn Nelson 2025

Last of the River Ice at Argo Pond

Most everything has melted now, but here is a nice characterization of the complete ice cover of the Huron River in late February. It was thick enough that someone cleared a patch to ice skate on, which leads all the way across the Argo Pond to the NEW Center. Very impressive ice cover.

© Dawn Nelson 2025
 

Snow Day

 The first real snow day of the winter season. I am mesmerized by the snowfall. 

The Huron River Days

I've kept a pretty good journal of several observation spots along the Huron River bend along Depot Street in north Ann Arbor for several years now. Sometimes I lose steam on recording via video, but I am determined to finish a solid collection by the end of this year.

It will be my contribution to the natural features inventory for this area.

I am entering a new era of my life, and this year may hold some big changes.

We shall see. 

In the meantime, I will persevere in the diligence of these chronicles.

This latest one is the Argo Dam on the north side of Ann Arbor on one of the very coldest days of the year (January 16, 2024). The water seemed particularly high on this day, as I am sure the data will bear.

Cheers!

Return to Stone Cove

I finally had the opportunity to return to the Stone Cove after several years. This little cove is one of my favorite places on the earth. It is a little cove in a state park on South Bass Island, Lake Erie. 

This is a place I can sit and listen to the sound of the waves for hours, which is exactly what I did this fine morning of September 11, 2023.

The Davis Besse

 

A view of the Davis Besse power plant as seen from the Jet Express Ferry on Lake Erie. September 2023.

© Dawn Nelson 2023. All Rights Reserved.

The Huron River Lately

 

One of my first compilation videos, beginning at the Broadway Bridge and along the river to the Canal Street water gage station. 

Lake St. Clair

Where the sailboats set off to race, at the top of the Detroit River into Lake St. Clair. 

Slightly Frozen

Remarkably, the lake froze over since last week. It was all open water last Monday, and now there is a sheen of ice all the way across. I'm confident it is quite thin, but at least it is there.

Zukey Lake, January 31st, 2023. © Dawn Nelson.

New Year's Day 2023

The pond near my apartment on New Year's Day. © Dawn Nelson

 

The snow is now gone. It is hovering around 40 degrees Fahrenheit on the afternoon of New Year's Day. It is a wild swing from last week's weather of subzero temperatures, only to swing back later this week. 

Such a fun time! My only wish is that we get enough of a stretch of cold weather that the lakes freeze over long enough to walk out on the ice and appreciate the vast beauty of winter.

We shall see. 

Snow on the banks of the river

Yet another Huron River lately... the snowstorm made for some beautiful winter landscapes. 

The rain has already washed away the snow, however, so these moments were fleeting: 

© Dawn Nelson 2022. All Rights Reserved.

The Huron River Lately

Recently I thought about my proximity to the river differently. I decided to journey just a bit further north to the docks on Lakeshore Drive and was not disappointed. The platform that juts out into the river makes for excellent immersion into blue space and it was precisely what I needed. 

I had also recently contemplated the notion that even if some of my observations are just a bit further up the river, the USGS monitoring station at Canal Street is still relevant.

So I shall continue my exploration.

Though it is just a small stretch, there remains so much to reveal and interpret.

Graciously, I accept, and I am honored to be the steadfast observer. 

---

© Dawn Nelson, 2022

2022 Water Year Report

I did it. I finally did it. I sat down and entered in all the precipitation data for the last water year for 2022. It only took me about 2 hours total, probably less. There is unfortunately some missing data for August, but I'm just glad I finally completed all the entries. 

While it appears to be a much dryer year than on average, I will note that my gage site is not ideal and there is some obstruction so it is an underestimate of actual precipitation values. 

Anyway, I will write up a more thorough summary soon, this is just my initial celebration.

See more reports at https://cocorahs.org/

Lakes, Trains, Fish

I spent some time at the lake these past two days, and enjoyed watching the small fish school around near shore while the train passed by across the lake.

Very peaceful and existentially satisfying, it was.

Blue space is something to experience as often as possible, it is healing and calming.

And the weather was beautiful.

October is a great month to spend time near this lake, as most folks have gone back to their regular routines and the lake is calmer. There is also a bit more solitude.

So I will try to make more time for this throughout the month. In between compiling my precipitation data for the past water year, because while I am diligent about writing it down with pencil on paper, I am terrible about adding the data to CoCoRaHS. 

Hopefully I will have more to report soon :-)

Autumn Equinox

The temperature dropped today, entirely in sync with the equinox. I brought all my plants in from the balcony. 

So many plants.

The season has changed. 

Drifting Rudderless

Today I was adamant with myself that I needed to go for a drive to the lake. I had a specific place in mind, but I wasn't sure if I would find it again so easily. 

Fortunately, I found it just fine.

Where the Maumee River meets Lake Erie. Photo by author, September 19, 2022.

It wasn't just about lake time, though. Today was about finding a new way to anchor my ambition and career goals. Wandering through blue space helps me gain insight and clarity. 

The reality is that I am feeling boxed in with few opportunities. Since I am not yet ready to move to a new city, I need to find ways to throw out a few grappling hooks (so to speak) into my cities of interest to find remote work opportunities.

As I was driving through Toledo (and before I got lost in the north neighborhoods) I remembered there was a newspaper and magazine publisher I had done some writing work for years ago that is based there. I think maybe it is time for me to pick that back up and see where it might go...

In the meantime, I shall plod on with my myriad blogs and mixed media as a labor of love.

Sunset over Lake Erie with West Sister Island in the distance. Photo by author, September 19, 2022.

© Dawn Nelson, 2022.

River walking

 

© Dawn Nelson, all rights reserved.

Zukey dreaming

Pond Dwelling

 Midsummer has brought lovely overgrown edges to the pond.

A lovely wilderness in all its simplicity.

© Dawn Nelson, 2022. All rights reserved.

Bonsai Sojourn

 

Another sojourn to Lake Erie, this time by way of the Bonsai garden and greenhouse. My first stop was on the River Raisin near the Old Mill house that is now a museum.

The Old Mill on River Raisin. June 28, 2022. 

The Bonsai greenhouse on the way to Lake Erie. 

I did in fact pet the coy fish. They are kind of like dogs. 

Coy fish in the greenhouse.

And then, the sea.

I have arrived at my destination.

Lake Erie as seen from my front row tree root seat.

Lake Erie with the Davis Besse in the distance.

Overall it was a warm sunny day with a very nice breeze. Once again I am glad I took the time to punch out of the city paradigm and visit the shore.

© Dawn Nelson 2022, All Rights Reserved.