July 27

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, I was in Muskegon attending my wife’s 45th high school reunion while Remi remained in Alma. Today, we planned to hike a scenic trail at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park just south of Muskegon on Lake Michigan. The early morning temperature was partly sunny with a temperature of 63 degrees and a stiff westerly wind. Before starting out, we explored a small butterfly garden near the visitor’s center where I spotted Butterfly weed and Jerusalem artichoke. We headed west toward the lake through a mature beech-maple forest where I noticed some fresh bracket fungi growing on logs. Next, we came to a fork and chose the path to Lake Michigan rather than the steep dune climb stairway. Along the way, I spotted several Canadian Hemlock trees mixed in with the broad leaf trees. As we got closer to the lake, I began to see Sassafras trees. So, I picked a leaf from one of them and crushed it to smell it’s citrusy aroma. Also, I spotted a large tree trunk with several patches of lichens growing on it. Continuing on the trail to the lakeshore, we were greeted by the sound of wind and waves. Hiking through the fore-dune, I noticed a few blossoms of Evening Primrose as well as an unknown set of mammal tracks in the sand. Near the water’s edge on the beach were lots of seagull tracks and feathers. Just ahead, I spotted a gull feeding on something. As I approached the bird, it took off so I could see that it was a fish carcass it was feeding on. We turned around and headed back where I noticed how the dune sand had migrated into the edge of the woods and covered the bases some trees. As these trees die, the dune will grow larger and the forest will get smaller. Continuing back toward the car, I saw a Daddy-longlegs resting on a Beech leaf. These arachnids are not true spiders and eat decomposing vegetative and animal matter. They do not have venom glands or fangs. Therefore, they are not poisonous to humans. Back at the car, I looked up and noticed the Beech tree above us was loaded with Beechnuts which are a favorite food of the many squirrels that live here. Finally, we left the park and headed back to the hotel.

Here I am at Michigan Lake
Hiking a trail for nature’s sake
Displays of beauty, I’m attune
Through a woods, over a dune
Tall trees, mountains of sand
Place where water meets land
Beautiful beach where I stroll
Loud sounds of waves that roll
Terns and gulls I’m looking for
Walking along a scenic shore

D. DeGraaf