Sunday, March 1, 2009

The Lighthouse


This little lighthouse stands brave on the banks of Lake Michigan. It is located in the sleepy beachside town of St.Joseph in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Several years ago, I lived in an apartment just a short distance away from its shore. The lighthouse and I go a long way back. I have walked along the pier leading up to it countless times over the years. I would sit at the very end of the pier on summer evenings, with my legs dangling off the edge, gazing out into the watery horizon for as far ahead as I could see. Some days blissful and content, waving at the boats coming in. Some days sad and contemplative, lost in my own thoughts. I have seen the sun dip into the calm blue waters ahead of me painting both the waters and the sky a brilliant red.

In summer, the pier gets quite busy with locals fishing, high school kids diving off its hot concrete slab into the cool summer water, out of town visitors posing to take photos by the lighthouse. But in winter, it stands deserted, weathering the winter storms all alone. And that's my favorite time of all to visit it.

I no longer live as close by as I'd like to, but I still sometimes drive up to say hello. I visited the lighthouse last week and took the photos above. With all the snow storms we’ve been through this winter season, it’s hard to even tell where the “sandy” beach ends and where the frozen lake begins. And yet, seeing my brave little lighthouse standing strong amidst the frozen icy waves of countless winter storms fills me with endless hope and inspiration.

~vagabond~ © 2009

30 comments:

alok said...
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alok said...

Once again, beautiful pictures :)

As you can guess, I stop picking the best ones; I find each of them as good as the other.

Have a wonderful week ahead.

P.S: I am glad to see an update after the break.

Vamsee Modugula said...

Holy Molly! How do you even step out in that ice cold weather? (You had to expect that from a Mumbaikar and a former Californian:)

Beautiful Lighthouse. Love the pictures. My favorite is the 5th.

Anonymous said...

2nd and the 4th my choice! :-)
Sunset thru the piers is too good!!!

Anonymous said...

Again, this is called pictures.
Your perception of things are always very beautiful.

Difficult to pick... but I'll do it. 2nd, 4th & 6th (for some other reason).

Blu said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on a wonderful place. And thanks for showing us the shots from different vantage points.I can see why it is worth a visit. You take me to places that I will never visit.

Best wishes Blu x

bindu said...

Your photos are fabulous! Esply #2,3,4,5. The place is much nicer without all the people, I'm sure. :)

Anonymous said...

I love these shots

Talking To My Soul said...

Wow!

Apologies but I stopped looking at the pictures once I started reading the post which was so sensationally vivid and told many a story. Beautiful.

*cheers*

Parasmani said...

I like the sandy beach and the sun, the best...almost have the three dimensional feel to those.

~vagabond~ said...

@Alok:
LOL. Been super busy at work...cant blog as often as I'd like to...but I'm glad you enjoy my posts nonetheless. You have a great week too! :)

~vagabond~ said...

@Vam:
LOL. I dont have a choice. The only way to be outdoors is to be cold. And I need to be outdoors to keep my sanity. It's getting to that part of winter though when I am sick and tired of the cold, gloomy weather and will absolutely lose my marbles if the sun doesnt start to shine soon. Remember, Kenya is right at the equator...nice and sunshiney all year round. :)

~vagabond~ said...

@Abhi:
Glad you liked them...and thanks for telling me which one you liked best. :)

@Cuckoo:
Aww...thanks for the sweet compliment! And for telling me your favorites. :)

~vagabond~ said...

@Blu:
Never say never. Someday when life brings you this direction, drop me a note and I'll make sure you get to visit the lighthouse and walk up its pier. :)

Thanks for your nice comments, always.

~vagabond~ said...

@Bindu:

It's like a whole different place in winter when there's hardly anyone on the pier compared to summer when the beach, the town and the lighthouse are all crowded with both locals and tourists. I love it in winter...I can have it all to myself! :)

@Navin:

Thanks...glad you liked them. :)

~vagabond~ said...

@Soul:

You needn't apologize at all...I'm glad my writing interests someone. Thanks for your encouraging comment. :)

~vagabond~ said...

@Paras:

Glad you liked them! :)

GMG said...

Hi Vagabond!
Sorry I couldn’t visit you for the last two weeks! I’m trying to catch-up and see the wonders you have around! And this post has some awesome pics on it. I love the sunsets!!! Great job!

Meanwhile, one of the most beautiful Forts in India waits you and your comments at Blogtrotter: – The Amber Fort! Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Trevor Penn said...

I just loved how you introduced the place. I crave for such solitude. I'll be on vacation soon but i'm afraid i wont be leaving the crowds behind.

Oh, the pics did make me smile. Was it a conscious decision to keep the horizon closer to the thirds? #3 and #5 are beautiful compositions, my favorites.

Rolling said...

2,3,4 are my favs - you make the desolation appear to be so poetic and beautiful...for once I wanted to be there!
great to see you up and about again, eat well and stay warm Vee, take care, yeah?

GMG said...

Hi Vagabond!
Miss you at Blogtrotter, which now has Akbar’s capital city for you. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

alok said...

where are you? Long time, no updates.

~vagabond~ said...

@GMG:
Thanks for all your compliments...will visit your blog soon! :)

~vagabond~ said...

@Trevor:

Hope you're able to have some moments to yourself on your holiday. And do share the photos you take when you come back! :)

~vagabond~ said...

@Trish:

Glad you liked them...and thanks for your care and concern always. :)

~vagabond~ said...

@Alok:

I was caught up in a whirlwind of sorts at work...too much going on to allow any time for any creativity...hopefully things will be settling down a bit and I'll have a chance to blog soon. :)

Neelima Vallangi said...

beautiful pictures of the lighthouse!
Loved the splash of red every once-in-a-while.
My personal favs? 1st and 5th!

Neelima Vallangi said...
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author_number_2 said...

beautiful shots there vagabond!
my favourites being the fourth and the last ones.

KaylaG said...

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