Muskegon in the fog ...

Yesterday was my birthday. I had gotten a pep talk from one of my good friends the other day. Brenda said I ought to do something that I really loved on my birthday to make it a special occasion. So … where am I happier than at Lake Michigan? 

I had not been to Muskegon in almost a year. I love the Pere Marquette Beach … for many reasons. I love it even more than Grand Haven … which is saying a LOT. 

Brenda and I arrived at the beach at about 4:00 in the afternoon. The sky was clear. The air was fresh. The water was even … warm! It was delicious to swim in it! We swam for quite a while … way, way out so that we could no longer touch bottom. And then we just floated! 

 We had decided to swim first and walk later. It's a good thing we did too! Because just as we were beginning our walk on the breakwater a thick, soupy fog began rolling in. I have never seen Muskegon in the fog … but it quickly blotted out both the shoreline and the lighthouses! 

 It was an eerie feeling to be out here walking when you could hardly see!

 But it was one of those feelings that I really love … kind of an adventuresome chilling kind of feeling!

 The fog took on its own special beauty ...

The seagulls didn't mind the fog at all!

And you'll never guess! I got a very special birthday treat! The coastguard lighthouse, or as it is known, "Muskegon South Pierhead Lighthouse" was OPEN FOR TOURS!!! You cannot imagine how ecstatic I was to see the sign (pictured several pictures below) announcing this!

 I've never seen this door OPEN! I have always always ALWAYS wanted to see inside!

The lighthouse was made in 1903. It needs a LOT of refurbishing and restoring ... 

Once upon a time (in the 1800's) THIS is what
the pier head light looked like! It reminds
me very much of Old Mission Point! 

 We climbed up the narrow, winding stairs (I took pictures coming DOWN, not going up) and this was our view! The two guides kept saying how great the view was from up on top … but not in FOG!

This is the little light that lights the way
to the Coast Guard dock and marina …
it's kind of a channel marker too.

We were not allowed to actually step outside (I was so disappointed about this!) onto the outside balcony, because the little lighthouse is in such disrepair that it has been deemed "UNSAFE" out there. So I had to snap pictures through the windows (which were not clean).

 The pier that leads up to the lighthouse.

I was so surprised that boats were still coming in and out of the channel. The fog kept getting thicker and thicker. I could understand the ones who were coming back IN … but there were plenty of outgoing vessels as well! 

 It was mighty HOT way up there on top (although this is actually just a puny little lighthouse, comparatively speaking). The only negative thing was the … spiders (yes, spiders!) that were in the light chamber … just hanging about in the humidity. The guide wasn't at all bothered by them!

My beautiful friend, Brenda.
I am so. thankful. for. her.

 Brenda asked me to hand off my camera so that she could get a few photos of me INSIDE this lighthouse! She did a good job too ...

This was such a surprise birthday gift! I love lighthouses so much … every inch of them! 

Looking east down the pier towards
the Coast Guard building …
obscured by fog.

 I had a little bit of editing fun with the picture below … it almost looks like a watercolor painting!

The sign that announced my birthday surprise!

By the time we had toured the lighthouse and hiked the beach, we were hungry! We had been on-line before driving out to Muskegon, and found the name of a seafood place "with a view." I had never heard of it before, but we figured … why not try it? 

 The Lake House Waterfront Grille certainly had a view! We even got to sit outside on the deck to enjoy our meal.

 I ordered their fried perch … and it practically melted in my mouth … COMPLETELY yummy!

So Brenda's advice to "fuss" a little for my birthday … was VERY good, wasn't it? Made all the better in that it was shared with her!