We discovered a gem not far from our home last Sunday afternoon. The weather was sunny and warm, but not too hot, so we decided to investigate Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve. This park lies on the shore of Lake Michigan and is just under twenty-five miles from our home, in a straight shot down Highway 60, heading east. We parked and then hiked a short distance to the bluff where we were treated to a breathtaking view of the lake. The layers of blue and turquoise colors of this immense lake called to mind something less "Midwest" and more like the waters of the Caribbean (I admit that this effect was augmented by my polarized sunglasses, but it was, nonetheless, an impressive sight!). Without a map, we made snap decisions at each fork in the road and we weren't disappointed with where the paths led us. In addition to the bluff views of the lake, we crossed a wetland area, a shady forest, and a dense wooded area leading to a ravine--an area that reminded us of parks in the Pacific Northwest. The nature preserve wasn't crowded, but there was a good number of individuals and families there, enjoying the natural beauty. Joggers, hikers, photographers, and beach-goers trekked along the well-groomed trails. Looking up and looking down and into the lush growth, we discovered the contrasting colors of wildflowers, shadows on the ground, and light speckling the green canopy above us. It was a good discovery. We almost didn't make it this year. The weather had been hot and we weren't excited about shuffling through a crowded festival in the steamy heat. But the forecast for Friday, two days prior to the last day of this music festival, was sunny and cool. We decided to drive down to Milwaukee and enjoy some music, food, and fun. "The World’s Largest Music Festival®” --that's how they bill Summerfest. This festival began fifty years ago and is a Milwaukee summer tradition: 11 days, 11 stages, featuring over 800 acts, with more than 1000 performances. There is a lot of big name entertainment here; last year Maria and I saw Paul Simon. And even though some of the acts, like Paul Simon, are blasts from the past (Def Leppard, Steven Tyler, Ringo Starr, Journey, and James Taylor were a few from this year), we find that as we get older, more and more Summerfest headliners are unrecognizable to us. But that's OK. Maria and I both appreciated the exquisite weather on this visit; The walk along the waterfront was shaded and cool. We browsed the shops selling tie-dyed dresses and T-shirts, jewelry, and art from other countries. We made a stop at a Guatemalan clothing stall and visited with a lady and her daughter from San Antonio Aguas Calientes. I spotted an artist's tribute to Anthony Bourdain, and talked with him and his assistant about our mutual admiration (and expressed our sadness) for this recently deceased TV personality. I purchased a large print from the artist and he signed it for me. We enjoyed some barbecued pulled pork sandwiches, waffle fries, and a couple of beers. The highlight for us, though, was being able to stroll into an amphitheater, sit down (or stand and dance in place), and enjoy some excellent music from bands we had never heard of. As one walks through the park, the sounds of African drums, a booming bass line, or a singer's wail can be heard in the distance, calling us to them. So, we go there and enjoy the sounds. On this visit we heard The Spiders from Milwaukee, a David Bowie tribute band. The lead singer brought Bowie's voice to life, and the band did an excellent job creating some great sing-along music. We dropped in on a band that was covering various hits with concert-hall worthy tunes. Their flag-raising Zeppelin anthem, "Whole Lotta Love" was worth the price of admission for me. Nicholas Barron & the Strapping Owls featured vocals, guitar, drums, and a tuba. They played some mean blues. When we wandered into the Mr. Blotto concert, we found ourselves in a Dead-head zone; dancers in the audience were letting their inner hippie flow as they bobbed and weaved dreamily to the groovy sounds onstage. Drummers from Senegal invited festival goers to sit on folding chairs and play one of the many drums awaiting them. After about four hours we were tired from the walking, but it felt good to be able to enjoy this music tradition. We look forward to next year and hope the weather is just as nice! |
AuthorI love learning about and interacting with people of different cultures. Words and their origins fascinate me too, and at times I enjoy twisting and turning them to create a laugh. |