Warmer weather wrecked ski conditions so Leann suggested a trip to the North Coast (Lake Erie). Our first stop was Headland Dunes, then west to Mentor Lagoons then East to Lake Erie Bluffs.
All three locations are part of the Lake Erie birding trail. Maybe we should see them all, maybe I should keep that idea to myself.
http://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/see-the-sights/lake-erie-birding-trail/le-birding-banner
The Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse is a privately-owned lighthouse in the Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve. The lighthouse is not open to the public, but the owner sometimes opens it on its birthday in June. Here is a story about the person that bought the lighthouse in 2011 for $71,000. The story has a link if you also would like to buy a lighthouse.
This is the boardwalk through the dunes and to the beach.
This is ice stacked up against the shoreline.
You guessed it, there were 3 idiots walking behind this sign in the closed area.
Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve & Marina
We did a very messy hike here: flooded trail and then ice. Luckily I stayed upright.
The hike was a mess but we ended up at the lake in an area that looked like glaciers had returned after 12,000 years.
There were a bunch of birds where ice met water. Leann saw several species of diving ducks.
Ice formations were interesting
Glaciers (and apparently Lake Erie) can spit out super clear ice that are called diamonds. The black marks are on the ice behind this Lake Erie “diamond”.
We didn’t want to go out very far. Erie ice is know for breaking away and sending fishermen adrift into the lake.
View from Erie Bluffs and our last stop.
We had fun exploring the North Coast.
HAPPY TRAILS, STEVE