Hiking While Distracted In Leelanau







Empire  Bluffs  Trail  Under  April  Snow
I find it somewhat amazing that people can be surrounded by one of the most beautiful landscapes in America, ... and are seemingly unable to pry their eyes from the exalted smartphone.

 I say only somewhat amazing because everyone millennial and younger deems smartphones a birthright that will not be denied.  I get that.

 But what I don't understand:  Why come to the Land of Delight - where the whole point is the scenery - and hardly raise your head to really look at it?

And it can be dicey to have eyes glued to little screens in this big outdoor space.  I've seen more than one smartphone zombie walk into a tree, ... or nearly tumble off a narrow dune trail 300 feet above the lake.  This is known to cause some level of discomfort.

 Should we not spend nearly every Leelanau minute enjoying the view?  After all, given life's vagaries, who knows when we and the view shall meet again, ... if ever.

"Well said," my wife is thinking (and smirking), "by a guy who still uses a vintage flip phone that is usually turned off."

 Okay.  Well, ... at least I don't fall off Empire Bluffs.
See You Up North,

 Chris 
                    Visit A Leelanau Landmark:  Empire Area Museum - Turn off your
                    smartphone and travel back to the time when Empire was a 
                    bustling lumber town in the late 1800's.  The museum complex - 
                    comprised of Beeman Barn, Hose House, Blacksmith Shop, Roen's
                    Saloon, School House and Main Museum - is crammed full of period
                    antiques and artifacts.  Located at M-22 and LaCore Street, Empire
                    Village.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On Chance In Leelanau

Image
Photo Courtesy Of Pure Michigan I like to contemplate chance encounters. Like when I'm walking the beach at Platte Bay, ... And another solitary hiker approaches from the shadow of the dunes. As we pass, we might exchange a smile, a greeting, perhaps a few trite words. Just two travelers, on a stretch of sand, in a fleeting moment ... Which will likely never be repeated in the history of the world. Still, I marvel at how we got here - strangers, you and I. How from the beginning of time ... To the circumstances of our births, To the unfolding of our lives, To our decision to walk the beach at Platte Bay, To the precise interplay of our gravity, force and momentum, The universe has conspired ... To cross our paths ... At this very minute. What are the chances? See You In Leelanau Up North, Chris                     Visit A Leelanau Landmark:  Platte Bay - A graceful curve of the                     National Lakeshore unparalleled for its sweeping blue vista.                     Take
Read more

In Leelanau, ... Looking Back

Image
Empire  Beach  Sunset To behold a Leelanau sunset, Is to glimpse a bit of heaven from earth. But not in real time. For to look at a Leelanau sunset, Is to look back in time - About 8.3 minutes ago to be precise. Which is the time it takes for our sunlight To make its 93 million mile journey To the Land of Delight. So, the sun actually sets eight plus minutes before the sunset image we view from our little planet. Indeed, everything we see in this universe is time delayed, By milliseconds to millions of years, Depending upon its distance from our eyes. In other words, ... In Leelanau and beyond, Now is an illusion. See You In Leelanau Up North, Chris                 Visit A Leelanau Landmark:  Leelanau Up North - recently named                one of the top 70 Michigan blogs by the editors at Feedspot.com.                Check out Michigan's most popular blogs at  Top 70 Michigan Blogs . CLICK  'SUBSCRIBE'  AND  ENJOY  A  BIT  OF  LEELANAU  UP  NORTH  BIWEEKLY!
Read more

A Leelanau Christmas

Image
  View From Empire Beach When I was a younger man,  He never told me ... There would be longings without fulfillment. There would be heartaches without healing. There would be questions without answers. But now, as an older man, I remember what He did say ... There would be love without conditions. Nothing else really matters.
Read more