This is the town of St James on Beaver Island, MI. Both the town and the entire island are unlike any place we've ever seen. The island is located at the Northern end of Lake Michigan about 30 miles from the Michigan mainland. The island is 13 miles long and varies between 3 and 6 miles wide. There are about 650 residence most of whom live at the northern end of the island in the area in and around St James harbor. There are 4 restaurants, 2 lighthouses, 1 sheriff (Travis) and no traffic lights. There is also a golf course, 2 airports, several lakes and lots of hiking and biking trails through miles of absolutely beautiful forests.
But I think the most fascinating things about the island can't be revealed in the facts and figures. Its hard to describe what it is exactly. Call it a feeling or a vibe. There is just something about this place, the look and feel of it all. And the people. The residence here definitely add to the unique character of the experience. Everyone is exceedingly nice, but there's more to it than that. They look out for each other. They take care of each other. I suppose it has to do with the isolation and how hard the winters can be. The only way to get by is to rely on the help of others and give others whatever help you can in return. It seems almost tribe-like at times. Its a fascinating thing to experience.
We booked the whole week and been exploring island and its culture in between long stretches of staring at the water and doing absolutely nothing. A vacation success if ever there was one. The weather hasn't been the greatest, lots of rain and overcast skies. But the winds have been strong and we've been able to take advantage of the rare moments of good sunlight to grab a few flights and get some decent shots from a couple of spots.
There are lots more pictures to be had here. We've only scratched the surface of it. But even still, I think its been a successful trip on all counts.
