Well Site, East Bay 1-15C

photo: Nate Richardson

It’s always a little jarring after a cool, relaxing walk in the woods to stumble out into a hot, dusty, clear-cut oil field replete with pumping infrastructure in various stages of decay.   These places are not pretty, but somehow I don’t mind them. For somebody who spends a disproportionate amount of his waking hours seeking beautiful natural landscapes, this is admittedly odd. I’ve been bumping into these places my entire life and, although I greatly value natural beauty and healthy functioning landscapes, I have a connection to the oil fields. I remember watching the derricks slowly bob their heads from the family car and being comforted by the slow, steady movement of the gentle giants. Of course, I also personified the derricks into Eeyore-type characters so later, when I saw them motionless and alone in their fields, no longer useful, just odd-looking, forgotten horses put out to pasture, the sadness I felt for them, however irrational, was very real.

It’s been a while since the days of attaching emotion to multi-ton inanimate oil-extracting infrastructure and I, along with many others I suspect, are not sad to see the heyday of oil starting to fade into the rear view mirror.  However, while walking through East Bay 1-15C field I couldn’t help think about what oil has meant to this area. The Niagaran reef formation,  from which all the oil and gas in this area comes, has poured financial resources into our communities. The 1-15c well site is actually on Brown Bridge Quiet Area property owned by Traverse City and is one of several others. Royalties from the Brown Bridge Quiet Area wells total eight million dollars and yield .5 million in interest revenue yearly. The Rotary Club of Traverse City also owned land once rich with oil and gas resources and was the impetus for Rotary Charities of Traverse City which distributes oil and gas interest revenues in the form of grants that support life enhancing causes including affordable housing, education, environment, culture and recreation, strengthening families, community capacity building and health. Over a 30-year period Rotary Charities has distributed over 36 million dollars to communities in the five-county region.

Perhaps the point is that there is often more to things than first meets the eye… sure the landscapes are unhealthy, ugly and uncomfortable but these ugly places have provided dollars that have started organizations like the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy which has protected over 34,000 acres of land and 100 miles of shoreline in our region over 20 years. So the next time you are climbing through the dunes, walking your favorite forest path or beach, or paddling a pristine river it may be, in a circuitous way, thanks to “Texas Tea”… in this area anyhow.

Rotary Charities History

Brown Bridge Quiet Area Management Plan

Camping

Photo Credit: Brian Beckwith

Camping is one of my favorite things to do. I love being in the outdoors with nature and the fresh air. Going camping also means eating s’mores! My favorite time of year to go camping is in the fall because it’s chilly, the air is brisk, and apple cider tastes better in the fall! But I still like camping in the summer because you get to go swimming.

Izzy’s Top Ten Reasons She Loves Camping

1. Roasting marshmallows over the fire.

2. The marshmallow melting in your mouth as you take a bite and think, man, I need to do this more often!

3. S’mores (Duh!)

4. Sitting by the fire.

5. Swimming.

6. Sleeping in my warm, cozy sleeping bag.

7. Watching my mom fall asleep in her chair by the fire (which she usually does).

8. Sleeping in a tent.

9. Waking up with nature.

10. Oh yeah, and being with my family.

 

Izzy’s Top Places to Camp

Guernsey Lake

Grass Lake

Fisherman’s Island

Leelanau State Park

Esch Beach

Photo credit: Kim Schwaiger

Did you know that in 1889, the first murder in Benzie County occurred in the then town of Aral, now the site of Esch Beach?  The murderer’s motive?  High taxes.  In the 1880s Aral was a small logging village with a mill pond that was formed by damming Otter Creek where it now opens into the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan. The mill operator, Charles Wright, had refused to pay taxes, arguing that they were too high and were restricting the mill in its rivalry with Edgewater.   As the local deputy and township treasurer attempted to apply a writ of attachment to the mill’s logs for the unpaid taxes, Mr. Wright shot them dead.  He then paid his employees their wages and disappeared into the woods.  A telegraph explaining the situation went to Frankort.  Who would come to address the two bodies (kept out of the direct sun by umbrellas put up by the townspeople) and the escaped culprit?  The prosecuting attorney and sheriff commandeered a steamer ship in Frankfort and arrived in Aral with their posse.  It was believed an Indian handy-man, Lahala, knew of Mr. Wright’s whereabouts, but he refused to talk.  Members of the crowd put a noose around Lahala’s neck and hoisted him in the air.  He was let down and given a second opportunity to speak.  He refused and was lifted off the ground again.  Under the threat of a third time he agreed to cooperate.  Mr. Wright was found and jailed.  The governor of Michigan later commuted his sentence after eleven years served for reasons unknown. Upon his release, he found his former wife and scared off her new husband.  The Wrights were rumored to have moved out West, but remained as part of the area’s lore for years to come.

Remember Esch Beach when you get your tax bill and need a place to get outside and take in some relaxing blue skies and water.

Old Settlers Park

Photo credit: Kim Schwaiger

Do you have a favorite dock?  Mine is the dock at Old Settlers Park on Big Glen Lake.  For me, the dock serves as an indication of the change in seasons.  My anticipation of summer is heightened when I see the dock has been put in the water, and it is with a hint of sadness that I know winter will soon be here when I find the dock piled on shore.  In between times, it is a spot I frequent; where I smell the fresh wild mint as I descend the stairs in late spring, watch the sun set over Alligator Hill, dip my toes in the cool fresh water, observe my daughter play in delight, and reflect on the tranquility of this beautiful spot we call home.

Cedar River

Sometimes, because we are blessed with so many incredible places to explore in our region, amazing places fly under the radar. Such was the case for me with the Cedar River in Leelanau County. This amazing place is easily accessed by boat at Solon Twp Park just north of Cedar on Rt 651. The river slowly meanders through Leelanau Conservancy’s 395-acre Cedar River Natural Area out to Lake Leelanau. The current is very slow so paddling back up stream from the lake is not an issue. The Cedar River and associated wetlands have largely gone undisturbed by humans, a fact seemingly confirmed by an area teeming with life. It’s also incredibly quiet… in fact I heard a deer make a deer noise for the first time in my life out there. It’s a noise you wouldn’t expect to come from such a graceful creature btw. Enjoy!

Photo credit: Nate Richardson

 

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