Mackinac Island 2008

Well here we are. Back at last. We had a fun weekend this weekend visiting Mackinac island here in Michigan.

For those of you who have no idea what Mackinac island is, let me give you the run down.

It's one of the Top 10 Islands in the WORLD to visit. Right here in michigan. It's located between our Upper Peninsula and Lower. Right next to the Mackinac Bridge. It was originally inhabited by Native Americans in 900 AD where they lived in peace for 700 years. It was then found by the French discoverer Jean Nicolet who created a fur trading post on the island. It was the most strategic position in the Great Lakes Fur Trade. It was also used to build 2 forts to fight the Natives. It then was taken over by the Bridge for the revolutionary war. 2 major Battles were fought here.

Now, it's a resort island which has Banned Motor vehicles since 1898. (There is 1 ambulance and a road commision truck). There is Horse carriages everywhere and a million bike rental places. It has a very scenic Road around the whole island (8 miles in length) right on the waters of Lake Huron to bike around. With many stops along the way.

Anyone heard of Mackinac Island Fudge? The World famous fudge is made in the MANY shops on the island.

All in all, it's an awesome place to visit. People from all over the world come here to see it. I hope you all get to see it someday.



Here are just a FEW of the photos I took. I hope you enjoy and trust you all not to duplicate or save my photos.

Thank you



This is Mackinac Bridge. It bridges the gap between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan:










This is me and My Fiance in front of the bridge. (Yea, I brought My tripod)





This is the view from our hotel balcony. We were right on the water behind the Ferry docks.






A nighttime shot from our hotel balcony:



And here are some of the photos from the island itself. I didn't get much of the town but mostly from Biking around the island





Arch Rock:



The bike trail which is actually considered a Michigan Highway that doesn't allow motorized vehicles:



Leaving the island







Well I hope you all enjoyed those and COMMENTS are always appreciated.



All are for sale as always. High res digital, printed or printed framed.



Thanks for looking

-J

This makes me sick...

This is an article I found:


Teen from Faith-Healing Family Dies at Home

Police Do Not Expect Criminal Charges to Be Filed in the Death

June 18, 2008

A 16-year-old boy whose family relies on faith rather than medical treatment has died after suffering from stomach pain and shortness of breath, police said.

Gladstone, Ore., police said the boy's relatives, members of the Followers of Christ Church, told police that he had refused medical treatment after becoming ill a week ago. Under state law, anyone over 14 has the right to refuse treatment.

The 16-year-old, Neil Beagley, suffered from an inflammation in his urethra, a tube leading from his bladder, which made him unable to urinate, Deputy State Medical Examiner Dr. Clifford Nelson told ABC News affiliate KATU-TV in Portland.

Beagley filled up with urine, and that eventually ruined his bladder, kidneys and heart, said Nelson. He called it "an absolutely horrible way to die."

The teen's condition could have been treated with the use of a catheter, however, Nelson said.

Sgt. Lynne Benton said the case was referred to the district attorney's office but did not expect charges to be filed.

"They said he declined medical attention," she said. "That's the story that the family told us during the investigation. I don't think we're going to be able to disprove that statement."

The Clackamas County district attorney's office declined to comment.

Benton said officers and a medical examiner were called to the Beagley home about an hour after his death late Tuesday afternoon, after church members called the medical examiner. Family members told police that the boy had become ill about a week earlier, Benton said.

A phone message left at the Beagley residence was not returned.

The boy is the uncle of Ava Worthington, a 15-month-old girl who died after her parents did not seek medical treatment for her. Her parents, Carl and Raylene Worthington, also members of the Followers of Christ Church, were indicted in March on criminal mistreatment and manslaughter charges and are awaiting trial.


**END**



Now, wait a minute. Rely on faith for healing? Has that ever even worked? I mean come on, 2 people are mentioned from this religion that have died in just this one article!! I found this on wikipedia:

"The Followers of Christ is an unorthodox fundamentalist Christian denomination based in the U.S. state of Oregon. The church has attracted controversy for its practices of faith healing and of shunning members who violate church doctrine, including those who seek medical care. According to authorities in Oregon and other places where church members are found, numerous children have suffered premature deaths from treatable causes due to their parents' refusal to seek medical care. "

Shunning members who seek medical care? Are you kidding me? What is this world coming to? This world is so full of close minded ignorant people that it's destroying us day by day. How far will the idea of religion take us? It's going to take us to extinction, that's where. Forever War, and Forever death from this disgusting idea of hope.


-J

Planning for an AT Thru-Hike

So recently I've been very interested in the idea of long distance hiking. I've done plenty of half days and full day hikes in different areas of Michigan and In the army we hiked (or marched rather) deep into the Ozark mountains with uncomfortable combat boots. So I have some what an interest in hiking in itself. But backpacking over a long distance seems so free to me.

I think since I saw the movie Into the Wild I have been pretty inspired to "Get out into the wild" so to speak. Now, I will definately not be parading into unknown Alaskan backcountry without any experience like the Supertramp, but taking a trip down the ole Appalachian seems like a fair enough bout.

My plan is to do it in ten years. That should give me adequate time to prepare, gain experience, and save the amount of money needed for the trip and to support my family over the 7 months I am gone. Craig (My Stepdad) and I will be taking our first overnighter down the Manistee river trail here in Michigan. It's about a 21 mile loop in the Manistee national Forest.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jensenl/visuals/album/2005/north/)

It's a beautiful scenic view of Michigan's natural forest and I really cannot wait to do it. I've been reading so much lately about backpacking in general and I'm just trying to gain the knowledge needed to take a long trip. A thru-hike of the Appalachian trail is very grueling and can mess with the mind a little. You must be physically and mentally prepared for a long trek like that one. Only about 20% of people actually finish the whole 2,000 mile trail.

Melanie (my fiance) tells me I bounce from interest to interest so fast that she never knows what I'm into, but this is totally different. I've always been interested in backpacking. I just never have had the chance to actually get out there and do it.

Well, now's my chance.

-J

New Blog?

So, yea, I've decided to start a blog in a new and foreign place. I've had the traditional xanga and then MySpace blogs but having everyone you know on the face of the planet read about your everyday life is a little strange. So I decided to just not tell anyone and let the world find me on their own. I'm sure whatever I blog about will show up in google search engines and if not, who cares?


I plan to blog about everything. That is the plan as of now and it could change as we go, who knows? I plan to make this a visual blog as I am a hobbying photographer as well.

I am from Grand Rapids, Mi and was born and raised here. I love this city and hope to always be a part of it wherever my life path takes me. I love taking pictures and I love being outside.

That's all for now.


-J