Bear with Me

I do love watching the Bear River downtown. It is a very relaxing place to hang out and doesn't usually get too noisy except when the salmon are running and there are a lot of fisherman here. A quiet, green place with water is a great place to read a book. A century ago though, this was a very different place. There were at least 3 different mills on this section of the river and 3 different dams to create energy. It was a busy place with lots of workers and industry. In fact, if you walk the trail along the side of the river, you can still see remnants of walls and pipes coming out of the ground here and there. What a difference a century makes!

A Touch of Green

Usually when one thinks of algae, it is not a pleasant thought. But in this instance, I think it is beautiful. I love the bright and vibrant green under the flowing water of the Bear River. It is determined to grow even though water is constantly sweeping over it. The algae has a good anchor on the rock and is seemingly very happy where it is. It made me happy to see it, and I hope it does you as well.

Late Fall

It isn't the most beautiful time of year, but it is quiet, almost contemplative. The noise of traffic is less, the number of people drops, and the silence is restful. It is like taking a deep breath before you set out to work; a gathering of thoughts and pulling in of peace and warmth for the months ahead.

The Mighty Bear

Of course, some might not think that it is mighty, but the Bear River does get strong in some areas with the water a loud torrent. Especially here near the bridge, it can look like rapids. The water is quite deep here in places, and the salmon swim here as they spawn. It is fun to watch them suddenly jump out of the water as they're trying to get further up the river. Hopefully one day I'll get a picture of them jumping, but they are hard to catch, as the fishermen around here can attest.

A River Runs Through it.

Another shot of the river that runs right through the middle of town. You would think you were far away from civilization and out in the middle of nowhere, when actually you are directly in the middle of Petoskey! The river runs through Petoskey and there are 4 bridges, one of which you must cross to get from one side to the other. This is the section of town that was heavily industrialized at the turn of the last century, but now has returned to a woodsy state. There are trails on either side where you can find parts of old structures in the paths; pipes and paving stones, crumbling walls and chunks of unidentifiable things. It is an interesting walk through history.

The Bear (River)

Believe it or not, this is right in the middle of town. The Bear River flows through Petoskey and you can hike on either side of the river, never knowing that you're walking through the city. It is quite a steep ravine at times with the river at the bottom. Yesterday we hiked along both sides, crossing at a footbridge many in Petoskey probably don't know about.

In years past, this area was filled with mills, factories, and other industry and the river was dammed in at least 4 places. There is still one dam left, (shown on June 28, 2008), that was part of this extensive network. Now it is all a nature area with a few hiking trails, lots of woods, and a lovely river nearby. A great place to hike!

Ships Ahoy!

Welcome to the Marina! During the summer, this area is crowded with boats. The kids love to go and see the different boats here, some visiting are as large as 75 feet or more. They are beautiful. (It also happens to be close to a nice playground, so we have spent quite a bit of time here over the years!!)

The Bear River flows into the bay between the grassy place and the marina, and the current there is fairly swift. But near the marina it is calm.

The Bear River

I told you the other day that I would be posting a picture of the river near where it empties into Little Traverse Bay. And here it is! In the top left corner of the picture, you see a glimpse of City Hall.

During the spawning time, this river is fun to watch as the salmon jump their way upstream through the rocks. Over on the other side of the bridge, there is a large pool where many fisherman find great catches.

Enjoy your day!!

Welcome to City Hall!

Where else does City Hall get such a view? It's right on the banks of the Bear River where the river flows into Little Traverse Bay. Right across the river from this building is the beautiful open space where we like to play bocce ball. Photos of the river to come!

Bear-ly There!

The Bear River goes right through the middle of town. There are only 4 bridges that cross the river, so if you want to get from one side to the other, you have to go on one of those 4 streets. The top of this bridge is one of the main highways in Northern Michigan and there is a lot of traffic on it every day. But few ever see the beauty beneath the bridge. There is a lovely hiking path that goes along the river for about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile through town. When you're on the path, you would never know you're in the middle of a city; it is quiet except for the water rushing by and the birds chirping in the trees. Such a lovely summer hike! You should try it sometime!