Whirlwinds of the Northern Sky . . .

"And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north,
a great cloud,
and a fire infolding itself,
and a brightness was about it,

 and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber,

out of the midst of the sky."

- Ezekiel: Chapter I, verse 4

[Authorized King James Version]

The Northern Lights — more elegantly known as aurora borealis, or dawn wind — set northern skies ablaze at the coming of spring and on in to the end of summer.

Caused by the collision of charged particles carried to Earth on solar winds, these shimmering celestial curtains have been attributed to the glinting armor of Valkyries, the fireside dancing of Algonquin spirits and — in Philip Pullman’s Golden Compass trilogy — a physical source of wisdom.

In a less mythological vein, they’re also great fun to simply view and photograph.

My flatlander friends are always amazed by this natural *laser show* whenever they are fortunate enough to be visiting me on Drummond at the right time and we are in the right place.

And they always end up asking - does this happen all the time?

If not, when is a good time to view the Northern Lights?

If, like my friends, you want to know more, here are the two websites I always recommend:

First the Geophysical Institute in Alaska is one of the hotspots for information about viewing the aurora borealis - aka the northern lights. In their excellent Aurora FAQ, they answer the question: "Can you predict when and where there will be aurora?" (they say you can, but with less confidence than weather prediction.)

The other site I like is Porter Johnson's Northern Lights  Porter has this to say about the Northern Lights in his introduction: "The Northern Lights are nature's light show, with quantum leaps in oxygen and nitrogen atoms in an impressive display of luminous curtains and rays that dance above the tundra. They involve the interplay of elementary particle physics with superstition, mythology, and fairy tales . . . "

What's not to love? Physics, superstition, mythology,

and fairy tales all rolled into one awesome light show! 

If April showers bring May flowers, what does April snow bring?

"Poor, dear, silly Spring,

preparing her annual surprise!"

- Wallace Stevens

photo credit: Coni Craig 4/8/2010 7:32 am Drummond Island

Sometimes the Treasure Finds You . . .

Islands

Dad likes to talk

about islands–

how they sink

how they rise

How some are bred

by volcanoes

and others built from coral bones

-by Marilyn Singer

from her book *Footprints on the Roof: Poems About the Earth*

I started my rock collection years ago as a child growing up in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. It is not your everyday "rocks from the side of the road" collection, but an honest-to-goodness collection of rocks, minerals and fossils that I have scowered the woods and shorelines for, scavenged from rock piles formed by the building of this road or that, or had presented to me by family and friends from faraway places. My fascination for all things geological eventually led to a Major in Geology during the acquistion of my first BA.

Geologically part of the Niagra Escarpment - Drummond is an island *built from coral bones*. The Island offers a rock nut like me more to explore  -  and discover!  Among my favorite hunting sites are the Fossil Ledges.

These days I don't collect every fossil speciman I uncover. To preserve this wonderful natural scene for my grandchildren and others to enjoy long after I am gone, I take mostly pictures, not souvenirs. For while there are hundreds and thousands of fabulous fossils to be found - these wonders of nature took millions of years to form and it will take another million years for the next batch to go through the same metamorphisis from plant or animal to rock.

Amazingly enough, I have discovered that *shooting, not looting* has not in the least dampened my enthusiasm or passion for rock hounding.

 

So next time you are out-and-about on Drummond look down - you never know the treasures you’ll find!

Biking the Gem . . .

Bicycle Drummond

Ride around the Gem

Go easy, look hard.

- bicycle haiku by Candis Collick

The Island is a special place, you needn't go more than a couple of miles in any direction to be "in the bush" on one of it's many terrific mountain biking trails. It is ideal for people who like to explore interesting habitats and are game for a bit of adventure. But the island isn't all neatly signed and interpreted. When getting out and exploring the wild areas, it is very easy to end up taking an interior road that turns into a two track, that then all but disappears. So before you head out-and-about, be sure to stop by the DITA office located at the Four Corners and pick up a copy of the new Island maps. 

Drummond Island Tourist Association
P.O.Box 200 Drummond Island, MI 49726

906-493-5245 or 800-737-8666

Email: drummondislandtourism@alphacomm.net

Dipping of the Smelt!

Warm spring nights growing up in the U.P. meant one thing - I would be staying up late for the best party of them all. The annual Dipping of the Smelt Party!

We would all pile into the car and head off for the dirt road leading to the Carp River near the old Mackinac Trail. By the time we got there smelt anglers and bonfires would already dot the river banks just before sunset.

Back then the smelt would be so thick you could fill any number of five-gallon tubs in a matter of minutes just using hand-dip nets. Huge bonfires would hold vats filled with oil. The five or six inch long smelt would be dropped in whole (guts and all), fried in the oil for a few minutes, and eaten as fast as they were fried.

It was a festival atmosphere, especially when the smelt ran at night.

There were grandfathers, grandmothers, teenage girls, 20-something boys, even kids still in diapers.

You could here the shouts up and down the banks of the river . . .

“Bucket full!”

“New net!"

"Frying time!"

We kids would help by keeping the fires stoked, running buckets to and fro, singing songs and telling jokes. Oh, and watching the fish frying over the open fires.

All that remained was the eating, which was always the best part of all. I honestly think as many smelt were consumed riverside as were packed in coolers and carryed back home.

Spring smelt runs have not been the same in recent years. These days, smelt are breeding more in lake waters so we’re not seeing as many heading up stream. Still, a fishing license, a smelt net, a bucket, a flashlight and a pair of waders are basically all that you need to have the time of your life.

Of course, you need to know when the smelt are running to take full advantage of the experience - with any luck the run will come at night .

May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it.

~ Irish Blessing

A Fishing Prayer . . .

Dear lord please let me catch a fish

A ten pound bass is my wish

My special lure just let him bite

And I will reel him with all my might

The weather is right and the water is clear

Please send some big fish over here

I know there's fish, some fit to keep

Way down in your waters deep

Lord please let me stay afloat

and guide my little fishing boat

oh just send me the big ole one

some time before this day is done!!

NOTE: While this is a BASS Fishing Prayer you might want to alter it a wee bit and start using it now because the spring fishing season is in full swing! The Perch are running early this year in the waters surrounding Drummond Island - on Easter Sunday one lucky angler brought home a mess of 40! Prime should be this weekend coming up - April 10th. Watch the Drummond Island Facebook page for daily updates as the reports come in.

Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)

Common names - are yellow bellies, lake perch. Larger fish are called jumbo perch.

The season is open year round, with daily limits of 50 fish with a minimum length of 7 inches. They are green to golden yellow on the back with 5 to 7 dark bars from back to almost its belly and bright orange fins. Fish average 8 to 10 inches with some reaching 12 to 15 inches.

Yellow Perch are schooling fish that spend most of their time in deep water. When spring water temperatures reach 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit huge schools, migrate to shallow bays and rivers to spawn with anglers soon to follow. Still fishing near bottom with worms or minnows is the most preferred method. Perch sometimes strike lightly and floats or bobbers will aid in detecting bites.

Favorite areas are the Potagannissing River to Harbor Island as well as Whitney Bay to name a few. At this time, it is common to catch 15 to 30 fish per angler per day. Classified as pan fish perch are excellent eating. During the summer months check out deeper waters in the 30 to 70 foot range and expect early morning and dusk to be the best times to fish.

A Tale of Two Off Roaders . . .

said the

 in the

Bronco.

you

yelled an

named Doug.

I like

in my

"?"

asked the cute

near

said Doug.

""

he called as he climbed into his

The

was

to meet a

as Doug yelled to the

who was

"I'm

!"

It's

replied the

Who by this time was sadder,

!

NOTE: I can not take credit for the above dittie - it was emailed to me with no author or source provided. If anyone knows it's source, please contact me so I can give credit where credit is due. In the meantime - hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. :)

SECOND NOTE: Things to know while ORVing on Drummond Island :

It Is Illegal To . . .
Operate an ORV on any wet lands, to include lakes, shorelines, swamps, bogs, marshes (wet or dry), streams or rivers, or ride on Great Lakes shoreline or beaches.

Operate an ORV off the marked trail. (Consult the DNR ORV handbook for further information)

Operate an ORV on private property, posted or not posted, unless you have permission from the land owner.

Operate an ORV on any State Highway. (M-134)

Operate an ORV under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Operate an ORV without a helmet.

Operate an ORV with a passenger on a one up machine.

Operate an ORV on a closed snowmobile trail or ski trail.

Also Important to Remember:

All Drummond Township and Chippewa County roads are open to ORV traffic.

ORV Speed limits are 25 mph on all county roads unless posted lower.

You must ride single file on the far right side of the road.

Consult the DNR ORV handbook for detailed information and all State of Michigan ORV regulations.

Remember, keep it legal,

keep it on the marked trail and keep it safe.