Tag Archives: Postcards

Postcard From Eagle Harbor, Michigan

July 15, 2023 Tom Dills 4 Comments

The copper mining industry began on the Keweenaw Peninsula in the 1840s. Lake Superior’s unreliable disposition meant that passing ships needed navigational assistance, and in 1851 the original lighthouse was built. The wooden tower which supported a fourth-order Fresnel lens illuminated by an oil lamp soon deteriorated, and in 1871 it was replaced by the present red brick structure. In 1895 a fog signal was added.
In the 1960s, the Fresnel lens was replaced by aviation beacon-type white and red lights, which beam their warning to ships more than 20 miles offshore. After being tended by 22 keepers since 1851, the lighthouse became automated in 1980 and the last personnel left in 1982.

We spent a couple of days sightseeing in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, and as part of our rounds we stopped at the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse for some photos. The lighthouse is an important part of Eagle Harbor’s history and is a familiar icon for those who visit.

I would typically want to photograph a lighthouse at dusk with the beacon operating, but our timing did not permit that for this trip!

Photography

Postcard From Houghton, Michigan

July 12, 2023 Tom Dills 4 Comments

Sunset behind the Portage Canal Lift Bridge in Houghton, Michigan

I had the perfect opportunity to photograph the sunset behind the Portage Canal Lift Bridge in Houghton (pronounced HOE-tun) Michigan. Once again the clouds cooperated, and even though there were a few raindrops around, it was a pretty nice scene.

Postcards

Postcard From Mackinaw City, Michigan

July 10, 2023 Tom Dills 6 Comments

The Mackinac Bridge across the Straits of Mackinac, separating Lake Huron and Lake Michigan

We’re on our way to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and stopped for the night in Mackinaw City. We took advantage of the 9:30 sunset time to head out to the shore of Lake Huron to photograph the Mackinac Bridge at dusk. There wasn’t much color but the bridge was quite impressive regardless!

Yes, the different spellings of the words Mackinac and Mackinaw are a little confusing, but I’m pretty sure I have it right! 🙂

Postcards

Postcard From Belize

February 28, 2023 Tom Dills 2 Comments

High Temple, a Mayan structure at Lamanai Archaeological Reserve, Belize

While in Belize we took a ship tour to the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve, a site consisting of the remains of several Mayan temples and other structures from Mayan times. It was a fascinating tour and I even got to climb one of the pyramids (not this one)! You can get a sense of the size of this temple by finding the worker – about halfway up, just to the right of the stairs – doing restoration work.

This is the last Postcard from our voyages, as Belize was the last port where we got off the ship. We have visited Cozumel numerous times, and while Grand Cayman is very nice, it is another port where the ship does not dock. A “tender port” is where one of the ship’s tenders or a larger boat from shore is needed to get onto the land. In both cases we decided to enjoy a mostly empty ship.

More photos to follow!

Postcards

Postcard From Key West

February 26, 2023 Tom Dills 6 Comments

The Sunset Pier Bar in Key West, Florida

We made it home from sunny Florida to gray and cloudy Charlotte yesterday (Saturday) afternoon. I’ve got my photos downloaded and should be able to start on some editing and processing over the next few days. We were gone a while, so there are a few more important things to do as well.

The first stop on our third cruise, aboard Celebrity Apex, was in Key West, FL. We pretty much wandered around looking for photos, and I kind of liked the repetition of all the tables along this pier. I’m certain the scene would be a lot different at sunset, but early in the morning I was able to get the tables and umbrellas all in a line, mostly uninterrupted by tourists!

Postcards

Postcard From Curacao

February 15, 2023 Tom Dills 2 Comments

The Queen Emma Bridge and the waterfront of Willemstad, Curacao

The Queen Emma Bridge is a pontoon bridge connecting pedestrian traffic between two sections of Willemstad Curacao. The bridge is hinged and opens regularly to enable the passage of oceangoing vessels. On the opposite end from the hinge is a small shelter where an operator controls two diesel engines turning propellers. The propellers are mounted perpendicular to the length of the bridge and allow it to swing parallel to the shore. The process only takes a few minutes to complete, although the bridge can remain open for much longer depending on ship traffic.

Postcards

Postcard From Bonaire

February 12, 2023 Tom Dills 4 Comments

She wouldn’t get out of my shot…what could I do? Sorobon Beach, Bonaire

The first stop on the second cruise of our Caribbean adventure was the Dutch island of Bonaire. Sorobon Beach is an area popular with windsurfers and sunbathers of all kinds, sizes and shapes. On to Curacao and then Aruba!

Postcards

Postcards From The Caribbean

February 9, 2023 Tom Dills 6 Comments

View of the Mount Liamuiga volcano on the island of of St. Kitts

Kathy & I are currently “binge cruising,” having just completed the first of three cruises to the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale. The first cruise, aboard Celebrity Equinox, was a 10-night cruise that visited St. Kitts, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia and Antigua. We took tours on all but Grenada, and needless to say I came back with a few photos, which I will likely not look at too much until we get home.

We embark this afternoon aboard the same ship, Celebrity Equinox, on a 9-night cruise that will visit Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba and Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic). On Saturday, February 18 we move to Celebrity Apex for a 7 night cruise to the Western Caribbean. After that we head back to Charlotte to rest and go on diets. 😉

I’ll have some more photos but no specific timetable to posting them. Too many things to do to spend time on the computer. Today was a good day to look at a few because we didn’t have to get off the ship! More later!