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Tag: photographs & memories

03 October 2022

Gobles Michigan memories

postcard Maples Resort Brandywine Lake Gobles MII grew up in the Chicago suburbs frequently recreating with similarly aged cousins at a Loomis family-owned resort with seven cabins on the northern shore of Brandywine Lake in Gobles Michigan.

aerial view Brandywine Lake Gobles MIWe swam from light until dark, interspersed with water skiing round and round the 70 acre lake.  Mom wasn’t overly fond of the “Gobles Michigan hillbillies” but tolerated “sleeping on the back of the dragon” spring-framed beds over a weekend, or one week vacation.  No two dishes or silverware matched and I’d vie for the “prettiest” patterns.  It was my job not to burn the toast at breakfast on the old electric toaster.

Wes & Effie truck full of kids Gobles MISunday morning all the kids were loaded into the truck for a ride to town for the newspaper and candy.

lilypads Brandywine Lake Gobles MIBecause I opted to stay in the mid-west an additional two weeks there was time to return to a rather changed Maples Resort after 52 years gone by.

Sandee baked my favorite chocolate chip cookies to take along and I rode to the lake about three hours from the Chicago suburbs with cousin Colleen and husband John after he finished working Friday afternoon.  Though we arrived after dark I felt a surge of powerful energy like a welcome home after a long goodbye.

Brandywine Lake cloud reflections Gobles MichiganIn the morning I peaked out the bedroom window and saw a marvelous light on the lake so threw on clothes and rushed outside even before coffee.

cabins 2&3 Maple Resort Brandywine Lake Gobles MichiganThen, I felt a little confused.  Cabins #1, #2, and #3 remain, however #4, #5, and #6 were removed to build Colleen’s brother Larry’s multi-story mansion.  Cabin #7 was also moved a bit to accommodate.  Then there’s Colleen’s and one other family member’s house added to the end of the line.  This is no longer a public resort.

reflections Brandywine Lake Gobles MichiganMany more houses line the shore than I remember and some have replaced small cabins.

camper Gobles Michigan

Effie & Ervin's house Gobles MichiganLater cousin Judy, who has lived in Gobles all her 70 years, and I walked around the woods and she showed me where her camper is parked, where the original big house had been.  Sadly a tree took out that house so it was demolished.

dolls & GS hat in old trunk Gobles MichiganThough many old things remain stored away and the old dinner bell has been moved.

steps to bench Gobles Michigandinner bell Brandywine Lake Gobles Michigan

As kids, we’d almost fight to be the one to ring that bell for Sunday supper at Effie’s huge table.

firepit Brandywine Lake Gobles MichiganIn the evening a bunch of us sat around the firepit reminiscing and feeling almost like our parents in the past.  Then we BBQed hotdogs for dinner.  Wasn’t quite the same as roasting water-soaked corn in their husks on the old metal bedframe over a glowing bed of coals.  I’m still kicking myself for taking no photos of the people.  Guess I’ll have to go back.

Brandywine Lake cloud reflections Gobles Michigan

Brandywine Lake cloud reflections Gobles MichiganThe following morning the light once again beckoned me outside early.  But it wasn’t long before my energy level waned and I needed some down time.  Colleen and John headed back to Illinois Sunday afternoon and I moved into the camper for the remainder of my stay with an undetermined leave date.

camper view Brandywine Lake Gobles MichiganThe view was pretty from there also.

Brandywine Lake view Gobles Michigan

Geese flying clouds Gobles MichiganGeese overhead

Brandywine Lake cloud reflections Gobles MichiganClouds above and below

After another morning trip to the shore I was feeling chilly at 55° with intermittent rain.

orange barn Gene the Pumpkin Man Kalamazoo Michigan

antique orange gaspump Pumpkin Man Kalamazoo Michiganorange Cadillac Pumpkin Man Kalamazoo Michigan

Mums Pumpkin Man Gobles MichiganLater, Judy and I went out and visited the Pumpkin Man at Jim and Diana’s recommendation.  Absolutely everything is orange.  Sadly, pumpkins weren’t yet harvested but I bought an acorn squash for dinner and Judy got some Mums.

Brandywine Lake Gobles MichiganWith nights in the 40s we decided to fill one of the camper propane tanks so I wouldn’t run out of heat.  While out that day we took a drive around the lake.

White-tail deer Gobles Michigan

fall colors Gobles Michigan

fall leaves in branch Gobles MichiganAfternoon walks through the woods yielded plenty of surprises.

White-breasted Nuthatch bird on tree Gobles Michigan

black squirrel Gobles Michigan

Hairy or Downy Woodpecker bird fall colors tree Gobles MichiganAs did waking up several times in one morning to the scratching sound of mice in the camper.  So I moved again, this time into Judy’s house just up the road from the lake.

tree frame cloud reflection Brandywine Lake Gobles Michigan

tree fall colors Brandywine Lake Gobles Michigan

mushrooms on tree Gobles MichiganMostly we spent time talking and catching up on all those missing years.  Figured out my last visit was for Judy’s wedding in August 1970.  Sadly her husband died over a year ago.  We are definitely from the same tribe.

Pedro & Loomis at Trina's Gobles Michigan

Ervin dog Gobles MichiganThursday morning Judy’s daughter and SIL left for a camping trip in the UP so there were chores to be done like feeding Ervin the Burmese dog, Pedro the miniature burro, and Loomis the very large horse.

fish in pond Gobles Michigan

frog in pond Gobles MichiganPlus we spent time sitting in the sunshine by their pond full of fish and frogs.

branches Brandywine Lake Gobles Michigan

mushroom Gobles Michigan

bird on tree Gobles MichiganYet we also found time for more walks along the lake and in the woods.

fall trees shoreline Brandywine Lake Gobles Michigan

Geese fall trees shoreline Brandywine Lake Gobles Michigan

Cabins #2&3 Brandywine Lake Gobles MichiganMy last full day we took the pontoon boat out for a different perspective.  Then the wind worked against us getting back to the dock.  So Judy just beached the boat and later when the wind dropped her brother Gene moved it.

labyrinth Gobles MichiganIn the morning I slowly walked the labyrinth, breathing deep of the Autumn scented air.

trees sunset clouds Gobles MichiganIn the afternoon, Sandee and Carl came to get me via sightseeing along the way and we returned to Illinois.

cornfield Gobles MichiganI’ve gone through several culture and landscape changes over these three weeks in the Midwest.  All of them wonderful.  But to be honest, except for a full day of flying, I’m ready to return to Arizona.  There’s no place like home.  So now I’m working on Judy to visit me in December.

postcard Maples Resort Brandywine Lake Gobles MichiganErvin & Effie Loomis bought Maples Resort in Gobles, Michigan during the late 1940s.

Wes Ervin Howard Fred Loomis brosWes, Ervin, Howard, and Fred Loomis

Clara May LoomisErvin was one of four brothers, including my grandpa Howard, sons to Clara May Loomis who was an actress in her youth.

 

Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible.

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Gobles, Michigan, Places I've been, United States family, photographs & memories, travel 26 Comments
16 September 2022

Foto Friday Fun 485: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by 11 readers including South Africa, Kaibab National Forest, and a little of my art.

Eye of the needle Drakensberg hike KwaZulu-Natal South AfricaJo chose #1926 in memory of the birth year of the late Queen Elizabeth.  Many in her home country of South Africa have ties to the United Kingdom, and the world mourns.  This shot, taken while hiking in South Africa, of the Eye of the Needle in the Drakensberg Mountains, where Jo’s son guided me.

https://geogypsytraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Elephants-crossing-road-Kruger-NP-SA.mp4

Rita chose #1302.  Video taken during my first visit in 2010, South African elephants in Kruger National Park.

Hwy 67 S Kaibab NF AZGypsy chose #817, “the date gravitational waves were detected of two neutron stars colliding.”  Thank goodness there was no colliding on this drive through the Kaibab National Forest on the North Rim Grand Canyon’s opening day 2009.

Music light show at Boardwalk Port Elizabeth SAJodee and Bill chose #4434.  Sorry for the lousy quality, but it’s a handheld shot of the musical light show on the Boardwalk in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Grand Staircase Escalante Hwy 89 N Kaibab NF AZDiane and Nigel chose #909.  They saw this view of the Grand Staircase along SR89A north on their way to Bryce Canyon from the Grand Canyon.

Kelp pile on beach Coquille Point NWR Bandon ORCathy chose #0610.  A pile of kelp on the beach at Coquille Point National Wildlife Refuge Bandon, Oregon during my 2014 visit with Berta.

Penguin habitat SAMREC Port Elizabeth SAAlan and random dot org chose #4376.  I toured this penguin habitat at a marine rehabilitation facility while visiting Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 2013.

Lions Kruger NP Mpumalanga South AfricaSherry chose #1020.  Saw this pride on the first day of my first visit to Kruger National Park, South Africa in 2010.

Ink Eagle portrait Shoreline WA 1988Sallie and Bill got #49 for the number of words in their comment.  An ink drawing from my days of community college in Shoreline, Washington, 1988.

Valley view Drakensberg hike KwaZulu-Natal South AfricaLiberal Warrior chose #2035, “the year California and Washington State ban the sales of new ICE* vehicles.” *Internal combusion engines.  Countries like South Africa without refineries should be happy about loosing ICE vehicles, though it may take longer than 13 years for them.  So this is a South African view from hiking the Drakensberg Mts., same trip as above but the return hike.

Last light shines on standing dead trees from 2006 Warm fire Kaibab NF AZJennifer chose #6573.  Taken in 2014, eight years after the Warm Fire on the Kaibab National Forest adjacent to the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park.

Class of 1972 at 40th reunion Bolingbrook Country Club IL

Bob's fake newspaper article 1972 Mustangs stampeedHere’s the attendees at my 40th class reunion and something a classmate wrote.  I’m currently in Illinois for the 50th.

Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories.  For more of the story just follow the links.  Please join in next week by leaving a number between 0001 and 9999 in your comment.

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09 September 2022

Foto Friday Fun 484: every picture tells a story

This week’s Foto Friday Fun features images chosen by nine readers including South Africa, Grand Canyon, and Pacific Northwest salmon.

Giraffe Pilanesberg Game Reserve South AfricaCathy chose #0281.  A male giraffe in Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa.

Indian Paintbrush AZ trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaJo chose #2013.  Brilliant red Paintbrush growing along the Arizona Trail on the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.

Sunset over Widforss Plateau from BAP trail North Rim Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaDiane and Nigel chose #209, a panorama.  Rangers get paid in sunsets, especially when roving on the Bright Angel Point trail before an evening program at the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.

Adam & Eve, oldest couple on Cango Ostrich Farm, & 2 babies R328 Oudtshoorn Little Karoo Western Cape South AfricaRita chose #4101.  Adam and Eve, the oldest couple at Cango Ostrich Farm, South Africa.  Adam is laying down while Eve watches the two chicks.  This is where I rode an ostrich, and it’s not easy.

Museum pottery Mesa Verde NP COGypsy chose #117.  Museum display when I worked at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado the summer of 2005.

Tunnel along Bright Angel trail Grand Canyon National Park ArizonaSallie and Bill chose #246.  This tunnel means almost to the top of Grand Canyon’s South Rim on the Bright Angel trail.  My first rim to rim in 2008.

Guest room door_paintings & courtyard at TeTeMuka B&B Lodge Kokstad KwaZulu-Natal South AfricaJodee and Bill chose #3011.  A lovely courtyard at TeTeMuka B&B where I stayed in Kokstad, South Africa.

Augrabies Falls NP SASherry chose #9422.  How very appropriate for this waterfall lover.  Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa.

snowy cemetery sunset RV view Kanab UTBarb chose #6600, the price of her new AC unit.  Ouch, but in Florida you just HAVE to have AC.  And you don’t see snow, like this RV window view at sunset over the cemetery in Kanab, Utah.

Sternwheeler on Columbia R & Mt Hood Underwood WA Sept 1996

Fish ladder Spring Creek fish hatchery Underwood WA Sept 1996

Salmon in Little White Salmon River WA Sept 1996

Little White Salmon River WA Sept 1996

Sunset over the Columbia R & Mt Hood Underwood WA Sept 1996My choices from September 1996 when I worked for US Fish & Wildlife.  My government house looked across the Columbia River to Mt Hood in the far distance and sat just above Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery (NFH).  My office was along the Little White Salmon River and NFH.

Thank you for playing along with Foto Friday Fun which allows me to share these photographs and memories.  For more of the story just follow the links.  Please join in next week by leaving a number between 0001 and 9999 in your comment.

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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