Good morning or good evening wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 11:30 p.m. in "The City", where I have just finished watching a great game between the 24 - 22 Cubs and the 26 - 20 Cardinals. More on that in a bit. 

We have a current temperature of 57° under cloudy skies that feels more like 56° with a wind out of the east @ 10 mph. We had some rain today, but not really enough to make a dent in what are almost drought-like conditions here in W. Michigan. There is also a Dense Fog Advisory in effect from South Haven to Whitehall until 4:00 a.m. tomorrow. 

Today's high temperature here in GH was 64° and tomorrow's high will be about 7° warmer @ 71° with a low of 62°. Mary reports that the deck is wet, but that the rain is not falling at this time. However, tomorrow's morning forecast from the NWS indicates that there is a 42% for additional showers. 

As the world turns, Friday's forecast includes a high temperature of a non-seasonal 59°! The sun will rise tomorrow @  6:13 a.m. and set later @ 9:10 p.m.

We made it to that pick-up at the big-box nearly everything store and then traveled through Spring Lake to the trailhead of the North Bank Trail, which was built upon the right of way of two railroads. One was the interurban Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, and Muskegon Railroad that ran from Grand Rapids to GH from 1902 to 1928. and which made stops in Muskegon and Fruitport, originally named Crawville by its founder, Edward L. Craw in 1868. 

The town was renamed Fruitport in 1869, when the Pere Marquette Railroad built a station there in the middle of a fertile fruit growing region.  So, that's how Fruitport got its name. Of course, the Pere Marquette Railroad ceased passenger service in the 1950s

At any rate, the trail is flat and extends for many miles from GH to points east. I took along my camera to get some pix, but not before I took some shots of the flowers that are blooming right here in the Vast Gardens of the Palatial Estate.

Our bearded iris in bloom.

The iris that our children bequeathed to us from their house in South Haven. 

Our poppy.

I believe that this is a phlox.

Mostly flat, but still a good place to walk or ride a bike.

Yes Virginia, it is really that flat.

I'm not sure what this plant is.

Bleeding Heart flowers along the trail

I have to get in an industrial shot .

Or two.

And an empty playground.

A Kettle of Turkey Vultures in flight.

A lone Turkey Vulture. It is the shape of the wings that allowed us to ID these raptors. They look very similar to other large birds of prey, like eagles, condors, and hawks. 

All in all, we had a great time, The temperature inland by only four miles or so, was near to 80°, but the humidity was low enough that we didn't notice. 

Tomorrow, we have nothing of note on our agenda. We have another drop off at the Goodwill Store and that should be enough for one day. Ciao.