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Callalily

(15,017 posts)
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 04:13 PM Sep 2023

The other day went paddling in a lagoon.

Here are a few photos.









I always thought that painted painted turtles were sunning themselves when I'd see them with raised legs and head high. Actually they do this to expose some of their bottom shells. I looked up why they do that and it’s because they need the sunlight on those parts to increase the conversion of UVB rays to calcium for their shells and overall health. Interesting, huh?

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The other day went paddling in a lagoon. (Original Post) Callalily Sep 2023 OP
Beautiful pictures. sheshe2 Sep 2023 #1
Thank you. It was a perfect day to be out on the water. Callalily Sep 2023 #4
I just love the peaceful and tranquil feeling in this lagoon, and the turtle too! CaliforniaPeggy Sep 2023 #2
I absolutely love being out on the water. Callalily Sep 2023 #5
What a beautiful place, Callalily Diamond_Dog Sep 2023 #3
The beauty about kayaking is that anyone can do it. ;-) Callalily Sep 2023 #6
Cranes, yes what a treat! Diamond_Dog Sep 2023 #9
Reminds me of the lagoons at wnylib Sep 2023 #7
Presque Isle in Erie is one of my favorite places. Diamond_Dog Sep 2023 #8
Mine, too. I grew up there. Have not been there wnylib Sep 2023 #11
I love the bike path. Diamond_Dog Sep 2023 #15
Yup. Just 10 minutes away. Used to go there after wnylib Sep 2023 #17
I've never been there in winter. Diamond_Dog Sep 2023 #23
For me, driving from the city onto the peninsula wnylib Sep 2023 #24
TY for sharing that, wnylib! Diamond_Dog Sep 2023 #30
We rarely went to Waldameer. wnylib Sep 2023 #35
Beautiful photographs wendyb-NC Sep 2023 #10
Thank you. Callalily Sep 2023 #25
Lily pads, trees, and turtles! calimary Sep 2023 #12
You are welcome! Callalily Sep 2023 #29
Just the kind of place I'd love to be. Thanks for taking us all along. NBachers Sep 2023 #13
You're welcome! Callalily Sep 2023 #26
Lillies for Callalily! Grumpy Old Guy Sep 2023 #14
Oh definitely get your kayaks out. Callalily Sep 2023 #27
Nice! And you are making me jealous of your surroundings, and that you're smart to take advantage SWBTATTReg Sep 2023 #16
Thank you. I hope to paddle later on in the week too. Callalily Sep 2023 #28
Beautiful! ...was trying to figure out pic#3 - is there water on both sides of the bridge...or??? diva77 Sep 2023 #18
Thank you. Yes, there's water on both sides of the bridge. Callalily Sep 2023 #31
I thought "boy, that sure looks like Wisconsin!" AllyCat Sep 2023 #19
Yes, you are absolutely correct. Callalily Sep 2023 #32
Beautiful! I haven't been to that part of the island. AllyCat Sep 2023 #37
Looks like the trees in #2 are not healthy. Has there been a rise in water level? spike jones Sep 2023 #20
Actually, the water levels stays quite level. Callalily Sep 2023 #39
How peaceful! 2naSalit Sep 2023 #21
Yes, it was very peaceful and quiet. Callalily Sep 2023 #33
Beautiful! What state? Evolve Dammit Sep 2023 #22
Thank you. Wisconsin, Madeline Island. Callalily Sep 2023 #34
nice. Thanks. Is that northern WI? I always meant to get out that way. Boundary Waters in MN too Evolve Dammit Sep 2023 #36
I miss the North terribly ❤️ Habitation Sep 2023 #38

CaliforniaPeggy

(152,291 posts)
2. I just love the peaceful and tranquil feeling in this lagoon, and the turtle too!
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 04:21 PM
Sep 2023

Wonderful photos, my dear Callalily.

You must have had a great ride!

Diamond_Dog

(34,974 posts)
3. What a beautiful place, Callalily
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 04:27 PM
Sep 2023

What a perfect way to spend a late summer afternoon! Your photos are wonderful.

I’ve always wanted to try kayaking, but I’m such a klutz I know I’d probably end up ass backwards in a pond somehow. I could never manage to get on a Sea Doo without wiping out.

Callalily

(15,017 posts)
6. The beauty about kayaking is that anyone can do it. ;-)
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 04:34 PM
Sep 2023

Now a Sea Doo is another story!

And yes, the lagoon was absolutely beautiful.

We also saw several sandhill cranes along the shore, which is always a treat.

wnylib

(24,536 posts)
11. Mine, too. I grew up there. Have not been there
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 05:14 PM
Sep 2023

in decades, though.

I used to spend a lot of time on the beaches, or walking through the nature trails, fishing in the channel between the bay and the lake, or paddling around the lagoons.



Diamond_Dog

(34,974 posts)
15. I love the bike path.
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 06:00 PM
Sep 2023

Really the whole place is so beautiful. I live an hour and a half away and don’t make it up there as often as I would like. My parents took my sister and me up there to the beach as kids.

How lucky you were to have it right in your home town!

wnylib

(24,536 posts)
17. Yup. Just 10 minutes away. Used to go there after
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 06:06 PM
Sep 2023

work in summer on weekdays, and in the afternoon on weekends.

It is breathtakingly beautiful in winter after a fresh snowfall.

Diamond_Dog

(34,974 posts)
23. I've never been there in winter.
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 07:39 PM
Sep 2023

Fall, yes. Gorgeous in the fall.

Hubby and I used to pack a picnic lunch, bike up to the monument, have our picnic, he would sit by the water and fish and I would bring a sketch pad and draw. It’s been way too long since we’ve done that.

wnylib

(24,536 posts)
24. For me, driving from the city onto the peninsula
Sun Sep 10, 2023, 07:34 AM
Sep 2023

was entering into another world. City noise from traffic, sirens, and the general hustle and bustle just faded away into the sounds of nature and water lapping on the shore. It felt almost magical. One minute the noise is there and the next it's gone. There is a lot traffic on the peninsula during summer, of course, but it is slower moving and there are only turn offs to the various beaches, picnic areas, trails, or marina. No major intersections.

That feeling is emphasized in winter with the silence of little to no traffic on the peninsula, and even nature's sounds are muffled by snow. Everything is closed down and all you can do is drive through the park, or leave the car for a walk. The sand dunes get covered in ice and snow. By February, most of the water that touches the beaches is frozen in ripples. On the bay side, the ice gets solid and thick enough for ice fishing.

My husband used to go ice fishing on the bay with a friend. I would tag along, clear a large patch of snow from the surface, and ice skate.



Diamond_Dog

(34,974 posts)
30. TY for sharing that, wnylib!
Sun Sep 10, 2023, 07:43 AM
Sep 2023

It sounds perfect. I know exactly what you mean about leaving city noise behind and entering another world. I always felt the people of Erie were so lucky to have this park. I really should try to visit in the wintertime. Now I want to go again! I haven’t been up there in about 2 years.

I have known folks over the years who go up there just for Waldameer Park and never enter the peninsula and I think they are really missing the best part!

wnylib

(24,536 posts)
35. We rarely went to Waldameer.
Sun Sep 10, 2023, 08:47 AM
Sep 2023

It has improved since I lived there, but it used to be a very tame and boring place. We drove to amusement parks farther away that offered more.

But, the grounds at Waldameer did have a large building called Rainbow Gardens that was often used as a ballroom for special events in Erie. It's where my high school prom was. In summer, the YMCA sponsored teen dances there.

On the lake, just before the entrance to Presque Isle, there was a large motel complex called The Beachcomber. They had a New Year's Eve party there each year, with a band, 3 dance rooms, and a buffet breakfast. We went with other couples a few times.








wendyb-NC

(3,852 posts)
10. Beautiful photographs
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 05:14 PM
Sep 2023

Thanks for sharing them, also for the reason why these turtles are so often spied sprawled on a rock or log with their head and neck extended as well as their legs. Cool.

calimary

(84,493 posts)
12. Lily pads, trees, and turtles!
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 05:15 PM
Sep 2023

Evolution is really amazing, isn't it!

Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos with us! It's always a good reminder of the glorious natural scenery that somehow still lives and breathes, despite the destructiveness, short-sightedness, and greed of mankind.

SWBTATTReg

(24,247 posts)
16. Nice! And you are making me jealous of your surroundings, and that you're smart to take advantage
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 06:00 PM
Sep 2023

of your surroundings! Nice, nice, nice!!!

spike jones

(1,784 posts)
20. Looks like the trees in #2 are not healthy. Has there been a rise in water level?
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 06:14 PM
Sep 2023

We get that in the bogs in NW Washington.

2naSalit

(93,062 posts)
21. How peaceful!
Sat Sep 9, 2023, 06:36 PM
Sep 2023

And thanks for looking up the turtle facts, that is very interesting. Turtles are mysterious, I have met a few and I wonder whether they comprehend things even slightly as we do.

The lagoon looks lovely and peaceful.



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