For some obvious and other not-so-obvious reasons, I haven’t been traveling as much as I once did. The obvious reasons mostly involve COVID-19. The not-so-obvious reasons include getting a new puppy and having a day job—these things tend to limit when, where, and how I can travel. But a little over a year ago, I moved to the Upper Peninsula and I realized that even though I’m sticking closer to where I live, I’m still experiencing new things all the time. I asked myself, “Why am I waiting for some big, fantastical sign to tell me to start writing again?” And so, this little series was born.
It’s getting to the point in the winter season where the cold feels omnipresent. Marquette recently enjoyed a massive snowstorm that dumped nearly 4 feet of snow in some places—all in a matter of about 48 hours. The giant snowbanks say, “There is no such thing as 80 degrees and sunny; there never was.” It seems like the lakeshore has become more frozen over in the last week or so. I’m doing my best to avoid letting myself get frozen over, too.
In this post, I decided to write about sunsets. Watching the sunset helps me feel a little more present, and a little less cold. Plus, it has great lighting for photos. Two nights this past week, I enjoyed a brief break in the clouds for some wonderful sunset colors. I also decided that yes, you can still have a “staycation” when you’re only 5 minutes from your house—so this counts.
Sunsets are Good
I spend a lot of my time seeking and watching sunsets—and occasionally, sunrises. There are so many reasons why, but in short: sunsets are good. I like watching the sky turn from blue to yellow, then orange, then pink. I like how the twilight creeps in from your periphery until you can no longer deny that the day is over. The best part: every sunset is completely different. You will never see the same one twice, so I may as well try to see as many as I can.
I don’t think stopping to enjoy an especially colorful sky is a revolutionary act, but I do wonder if the average person plans their lives around the sunset as much as I do. Are other people checking the weather forecast in hopes of predicting a good mix of clouds and colors? On clear days, do they watch the clock to make sure they’re near a good vantage point by 6:22 PM?
In Marquette, a good vantage point usually involves standing somewhere along the beaches of the big lake—or anywhere you can see plenty of the sky. Sugarloaf is another great sunset spot, as long as you’re ready to walk the short hike back in the dark.
Lake Superior is mostly east of Marquette, with other nearby beaches facing north. Although the sun will always set over land, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the colors while the sun is close to the horizon.
Monday, February 14 | Marquette Lighthouse
On the night of Valentine’s Day, the clouds parted just enough for some pink and purple tones to shine through against a dark, gray-blue sky. I stood on the beach near the bright red lighthouse, watching the colors transform as the cloud cover increased.
With so many clouds, I wasn’t totally confident there would be much light or color. I went to check it out anyway (perks of being 5 minutes away) and I was not disappointed. It was extremely cold, though. With the wind picking up, I couldn’t stay out of the car for very long. The combination of the cold and clouds made this sunset feel a little shorter but still spectacular.
Friday, February 25 | Presque Isle
This past Friday night, the sky was completely clear. It had more orange and red tones compared to Valentine’s Day. This time, I was watching from the west side of Presque Isle.
It was dead calm and warm—or maybe it just felt warm without the 20 mph winds that usually test your cold-weather clothing. There were several other folks enjoying the sunset, both from the trail and from the parking lot. With the open sky, this sunset was nice and slow. The colors brightened, peaked, and then lingered as they dimmed. I was able to stand still and enjoy it for as long as I wanted.
Anyways, those are some of my thoughts on sunsets. To close things out, please enjoy a poem I wrote this past summer:
Lake Sunset • Haiku
To watch the colors
To hear the waves, feel the wind.
What a gift, senses.