Halfway through my camping vacation, I left northern Wisconsin and drove up to Porcupine Mountain State Park, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As soon as the highway I was on hit the coast of Lake Superior, I stopped at the nearest picnic spot and hiked along the beach.

It was a beautiful day, with a wonderfully cool breeze coming off the lake. I felt as if the lake was welcoming me back. I hadn’t seen Lake Superior in at least six years. It was so good to be walking along its shore again.

It’s amazing how the terrain of the coast can look so different as you walk along. Some areas have an almost-white sandy beach.

Others are full of rough jagged rocks.

Other areas have smooth rocks, worn down by years and years of Superior’s waves.

There’s also a lot of driftwood.

Since the shore along the park faces north west, it’s a perfect spot to watch the sun go down.