Gooseberry Falls

The Land around Split Rock

This post was going to be titled: "If I walk any faster my corns will hurt", but I thought better of it. There a couple trails around Split Rock (also only accessible if you are wearing an orange bracelet that says you paid) where you can explore and view the light. Anyone else love seeing mushrooms growing on trees...it's one of my new favorite things to find and photograph.

Split Rock Lighthouse

I've seen a lot of lighthouses (really, a lot), but I've never been in one. First part, because they usually cost money which I don't always like to spend, and secondly, I'm rather afraid of heights. This time Mike and I went in a real live lighthouse. Mike said the Split Rock is rather famous so we absolutely needed to go in it and it's rather short in comparison to something like Big Sable and Little Sable, plus Mike got the college student discount.

The 5th order Fresnel light rotates by a pulley system that a volunteer dressed as a light keeper has to crank every hour or so. There are shades on the inside of the windows that used to be drawn during the day for fear that the sunlight might bounce off wrong from one of the glass pieces and start a forest fire. There are also brass vents all around the interior to regulate the inside temp. to outside temp.
One questionable feature that was added by the lighthouse historical group is barbed wire along the rail surrounding the cement area outside the lighthouse. Yes, I understand the need to prevent people from climbing over the wall and falling to their death, but I don't think sharp spikes of metal piercing you or your child's skin first is the best idea.