June 4 – Seagull Lookout

A seagull rests atop the lichen-covered rocks along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Grand Marais Harbor, standing watch for an easy meal in the calm evening light. The cool, moist air drifting off the lake and even the faint smell of a nearby fish complete a scene that feels unmistakably like the North Shore.

Lichen-covered rocks are a common sight along Lake Superior. Lichens are not a single plant but a partnership between algae and fungi, allowing them to survive in harsh environments where little else can grow. Over time, they slowly help break down rock into soil, quietly preparing the way for future life.

Scenes like this are repeated thousands of times around Lake Superior every day, yet they never grow old. After a while, places like this become part of who you are. I suppose that is what heritage really is.

“For see, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds has come.” — Song of Solomon 2:11–12

Sometimes a short walk along a shoreline reminds us how rich life really is.