A Summer Day on the Water in West Michigan

July 1, 2006. A perfect day for a boat ride. We took the speed boat out, heading down one of the channels that opens up onto the big lake. The weather was clear and sunny, just right for being on the water.

Out on the lake, a group of us were just enjoying the day. It's a different perspective seeing the shoreline from a few hundred yards out. When the sun got hot enough, a couple of us jumped in to cool off. The water had that deep green color it gets in the middle of summer.

We spent most of the day just cruising and swimming. It's the standard thing to do here in July. The view of the sandy path cutting through the tall beach grass is a familiar one, leading right down to the water's edge.

We stayed out until the sun started to set. The light turned everything a deep, calm blue, with just a sliver of yellow left on the horizon, reflecting on the water. A quiet end to a good day.