A frequently photographed piece of lower peninsula Michigan is "Turnip Rock", named so for it's resemblance to the root vegetable. It is located at the tip of the "Thumb" of lower Michigan, about 70 miles (115km) Northeast of Bay City or 133 miles (215km) due North of Detroit.
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| One of the more interesting bits of Geology in the Lower Pennisula |
To access the rock, you can launch from Port Austin, where I have read that the local Kayak rental place will charge you to launch your own boats if you choose not to rent. Alternatively, a little further east is Eagle Bay Public Access, which is free to use if you have Michigan State Park Recreation Pass ($13 per year added to your automobile registration).
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| The approach from Eagle Bay |
From Eagle Bay, it is nearly 5km or 3mile paddle to the Rock. When the lake is calm it is not too bad, though if you straight line it from point-to-point you will be further offshore than is comfortable at times. It was very calm when we went leaving a 50 minute open-water paddle to Turnip Rock.
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| 2/3 of the way there from Eagle Bay Public Access |
Rocky outcrops like what we see at Turnip Rock is usually more associated with Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Lake Superior, so it is a treat to be able to paddle through something more interesting than another flat water stream in the woods.
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| Shady sandy beach under the rocks |
The shoreline between Port Austin and Turnip Rock is elevated above the waterline, leaving very small sandy beaches under overhanging evidence of erosion. The Sandstone Bedrock "Sea Stack" has been whittled into it's shape over thousands of years of stormy lake action.
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| Excellent overhangs to paddle under and explore |
The caves other erosion features along the shore provide plenty of diverting geology to observe and enjoy from the boat. In calm conditions one would almost want to camp and picnic on some of the beaches if not for the "owners" being very protective of their "property".
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| Objects in the panorama are closer than they appear |
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| Storm is coming in, better get on shore |
The 50 minute long paddle back from the rock was punctuated by distant thunder. We raced back to Eagle Bay and had almost completely stowed the boat before the sky fell and soaked us.
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| The rain is here, lightning, off the water just in time |
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