70 in 70 - and #s 48 & 49 on the road back to Boulder

We couldn't pass up a chance to try at least a couple of new things for our 70/70 list during our three-day drive back to Boulder from Petoskey - and thus discovered Kitch-iti-kipi (#48) and the Field of Dreams (#49).

Kitch-iti-kipi ("big cold spring" in Ojibwe) is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and is the state's largest freshwater spring measuring 200 feet across and 40 feet deep with more the 10,000 gallons a minute pulsing through fissures in the underlying limestone. This water stays at a constant 45 degrees F despite the UP's ferocious winter weather!  Visitors get to hop aboard a raft and crank a wheel that pulls the raft across the water with views of ancient trees and huge trout within the crystal clear waters. A remarkable experience for us and Taz who got his first boat ride!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflections in crystal clear water

 

Not quite sure about this boat thing - but still
a Good Dog Taz!

 

 

Field of Dreams - the actual ball field and farm house from the movie "Field of Dreams"

The property used for the movie was owned by Dan Lansing in Dyersville, Iowa. After filming wrapped, Lansing maintained the site as a tourist attraction. (It has since been purchased by Go the Distance Baseball.)  Kendall and I were a bit taken aback by the reality of today's Field of Dreams. Expecting a serene, rural baseball field tucked away in cornfields, we instead found a bustling tourist attraction (tho' indeed tucked among cornfields) with hundreds of people of all shapes, sizes and ages, most sporting baseball t-shirts and baseball gear. Although the size of the crowd was a tad off-putting, I must confess I was touched by the site of young girls with baseball gloves in hand dashing to the field contrasting with elderly gents, well-worn gloves in hand, shuffling their way to the same Field of Dreams. It was apparent that most visitors would agree with what Kevin Costner said when he led the MLB teams out for the first game on the adjacent pro-baseball field: "Is this heaven? Yes it is." 

 

 

Field of Dreams in foreground; professional field in background

Yes there is corn!