This morning was still cool & windy. Not your “normal” summer day in the middle of July, huh?! The water wasn’t as splashin’ crazy as yesterday… too choppy for a morning swim and yesterday’s “puddles” were still on the beach!!!

Normally these beach access “boardwalk” ramps lead you to a nice sandy strip of beach… NOT right into the water?!!!

And then… MAGIC!!!
I love it when this happens!!!

Crashing. Popping. Spraying.
Waves crashing VERTICALLY against the corrugated breakwater shoreline.

So much fun trying to catch them at just the right moment…
and avoid getting wet at the same time.

I did pretty good with both – for the most part…

More sky. More water. More flooded beach…

Not sure what happened last night… maybe more rain than I thought?!

But this morning, the beach this morning was “flooded” with water a lot higher than I’ve ever seen before?! Pretty cool to see the lake a lot higher, ripples on the beach, and reflections in places I’ve never seen before.

and a couple minutes later…

This morning was pretty…
Pretty quiet. Pretty pink. Pretty pastel.
Pretty darn fun.

And then the color changed… a quick flip from rosy skies to a golden glow.

Today was STUNNING!!!
Even the early hours. With a colorful beginning and a few clouds “percolating” with possibilities. And when the sun finally made it over the horizon, the colors became even more vibrant. A quick switch from blues & oranges to vibrant golds.

With the clouds working into place at just the right time… and that one layer of clouds in just the right place, the sunrise was pretty stunning as it worked its way through.

You gotta love when the sunbeams come shining through.
Always a magical moment.

A little bit hazy this morning. Quiet. Calming. And a little slow to get started.
But once the sun made it over the horizon, Monroe Harbor took on a shiny glow.

And let me just say it again… I’m glad the “Taste Of Chicago” is over.
Let’s get all of their extra clutter out of my sunrises!!!