Two in a row… no real sunrise again this morning.
Just some groovy polka-dot clouds!

Like the sunrise, maybe???

I call it potential.

Sure, it was dark this morning.
Sure, the sky was filled with clouds.
Sure, it looked like it might rain at any moment.
But it was beautiful, and worth the “risk.”

I had planned on swimming again this morning… but I thought better of that idea.
There I was with my wetsuit in my bag… and waves crashing all around me!
Probably not the best idea to be swimming in the lake right then, huh?!

So I pedaled a little further instead of swimming. Riptide warnings are never a good thing
As I pedaled, the sky show began. First with subtle pinks, which turned into golden hues.

Potential fulfilled.

Gorgeous morning... little windy with a strong breezes off the lake….
and the water a little choppier than I’d like… but the sunrise was simply gorgeous
as parallel streaks of color splashed across the sky!

Soon enough, the pink skies give way to the golden sun as it breaks through the clouds!

The sunrise was beautiful this morning as the sky was pretty clear and bright.
I love when the sunrise goes through so many colors and changes.
from darkness, through oranges, to yellows and blue skies.

Apparently I’m not the only loon out there so early in the morning?!
At least it looked like a loon… dives like a loon… and swims like a loon.
So I assumed it might be a loon?! Right???

AND A “LOON” CLARIFICATION FROM MY MINNESOTA COUSIN MICHAEL…
It’s a Cormorant – dirty filthy  – small fish fry eating machine!
Northern Lakes have DNR officers shooting them by the hundreds/thousands,
so that walleye fry have a chance to grow. Leech Lake has a huge project that started
some years ago, already making a difference to the catch limits.

With a low flying band of clouds on the horizon,
this morning was a great day of sunrise transitions.

Ending with a beautifully golden splash across the sky!

This morning was pretty hazy. With the sun rising slowly over the lake without much
excitement or fanfare! Just a large red ball rising over the horizon!

Lots of clouds. Lots of potential. And another beautiful morning along the lake.

And sometimes you just need to turn around… for another “sunrise” reflecting off a building.
A very special “reverse sunrise” this morning!

After two full weeks of cruising around the music festival on a mountain bike too small for me,
it felt great to be back home and on my own bike this morning! Granted there were more
clouds than I would normally like… but it felt great to be back in the saddle again!

Sure the clouds were nice. Sure the orange sky was beautiful. And I thought that was enough.
But then… as the sun finally made it past the first slice of clouds, the sky cleared up a bit
and the “second” sunrise was much brighter & clearer than the first!!!

A little bit earlier. A little bit darker.
But still a beautiful morning around North Avenue Beach.

But now it’s over… and I’m off to Dover!