Over here in the western reaches of Antrim County, long ridges run north and south, parallel to Torch Lake and the Bay. Between the ridges rivers flow through narrow valleys, connecting 14 lakes into a 55-mile long chain that finally reaches Grand Traverse Bay at Elk Rapids. Centennial farms command the high ground, watching the weather move in across the Bay.
Babs Young writes: This was taken a few days ago on my way home from Central Lake from Kiessel Road. That’s Torch Lake in the lower left and Grand Traverse Bay above that. She’s made a fine, brooding image. I invite you to click on it for a larger version. It’s worth a good, long look.
Every week photographer Babs Young captures moments in northern Michigan, and every week she sends one to Torch Lake Views just for you. You can find more of her photos at the Babs Young Photo Archives and on her Blue Heaven Flickr photostream.
Torch Lake Views 
Beth Toner
July 26, 2010
This is an amazing photo — and this is almost exactly what the sky looked like at sunset 5 years ago today when I got married at Torch Lake!
Gerry
July 26, 2010
Happy Anniversary, Beth and Joe! May your skies always be filled with the colors of Torch Lake, and may you return here many, many times.
P.j. grath
July 26, 2010
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! I’m over on your side, looking across to mine. Hi, Babs and Gerry!
Gerry
July 26, 2010
Well hello! C’mon over to Chris and Sonny’s for breakfast!
Carsten
July 26, 2010
You really captured beautiful clouds and light Babs.
Thanks for posting Gerry.
Gerry
July 26, 2010
Ooh – major brownie points, Carsten! It is a fine photo, isn’t ir! And I was most pleased to post it for your viewing pleasure.
Carsten
July 28, 2010
How many points will I have to collect to get a brownie?
…Now I’m soon off for summer holidays. Don’t worry, I’ll be back.
Gerry
July 28, 2010
Not to worry. It’s a virtual brownie anyway.
katherine
July 26, 2010
Pretty pretty photo! Love the sky.
Gerry
July 26, 2010
It is indeed a fine skyscape. And I am indeed a lucky blogger.
flandrumhill
July 26, 2010
What a stunning photo. It looks like the mother ship is getting ready to make a landing.
Gerry
July 26, 2010
That’s what I thought, too–that disk of light on the Bay seems ready for Scotty to beam me up. (Does it seem to you, as it does to me, that in the event future generations are ever able to read these messages at all, they will be completely flummoxed by the things we write?)
Cindy Lou
July 27, 2010
Happy, happy anniversary, Beth! Beautimous, gorgemous, wondermous sunset….thanx again, Babs….and to you, Gerry, for sharing!
Gerry
July 27, 2010
I think I might as well have named this place “Torch Lake Serendipity” as lovely combinations seem to fall in place. The gift of Babs, readers like you, Beth’s anniversary–serendipity.
Scott Thomas Photography
July 27, 2010
Beautiful, haunting and reminds me that we are on the back side of the Summer Solstice.
A kayaker’s wonderland northern Michigan truly must be.
Gerry
July 27, 2010
Oh, it is, Scott! Even I have a little blue kayak that has borne me on many small adventures. Friends have had much larger adventures paddling on the Big Lake. We have unimaginably lovely stretches of water all over the place. Riches.
Anna
July 29, 2010
Gorgeous and haunting as Scott stated. What a mystical capture.