Substantial showers last night. For me, staying in the camper in the garage, with its metal roof, it sounded a bit like standing under Niagara wearing a steel helmet. But fun, actually. Unlike Pax, I like listening to the rain.

Bright and beautiful in the morning. The three kids and their parents walked up to the falls. Just after lunch, more intermittent downpours alternating with fog and mist. Then a temporary late afternoon clearing and Ellie, Maddie, and I seized the opportunity to go rock hounding at Round Rock Beach. There Ellie found a snail crawling up a reed just before she found another (fossilized) snail millions of years old. Something old and something new.

Strangely, here toward the end of August, Great Lakes water keeps coming up, although, historically, it is supposed to start its fall decline.

Bri's famous brisket, on the grill early at the start of 10 hours of smoking.

Perfect, even off the little grill and without thermometer.