Near the Ghost town of Aral are the plains of the Platte and also home to some of the finest stands of paper birch in Michigan. Trails remain as do the remnants of the small sawmill town that originated in early summer 1880. Lake Michigan lays just west and the lapping and lulling sounds of Her waters can be heard, at times, just through the woods. I come to this area when I need to unplug and unwind and be moved and influenced by nothing but Nature. Mental reallocation and shifted thoughts from being too busy to wanting and waiting for the right tree to find me and invite me to sit below it for deep breaths. A taste and touch of this right here and right now always seems to satisfy. Walking into these woods and this precious space feels like walking Home.