Circling Lake Superior--Entry 6

Wed. Sept. 12-Sept. 14: Because we have spent so much time camping in the Upper Peninsula, and because the Macks have a cottage in Naubinway, where they spend their summers, we didn't feel we needed to continue the entire Lake Superior shoreline in Michigan. We hoped to get into the Porcupine Mountains but regretfully decided there wouldn't be time to go as far as the modern campground on the far side. So instead we opted for Baraga State Park, cutting across below the Keweenaw Peninsula and coming back to Lake Superior for our last stop. It was cloudy and in the fifties most of the drive. We stopped at the excellent Great Lakes Visitors Center and enjoyed their movies, displays, and third story, “360° view” catwalk. It is a fabulous facility and we were very sorry we couldn't spend more time there. The only other stop we made was for lunch in Ashland, WI. A very light rain started sometime after lunch and continued off and on the rest of the afternoon. But it wasn't foggy so we could enjoy the vistas as we drove through the hilly terrain of the western end of the Upper Peninsula. We were surprised to see how far the fall colors have come out in the Iron Mountain vicinity. Sadly, the photos I took with my camera really didn't do them justice. We came north to Silver City and went through Ontonagon so we could get back to the Lake Superior shoreline before we cut across to Baraga. Marv & I went on to the State Park while Ross & Pat stopped for gas. The campground is across the highway from the shore line so there are views of the lake but noise from traffic. But they also have free WIFI, which we haven’t found at a Michigan State Park before. We were told that we could easily get two sites for two nights as long as we left on Friday. This weekend is their big “Fall Fest” where campers will decorate their sites, kids can go trick-or-treating, and there will be other fun activities, so most of the campground is reserved ahead. We called Ross & Pat to tell them where we were setting up and Pat told us that they had to have a part on their truck fixed so they would follow us when they could. They pulled up soon after that to say that it couldn’t be fixed in Baraga. So we decided to stay only one night here and then go on to Marquette tomorrow to see if it can be fixed there. We all had leftover ribs in our camper then Ross & I worked on the Internet while Marv went and got a few groceries before we retired to our own campers for the rest of the night.

Ross & Pat had an 11:00 appointment for their truck in Marquette so they got going earlier than we did. We broke camp and followed at our leisure and managed to pull into town and call them when they were right around the corner from us. We met for a quick lunch and decided to take our bikes to Presque Isle, a park on an island right by the downtown area that now accessible by a very short bridge.  I thought I had read it was 7 miles around it but it’s only a bit over 2 miles. We wanted to ride more so Ross, Marv & I continued on the bike path that leads to the island until we came to a big dome. We went in and found that it is the “Superior Dome”, home to Northern Michigan University’s football program. We looked around awhile and then returned to the trucks, having ridden about 4 miles and 44 minutes. It was time to go on to a township park Macks knew of just west of Munising. It’s right on the Lake Superior shore, across from Grand Island, with full hook-ups and free WIFI (which we couldn’t access at our campsites, unfortunately). We got set-up quickly and then Ross, Marv & I took our kayaks out on the strait, which is shallow and sandy out quite a ways and then abruptly drops off. It was pretty windy but as long as we didn’t venture out too far it was fun to finally have the kayaks out on Lake Superior. The beach and water were very tempting but since it was only in the mid-sixties we didn’t try swimming. When we came in we took a salad over to Macks’ trailer and played Rummikub before dinner. After eating Manwiches we played Quiddler. Thanks for both games to Cindy Chalou, who gave them to me for my birthday!  We took a short break for Marv to get some great pix of the spectacular sunset, then finished the game and retired to our respective campers.

Biking on Presque Isle

 

Superior Dome, Home of NMU football

Wood frame dome inside

Our last night in the camper only got into the high 40s. We had hoped to take another paddle on the Lake in the morning, but the winds were coming fiercely out of the north and the white caps came all the way to the shore. So Ross helped Marv put the kayaks back on top of the truck before he & Pat left, hoping to visit a friend in Munising. Pete had gone to Wisconsin, though, so they headed back to their cottage. Marv & I took time to empty the refrigerator into a cooler and clean it out, clean the bathroom completely, and do all the dishes—all jobs we won’t have to do when we get home. J We still left the campground by about 10:00 and went to Munising to do some of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore sites. All day the sun went in and out of the clouds, which would occasionally let loose with a quick shower, while the temperatures only got into the low sixties. We hiked into Munising Falls and reminisced about being here for our honeymoon 39 years ago and being able to walk on a path behind the falls. Since then a large chunk of the falls edge fell in, changing the look of the waterfall and endangering visitors. Now wooden fences keep visitors safely back from the eroding rocks. Next we drove to Miner’s Castle to revisit the rocky outcropping above the “painted” cliffs. Again, we marveled at how much can change in just our lifetimes. When we visited on our honeymoon one could venture right out onto the double spires. Marv went out for pictures and I feared we’d have a very short marriage that would end tragically. On April 13, 2006 the top of the back spire fell into the lake and now visitors can only see the castle from safe viewing platforms. What a difference! Miner’s Beach came next, where the wind was pounding big waves onto the lovely, wide, sand beach. Finally, we drove back to hike the 1.2 mile round trip trail to see Miner’s Falls. We also ate our picnic lunch there on a sunny picnic table. From Pictured Rocks area we drove down M28 (where a tailwind and flat road helped us get 20 mpg) to M117 and back to Ross & Pat’s cottage in Naubinway. Hamburgers for dinner and the rubber match of “Hand and Foot” (Marv & Pat eked out a win) signaled the end of our Lake Superior Circle Trip. The Macks will stay “up north” for two more weeks while we will return to East Lansing right after breakfast to arrive in time to attend the MSU/Notre Dame football game Saturday night.

Munising Falls in 2012

Munising Falls in 1973

Munising Falls in 2012

Miner's Castle in 2012

Miner's Castle in 1973

 

Miner's Falls in 2012

Miner's Falls in 1973