Day 56 - Monday, August 19 - WHEW!!!, A Busy Day

 We got a late start this morning, we slept in. Sleeping was good with windows open and 60 degree overnight lows. Today's high was a mostly sunny 71 degrees. AWESOME!

We left the RV park, crossed the bridge into Hancock and headed up the "mountain" towards Copper Harbor. The population of Hancock is around 4,500. Driving through it the steepness of the north/south streets reminded us of driving in San Francisco.

Our first stop was at the Calumet Visitors Center, what a great place. We were "on a mission" to go to Copper Harbor so we were there for only about a half hour. I think it would take 2-3 hours minimum to really take advantage of all the place had to offer.

The first floor was mainly exhibits. The second floor had "storefronts" with histories, artifact and even videos in some of them. Notice the beamed ceiling. The building was beautiful.

The third floor had a few artifact but most of it was dedicated to an auditorium with a raised stage.

We didn't go in the Heritage Center but I bet I could spend another several hours in it. It was across the street from the Visitors Center'

Looking down a street in Calumet.

Then it was on north. At Ahmeek we got of US41 and took Cliffs Drive, sections of which were gravel. The road surface wasn't bad and we got to see some interesting rock cliffs. Near the north end we drove by the site of the old Cliff Mine. It is supposed to have been the first profitable copper mine in the Peninsula. it opened in 1845. It was eventually 1,080' deep. It was pretty much shut down by 1878. Total production is estimated to be 38.2 million pounds of refined copper. There were maybe a dozen people walking around a grassland area but, other than a sign, nothing remains of the mine.

At Phoenix we diverted over to the coast and stayed on MI 26 to Copper Harbor. We stopped at Fletchy's in Eagle Harbor for lunch. Kathy had a pulled pork sandwich and I had a brisket sandwich. The meat was good but the BBQ sauce, which luckily was on the side, had a nasty vinegar flavor.

The beach next to Fletchly's.

On north again. We just drove through Copper Harbor. I'm sure there are interesting things to see there but we still had a lot to do before returning to the campground.

Our next stop was Fort Wilkins. It was built in 1944 to protect the copper mines and provide safety from the Ojibwa peoples. No one tried to take over the mines nor were the Ojibwa ever a threat. After sporadic levels of use it was abandoned in 1870. In 1923 the area was purchased by local counties and it ended up becoming a State Park. I doubt that you can read it but Fort Wilkins in at the left on the map below, between Lake Fanny Hooe and the bay. On the far right is Horseshoe Bay. Copper Harbor is off the map to the left. 

We continued north to the end/start of US41 and then went on driving on a gravel road. In most places the road was a wide one lane with occasional areas for passing cars going the other direction. We took the turn off and drove down to Mary MacDonald Preserve at Horseshoe Bay. 

I walked the 0.3 mile trail down to Horseshoe Bay. I almost turned back before I got to the bay. The trail is downhill all the way to the by and the tree roots and rock outcroppings make the footing a little treacherous for an old fat guy.

It was beautiful but I was tired and thinking about the climb back up didn't allow me to really enjoy it. There were quite a few people there. There were maybe a dozen cars in the lot at the trailhead.

We drove down the east side of the peninsula on our way back. The shoreline was pretty but there was also a lot of nothing but trees both sides of the road, mile after mile.

 It was a good day. Our two days here will allow us to only scratch the surface of what is available on the Peninsula. Hopefully we can come back here for a week, or maybe a month, next year. 

God is good. I pray that He blesses you and yours. He has blessed me.