Day 57 - Tuesday, August 20 - Stayed in Hancock/Houghton Area

 We were slow getting around again this morning, another night of great sleeping weather. The overnight low was 47 degrees. Today's high was a mostly sunny 67. Another beautiful, near perfect day.

We drove across the bridge to Hancock, and up to the top of the ridge, for lunch at the 4 Suns fish place. Sadly they were out of whitefish but my cod and Kathy's fish taco were great. Note the white, trike motorcycle at the right. It had a handicapped license plate.

Across from the restaurant was what had once been the Empire Mine. It is now a tourist attraction with some type of mine tours. I will go there if we manage to get back up here.

I don't think you can see it in the photo, but a sliver of the river shows along the trees.

At the other end of the restaurant parking lot was the Peterson Fish Market. We went in to buy some fish. They were out of fresh whitefish, something about weather issues on Lake Superior reducing the time out fishing. We bought a pound of smoked whitefish to snack on. It's pretty good.

After lunch I dropped Kathy off and went to the Carnegie Museum. There was a lot of interesting information about the geology of the area. There was also a video, from the late 50's, about the building of the bridge that connects Houghton and Hancock. It was built by American Bridge Division of United States Steel, who I worked for from 1970-77. Seeing the guys in their brown fiberglass hardhats, a trademark of American Bridge, brought back fond memories. It was also interesting watching the ironworkers. There were no fatalities during the bridge construction but with today's "help" from OSHA I suspect twice as many manhours would be required to construct the bridge.

Below are views from from the back of the Carnegie Building, looking out over the river.

The photo below is an enlarged portion of the above photo. Note the Empire Mine building up on the ridge.

A ski or sledding his across the river, complete with a ski lift.

I walked a couple of blocks over to the Post Office to mail some post cards. I wonder if all the vines on this building do much damage to the motar.

Later in the afternoon I took a walk along the river. Kids were playing in the water at one of the little beaches.

Looking down the boardwalk toward the bridge.

Looking back toward the campground and park.

The bridge is in what is called the "Intermediate Position". When it is in the "Down Position" there is only 5' of clearance above the water. In the Intermediate Position there is 30' of clearance. In the "Raised Position" there is 100' of clearance. The interesting thing is that the bridge was built for rail traffic on the lower deck and vehicle traffic across the upper deck, when it was in the Down Position. When it was in the Intermediate Position, as it is in the photo, vehicle traffic continued by using the rail lower section. Rail traffic across the river stopped many years ago. Unless a larger ship sails down the river the bridge stays in this position. I think maybe it has been raised to the Raised Position a couple of times while we have been here, but I've not seen it in that position. During some winter months, when there is no boat traffic on the frozen river, it is put in the Down Position and snowmobiles use the lower level.

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

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.

Day 55 - Sunday, August 18 - Ishpeming to Houghton

 Today we travelled from Country Village RV Park in Ishpeming to Houghton's City RV Park, 86 miles. It was a little foggy when we left around 11AM. Light, misty rain fell most of the way here. Just enough to keep the wipers going on slow intermittent. There was an incredible amount of eastbound traffic on US41. It didn't seem slow the traffic flow. It appeared that most traffic, both east and west bound, was running close to the speed limit. By around 4PM the sun started peaking through and it turned out to be a very nice afternoon.

The photo below shows how close US41 runs to the shore of Keweenaw Bay. The dirt at the bottom of the photo is the highways shoulder.

Parked at the Houghton RV Park. The space is a little tight but Kathy had no problem getting the coach in it. Note the porch/deck behind the Flex.

Looking back up at the porch/deck from the road below.

The view from the porch/deck. The water is Portage Lake. Across the lake is the city of Hancock.

At one end of the campground is a City Park with the "Chutes and Ladders" structure.

After I took the photo above I turned around and took the photo below, of the beach.

We spent most of the afternoon on the porch, enjoying the lack of rain.

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

Day 54 - Saturday, August 17 - Rainy, Lazy Day - Added Yooperland Link

It rained on and off again today. Last nights low was 64 and today's high was 66. Even with  those low temperatures we had the windows closed and the AC on, because of the humidity.

It was quite foggy until late afternoon. We went back to Crossroads Restaurant for lunch (20 minutes, 14 miles). Kathy's hamburger was OK, my "Bomb" (roast beef, salami, mozzarella, sautéed onions & mushrooms) was good. We both had fries. I thought they were as good as last time (which was awesome), Kathy thought they only rated a good. At most visibility, distance we could see vehicles with their lights on, was 150 yards. For vehicles without lights it was less than half that.

Tomorrow, Lord willing, we move 85 miles to Houghton, MI, in the Keweenaw Peninsula. We have not been up there. There was a lot of copper mining activity in the peninsula starting in the mid 1800's. The area was wilderness, setting up the infrastructure to support mining operations was so expensive that few mines were profitable. It is interesting to consider that Missouri became a State in 1821 but Michigan didn't gain Statehood until 1837.

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

I forgot to add that we went to Yooperland Tourist Trap, for maybe the third time. We manage to find something to buy and help out the UP economy every time we go. I was fourth in line at the cashier. The couple in front of me spent $89, I  only  spent $12, I'm cheap. I didn't take any pictures this time but you can see photos of some of the exhibits from our August 2018 visit at:

https://bertdsblog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2018-08-18T20:41:00-04:00&max-results=7&start=5&by-date=false

Day 53 - Friday, August 16 - Michigan Iron Industry Museum

 It was a rainy day today. The rain started and stopped all morning. About 3PM it started RAINING and the wind blew. The dirt/gravel area on the right is the drive to our campsite. I took this photo out of the drivers side window, during one of the times the rain almost stopped. It mostly stopped around 7PM. 

There are tent campers at several sites. At 10PM the temperature is 66 and the humidity is 97%. The overnight low is supposed to be 61. 

Over the past 14 years we have been in the UP a total of 5 times; 2011, 2018, 2021, 2022 & 2024. Today I  made my 4th visit to the Michigan Iron Industry Museum. This year was the first year that I walked the boardwalk that overlooks the site of the first commercial forging operation in the UP, on the Carp River. The first iron was made there on February 10, 1848. 

The boardwalk starts at the back side of the museum and runs up the hill. It includes several switchbacks as it climbs up the hill. The photo below is looking down the boardwalk from the top of it. I'm not sure where this path goes, maybe an exploration to be made the next time I visit.

The photo below was taken from the end of the boardwalk in the photo above. It looks down on an observation area that the boardwalk leads to. Off the top left of the observation area is a ramp leading down to the museum.

The forge site, and the Carp River, is down the hill to the right. There is very little left of the forge site.

I didn't take many photos in the museum. If you want to read more about it check out:

https://bertdsblog.blogspot.com/2018/08/sunday-day-10.html

https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museums/miim

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carp_River_Forge

According to oral tradition the Ojibwe, Odawa (Ottawa) and Potawatomi people say their ancestors all migrated to the upper Great Lakes region. These groups spoke a common language and shared beliefs and customs. They called themselves the Anishnabeg, "original man".

The text alongside this picture says, "By 1800 Ojibwe lands encircled Lake Superior. The Odawa called Michigan's northwestern Lower Peninsula their homeland. The Potawatomi inhabited the Lake Michigan shoreline of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and southwest Michigan.

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

Day 52 - Thursday, August 15 - Checking out Ishpeming

 We just lazed about during the morning. I crawled around on the floor trying to figure how to get at the mechanism that controls the recline for the drivers side captain chair. I didn't figure that out but did find a shipping paper up inside. I think the chair mechanism has a lifetime warranty. I sent Flexsteel an email asking about warranty work. We'll see.

We went to Sherri's for lunch, it was disappointing. We arrived at 11:30AM, they weren't all that busy. After a reasonable time the waitress took our order. It took a loooong time to get Kathy's chicken strips and my hot beef sandwich. Kathy's chicken strips were over cooked and my hot beef sandwich was mediocre. Even though its 14 miles and 20 minutes from the campground I think we have put the Crossroads Restaurant back our list of places to eat when in Ishpeming, as well as when we are in Marquette.

After lunch we drove around downtown a little. Kathy checked out two thrift stores. She got a great buy on a little Oskar food processor. I just walked around and snapped a few photos.

Stonehouse Window and Door

I didn't look to see what this building is used for. I think I remember, from a previous trip, that there used to be a clock in this.

The stone back wall is intriguing.

Miner's National Bank

I didn't walk over and check but it looked like the drug store, the building with the white second floor, is open.

An interesting mural on the side of an insurance building. Note that folks up here are always ready. See the snow plow in the parking lot, in mid-August.

The Ishpeming's Big Egg Beater.

I wonder how many taxpayer dollars have been poured into this boondoggle. You can read its history at: https://www.miningjournal.net/news/front-page-news/2023/12/turbine-not-going-anywhere-soon/ 

We made a stop at the grocery stone and then headed back to the campground. Kathy hit the spa and pool, I just hit the pool. Today's high was 79. Even though the pool is heated, with the brisk breeze it was cool. We didn't stay long.

It rained on and off during the mid afternoon and evening, and the brisk breeze continued to blow. at 9:45PM our outdoor thermometer says its 63 degrees, Weather but says 66. 

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