Day #6 - Thursday, September 24th, 2009

This was a day of deja vu for John. It was also a long day, since we left the hotel at 9:00AM and returned at 7:00PM. However, it was great weather, breezy enough to kick up the lake a bit, but sunny & quite warm. We dropped down to the water, crossed the bridge, zig-zagged our way up through Hancock, past the old mine buildings & on up the peninsula as far as Calumet, where we took a quick side trip but decided to postpone any potential shopping until later, or the next day.

With just a couple of extra turns John remembered how to find the "back road" (mostly lakeside) and we made our gentle way on to Eagle River. First we dropped down to the condo complex, were remembered by Helen (Maria's "Crazy Texas Lady") from upstairs, who wanted to chat, and walked down to the rocky beach. The Eagle River is neither dry, nor flowing, just a series of pools. We then went up, over, and down again to the Inn and parked nearby. The sandy beach this side was wide and firm and we all went for a long walk, one dry-shod and two paddling! We hiked as far as the house we had reserved to go with Maria last year, then plodded all the way back. Zoe had a blast!

Before leaving, we stopped by the only store in town, the gift & craft one that is still run by the same nice lady (Bonnie) as for years past. She was sorry to learn about Maria & had wondered why she hadn't seen us last year. Some of her stuff she needleworks herself. Needless to say we didn't leave empty handed (that's what vacations are for, aren't they?)

We took "Linda's lane" out of town, made a turn and reached the lake right at Eagle Harbor, where we parked at the lighthouse and took the self-guided tour of the little complex. We then made three sides of a square around the harbor area to one of Maria's favorite picnic spots, which was the windiest place we were to find all day, so we ate the actual picnic sitting in the van before venturing out for more pictures. Zoe's furry face, head on to a very stiff breeze, defies description!

Heading on, we took the fork for the long way up to the crest of Brockway Mountain, parked, looked at the views, took in the little gift shop in the only building (apart from loos) up there, and then started down the shorter steeper side, marveling at assorted lunatic cyclists as we passed them. We stopped at the overlook to see/photo Copper Harbor from above, then carried on down & through the town, heading for the dead end of the road, Highway 41, a mere 1990 miles from its other end in Miami, Florida!

Returning a little bit we entered Fort Wilkins, paid our fee, and parked. We toured the well-restored complex fairly comprehensively, much to Zoe's disgust, as she clearly would have preferred some snooze time! We found it interesting. Leaving with ice creams in hand we popped into a lakeside piece of the overall park, and ate them looking across the water to the lighthouse & watching the idiotically small boat that takes visitors to it. For this day, we made just one stop in Copper Harbor itself, for John to buy a pair of moccasins in the end of season sale from the same place as his last several pairs!

We followed the lakeshore road back, with John pointing out assorted favorite spots of Maria's but not making a significant stop at any of them. After Eagle Harbor we stayed with the coast road & came to the ornate monastery &, more or less across the road, it's fund-raising Jampot store, in which we both spent extravagantly on jams, cakes, cookies & muffins. Having concluded that we hadn't seen anything to compare to this morning's beach for dog exercise, we returned to park in the same place.

Being gluttons for punishment, we again essayed a long walk &, once suitably distant from civilization, or anything else, cut Zoe loose to depart at warp speed for the middle distance, and back again similarly. However, two more of these bursts took their toll and each excursion became shorter than the one before & she was quite amenable to being "caught" & re-leashed before we got the van. We then carried picnic basket and cooler down to a picnic table on the beach and enjoyed an early supper that our dieticians would probably decry!

Finally back at the hotel, the van was tidied up inside & much rubbish disposed of. We confirmed that we will leave here a day earlier than planned & spend Saturday night with Lynn & Jay, and Zoe, after one last leap up on to the bed, displayed about as much animation as one of her stuffed animals! Some of the days kinks were eased by immersion in both hot and cool water & we expect to sleep well tonight!

Although it took all day, we only covered 115 miles today, for a trip total of 1178.4.

To see Marissa's pictorial essay, go here.