Northern Exposure III - 2011 - Day #4

This was a day when the forecasters were all too correct, perhaps even a bit optimistic but wisely we read and acted accordingly, heading, or should I say waddling, out immediately after consuming way too much irresistible breakfast.  Our first stop was Wagner Falls, a small but attractive one (that Marissa has yet to see in sunshine!) along a good and part-boardwalk trail without too many steps.  It made for a nice start to the day's activities.

Staying with the falls theme for a while we next went to Munising Falls and were surprised to find the visitors center actually open.  The charming ranger inside, unusually one actually familiar with the rare Havanese breed, told us this was the last day open for 2011.  After chatting, we headed on up the trail eventually separating so John could take the high road (with its multiplicity of steps) for one view and "the girls" could take the much more gentle low road for a different view (one John had seen many times before).

With unpromising skies we decided to hurry back to Miners Beach to give Zoe a chance to get her exercise for the day, a move with which she had no quarrel at all!  We stayed on the river side and having reached it found Zoe became quite fascinated and spent a good while playing in the area where it merged with the Lake, needless to say getting thoroughly wet all over in the process.  As the sprinkles became more noticeable we headed back to the van and returned to town in ever-increasing rain.

We checked out a few gift shops, most being uninteresting but one showing promise especially in an excellent selection of Dickens Village buildings and accessories.  Two in particular appealed, a beautiful but rather dear church and a Fish & Chips shop, but we couldn't remember if it had been purchased in St. Charles back in the spring.  We went and checked a couple of markets and bought sandwiches & desserts for lunch which we took back to the hotel.  We sat on the patio while the maid finished up the room and watched the serious rain move towards us gradually obscuring our view of the bay, the Pictured Rocks coastline and even the nearby Grand Island.  We retreated inside, ate our lunch and settled down to an afternoon of reading books.

Later an Internet check of Dickens Village stuff reminded us what had been bought earlier, so John dashed out through the raindrops and drove back to the store, splurged on the two buildings plus an item that had caught Marissa's eye.  Come the season this years Dickens Village set up is going to be impressive!  Since the rain never has let up an order has been placed for delivery to the hotel obviating the need for any further excursions.

Although notes will be taken, after this no daily online blogging or posting of pictures will be possible for the next week as tomorrow we head for the Keweenaw and splendid isolation in our cabin.  A few pictures have been taken today and added to the UP set that may be found here.