AN & JFP – U.P. 2014 – Day #9

Thursday Annie finally got the restful kind of day she had been expecting all along but had not yet achieved.  We slept late, arose leisurely, had a good breakfast and then made our way out to Summer Breeze Campground to visit with Rita & Bob and Carol & Jerry.  Apart from a small excursion by Rita, Annie & I to Pine Mountain to see the ski jump and War Memorial up there, we basically just sat around and chatted.  We also seem to eat a lot, lunch in the RV, strawberries pound cake and cream in the campground building (where we also bought a T-shirt and some hand-made soaps) and later dinner at Holiday Kitchen.  It was a very nice relaxing day in good and welcoming company.

AN & JFP – U.P. 2014 – Day #8

Wednesday was a day of highs and lows.  Highs in what we saw, and lows in how much driving, some of it inadvertent, that we did.  One could say the same in reverse of temperatures, from the 30’s to low 40’s in both Munising and Marquette to the mid to high 70’s in the central and lower parts of the U.P.

We had a pretty efficient morning and were on our way westwards betimes, heading towards Marquette.  The scenic pull-offs of lake views and beach access, usually visited to see crashing waves, were distinctly different.  Close in the water was glassy calm and reflective but further out and as far as the eye could see west, east, and north it was just ice – amazing, especially to me who had seen the other possibilities.

Since we were making good time we made a side trip to Presque Isle Park, and for a nice change struck gold, so to speak.  As we arrived at the park proper, an ore-carrying lake freighter was just nosing in to berth beside the loading “dock” with its railroad cars of ore on top.  We also discovered that the road around the outer edge of the park was open to vehicular traffic (unlike my last several visits) so we made our way around and got a good look at two separate deer, both feeding until they sensed they were being watched!

We watched activity on the freighter for a little while but concluded it might not start actually loading for hours so we took another lap to measure the distance around the road – exactly 2 miles.  We decided to go and walk it, and started off in the open with the sunshine.  Somewhat later, in continuous shade and with a very cold breeze chilling our faces we decided to abandon & return with the wind behind us, although we still managed a pretty good walk.

Leaving Presque Isle & Marquette behind us we continued west, but in Ishpeming I foolishly suggested a “quick look” at the Da Yoopers Tourist Trap shop there – at least they are honest.  Much later we escaped, with our tee-shirts (each) and pants for Annie and continued on our way.  This was the bad part.  “Portia” our Garmin did not recognize Bond Falls and traveling somewhat blind I made a wrong turn.  It took two unmanly asking for directions at gas stations (at one of which we bought supplies for a late lunch) plus a considerable number of extra miles before, with my frustration meter almost on the peg, we finally found the falls.

However, Bond Falls was truly worth the visit as the rivers supplying it were running high and it was a truly impressive sight.  We did some hiking upstream (after climbing a good number of wet steps) as well as taking a lot more pictures than we actually needed!  But the sunshine on everything was lovely and we really enjoyed the whole viewing experience, our only disappointment being that the gift shop was closed by the time we got there.

Since we still had a long way to go in order to get to Iron Mountain Annie took the helm so to speak and drove us as far as Winks Woods, where of course we browsed extensively.  Annie found a couple of attractive kitchen hand towels but for once nothing in there reached out and grabbed my fancy.  Thereafter I brought us on in to the Holiday Inn Express in Iron Mountain where my accumulated Priority Club points are getting us two free nights – can’t beat that with a stick!  Despite the time change to Central for these two days we were still fairly late so we quickly popped out for dinner before returning and settling in.

As usual, such pictures as were considered “keepers” have been added to the end of our U.P. set here, and to the top of my “photostream” as well.

AN & JFP – U.P. 2014 – Day #7

With plenty of sunshine and mostly blue skies today appeared much as yesterday, except the breeze was now from due north and the temperature all day only varied from the mid-40’s to the mid-50’s.  We had read forecasts and dressed appropriately.  Later we learned that the north wind had pushed back the lake ice causing the first cruise to be aborted and all subsequent ones canceled so we were very glad we had grabbed our opportunity yesterday.  After our usual leisurely and big breakfast we sallied forth.

After a short visit to Great Sand Beach along the side of the bay and one end of the giant sandbar we had skirted yesterday we headed for all things “Miners”.  First stop was the overlook above & to the side of the Miners Castle formation where I clicked the camera several times.  We then took the walk and steps down to the viewing platform close to the “Castle” where I suddenly noticed the camera was telling me it had “no chip installed”!!!!  Luckily I also had the pocket camera with me so I quickly swapped its chip into the big camera, but it did mean we had to revisit the first viewing platform again and re-take the shots we wanted from there.  Another visitor also took some shots of us together – in fact it was a day of such camera-swapping activities.

We drove to the start of the longer trail to the Miners Falls overlook, half of which was wet with fine spray as the falls were well supplied with water.  After more pictures we wended our way back without hurrying.  In the sunshine it was a lovely walk as the trees, while not yet full, are all leafed out with fresh green.  Next we went to Miners Beach, along which we walked, with difficulty in the very soft sand, to the mouth of the Miners River.  I noticed that this season the beach is more dune-like and a lot narrower between lake & trees than I had seen before.  Eventually we walked back to the van and headed back to town.

We took another side trip in order to visit and see the very pretty Wagner Falls which were surrounded by little yellow flowers that appear to be the harbinger of spring way up here.  This concluded the walking & sightseeing activities for around here.  Back in town we visited a very nice upper end gift store & found that they were discontinuing carrying Dickens Village houses & accessories and had all at 40% off, so instead of picking up one new building for next winter’s arrangement we picked up two.

We went on to the cruise terminal/gift shop and Annie chose gifts for her friends who were either taking care of Priscilla or picking up her mail & checking on her house.  By now we were hungry and had a mutual fancy for pizza so we went to a local pizzeria, let them cook us one, ate all of it we could and carried out the rest for consumption later since we have a microwave in the room.

As usual, such pictures as were considered “keepers” have been added to the end of our U.P. set here, and to the top of my “photostream” as well.