AN & JFP – U.P. 2014 – Day #6

This was a very much less strenuous day than those preceding it.  The weather is still being kind.  For once we lazed away the morning, following a delicious and extensive breakfast eaten out on the patio just outside the breakfast room, as this Holiday morning the hotel is full and busy.  Rested and relaxed we headed down to the harbor to see the status of the cruise boats.  Finally they were running, but due to the ice only about ½ to ¾ as far as usual, and for which they were only charging half the usual price.  We bought two tickets for the 2:00 PM cruise (which we later found went a bit further than the first cruise of the day as the ice is slowly moving away for the moment).  Odds were the next day would be the same but the forecast was for much cooler temperatures.

With time to kill before boarding we headed to the edge of town and went to Munising Falls, a slender but high one.  It has rather more flow than I have previously seen due to the different time of year.  We looked from the bottom, and then got a little extra exercise climbing a bunch of steps to get a bit closer.  The little visitor center was manned and open and Annie found the historical displays very interesting.

Back at the harbor we joined the boarding line and after a bit of a wait boarded and took second row seats on the upper (and open) deck.  For part of the cruise the sun was almost too hot, and for part of it (out by the ice) we put on the jackets we had taken – typical U.P.  As it turned out the shorter version of the cruise was just about right for us and of course the ice made it unique and fascinating.  The locals are stunned by this rare situation for the time of year and apparently a fair number of Yoopers with cameras came just to take the unique “ice cruise”.  We took some pictures, but not too many.

Back on land we gave the associated gift shop our full attention but not too much of our money!  While we were browsing a freak heavy shower hit the area for a few minutes, making us very glad it waited until we were off the fully exposed upper deck of the boat.  We then went and treated ourselves to a decadent sundae each before heading back to the hotel to sort out the pictures we had taken.  Later we went out for a so-so meal, came back, hot-tubed and swam, tried a few exercise machines (briefly) and then settled down.

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 #5

This was supposed to be an “easy” day, although it didn’t quite turn out that way.  Once again we were gifted with an almost perfect summer-like day, although our luck may run out tomorrow.  We did begin nice & gently and were virtually the last people in the breakfast room, although plenty of good food was still available and of which we took good advantage.

We began heading west and just before our turn to the north I mentioned Seney Wildlife Refuge & we made a spur of the moment decision to visit as it was virtually right there.  As usual, expectations exceeded reality although we did see an active osprey “nest” and via a telescope in the Visitor Center could see the fledglings moving about in it.  We took the 7-mile drive through the refuge, glimpsed a beaver crossing the road ahead of us, saw swans going through what we assume were mating rituals with much noise and flapping of wings (although not when we had the camera ready, of course).  We ignored ducks & geese (which were not overabundant) and after 6 ½ miles finally saw a pair of loons.  They were feeding and were under water more than on top of it, but at least we can say we saw real live loons in the wild!

We then headed off to Grand Marais and as we crested the last hill I was surprised to see “whitecaps” on a calm day.  Once we were parked ready to go walking on the beach we realized that what we were seeing were mini-icebergs!  There is still much ice out on the lake in this area.  We walked, with difficulty, on the very soft sand and/or pebbles for quite a long way before turning back feeling we had satisfied any need for exercise.  Ha!

Our next stop was Au Sable Falls & surrounding dunes and if we thought yesterday’s steps were a lot we now realized our mistake – this was truly “a lot”!  The falls were in pretty good spate and well worth the descent to the viewing points.  We then continued on down a trail that wound up at the shoreline, with towering sand dunes to both sides of us.  One in particular kept shedding pebbles and sand, mostly singly but occasionally in a mini-avalanche – fascinating to see.  In due course we headed back, and as we stopped for a breather on a strategic bench Annie complimented me on my agility and endurance (considering the number of birthdays I have had!)  Before leaving the area we made two or three more side trips for assorted photo ops.

Finally we began the serious run for Munising arriving in the latish afternoon.  We topped off the fuel tank, primarily to be able to “de-bug” the windshield & replenish our drinks supply and then checked with the cruises.  There were no runs today because of the ice conditions blocking the bay entrance, but may be tomorrow or the next day if the off-shore breezes shift the ice out into the lake.  We will check.

We are checked into the hotel for three nights, we have run into town for a great surf and turf dinner Yooper style, hot-tubed AND swum and feel we have had another very full day.  We did take some pictures, hardly masterpieces of the photographers’ art, but to provide memories.  Such as they are they 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 #4

It was a beautiful day, we woke early, everything went smoothly and with Annie having made up any missed sleep during the run we arrived at Whitefish point somewhat before ten o’clock in the morning.  After a quick walk on the beach to get us going and to be able to say we had done so we went to the complex, paid our fees and toured the entire Whitefish Point Lighthouse complex.  We “did” the Shipwreck Museum, the movie about the salvage of the ship’s bell from the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (and its replacement with an identical replacement engraved with the names of all the lost sailors), the Coast Guard (old British style, not modern law enforcement style) and the beautifully restored “duplex” home of the last pair of light-keepers – one half back to original, and the other to final form before abandonment in the fifties.

We strolled up to the sand dunes behind the complex, the start of a massive array of dunes quite unique to the U.P. courtesy of Lake Superior, and chatted with the bird watchers still documenting the end of this spring’s migration north.  And finally we shopped successfully in the very nice gift shop before leaving and heading back down to Paradise where we turned towards the west in order to go to Tahquamenon Falls.

We visited the Lower Falls first, walking the walks, and taking the pictures (just like everybody else around us, although it was not too crowded at all).  While the major snow-melt flows are long gone the flows were still higher than I had ever seen them since all previous visits had been in the fall.  Despite what were rapidly becoming summer temperatures no deciduous trees at all have yet leafed out and some are barely showing buds, which is a bit strange to my eyes.

We elected to head to the other complex, the one for the Upper Falls where we both made a “costume change” in the van as a cool morning had become a lovely and very warm summer-like day.  We then had a light lunch at the concessions before starting to walk, and walk…..and walk, or climb as the case may be.  We went first to the viewing platforms at roughly water level on the upper side of the falls, with the 96 steps down and up!  After looking, taking pictures, and climbing back up we headed to the other viewing area, accessed via well over 100 steps, but only about 80 of them continuous, the rest coming in fits and starts and being both up and down.  There were a lot less people here!  We looked and took more pictures and headed back…rather more slowly.

After reaching the top and walking a little we (foolishly) elected to take the “nature walk to parking lot”.  Pleasant, but no “nature” and multiple muddy patches ensued.  My longer and springier steps and leaps kept me almost clean but Annie was less successful and wound up with muddy shoes and feet – good job she brought half a stores-worth of others with her!

Of course we “did” the gift shop but bought little for a change.  We then departed and cruised to Newberry and checked into a nice motel quite early.  We sorted out the van and our various bags.  (We brought a lot of “stuff” but most of it stays in the van, not hauled into the room).  This motel has a large hot-tub/spa but no pool, which was just what the doctor ordered for our now-aching limbs, so as soon as we had eaten at a nearby restaurant we indulged and relaxed.  It’s been a good day.

We took far too many pictures but have whittled them down and added just some of them to the Flickr set of this trip which may be accessed here.