Saturday, July 4, 2009

Fourth on Keweenaw Peninsula

Today's weather is picture perfect. The highs around 70 and best of all - no rain!

We started out early today with a trip up Brockway Mountain (elevation 1337 feet) for some beautiful views. Then we rode M-26 along the west coast line of the peninsula to Eagle River. We then headed east all the way across the peninsula to the small town of Gay. We stopped for a while and talked to some locals as they set up for their Fourth celebration. We then rode the east coast line to Lac La Belle where we ate lunch in an out-of-the-way place called Bear Belly Bar & Grill. The setting was gorgeous and the food was great. Finally we rode back to Copper Harbor and out the the "Beginning of US-41" sign for some pictures. Now is nap time so we can stay awake for the fireworks tonight. (It doesn't start getting dark here until about 10:30 p.m.)

Every little town we rode through today was celebrating the Fourth big time. In more than one town we had to detour for a parade. In one town I think we were considered part of the parade. In Gay, they told us the year-round population is 22 but today they expect to have 3,000 to 4,000 people in town for food, raffles, and fun. In Copper Harbor (year-round population is about 80) their Fourth of July crowd is usually 10,000.

We also found out the that the one-room school house here in Copper Harbor is still in use as a school house for grades K-8. At a Lac La Belle gift shop, we met a young woman who went to school here. When she went, about 11 kids were enrolled. Her little sister goes to school here now and there are only four kids in the entire K-8 school. Her mother, also in the gift shop, said it is like home-schooling but better.