After a couple days of no internet, we are once again connected.
We had a wonderful Fourth of July in Copper Harbor. The weather was around the mid 70s and although the fireworks didn't start until 10:45, all six of us managed to stay awake. The little town of Copper Harbor put on a fantastic display of fireworks out over the harbor. I cannot even imagine how such a small city can afford to buy the fireworks needed. I guess part of the money comes from tourists like us!
On Sunday, we packed up and started our 200 mile ride to the south. Wanda's sister Angie has an "Up North" place in Crivitz, Wisconsin and invited us to spend the night there. It was perfect as Sunday was also Wanda's birthday and she got to spend the time with her sister. Dale and Vicky went with us to Angie's but had reservations to take the overnight ferry from Manitowoc across Lake Michigan to Ludington Michigan. They left soon after supper and birthday cake. Angie's husband Tom took us out on the lake for a sunset cruise before we called it an evening.
This morning we rode to Milwaukee. Not far out of Crivitz, we stopped for pictures of the 45th parallel maker. We continued south and I cut off of I-43 ahead of Milwaukee to try to avoid the downtown traffic. My route took us a little farther west of where we needed to be but we picked up US-41/US-45 and took it into the west side of Milwaukee. That is when the traffic came to a complete dead stop. We crept along for a few miles until the I-894 lanes took us to our exit and a couple of turns later, our hotel.
While not fancy, the motel is conveniently located. We might go to House of Harley dealership later this evening. Tomorrow is definitely Harley-Davidson Museum day.
Monday, July 6, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Sunglasses - Finally
Yesterday, while at Munising, David and I took the Pictured Rocks boat tour. The boat goes out into Lake Superior so the passengers can see the Pictured Rocks National Park. Although the cost of the tour was some what expensive, it was well worth it. This is the only way to see the rock formations. Since the area had experienced storms in the past several days, the lake was quite choppy - as in six foot waves. Our boat did heave and pitch quite a bit and there were several passengers also heaving. David and I did just fine and we got several pictures. Be sure to check out the Picasa web album from the link below. Because the sea was so rough, the boat captain made a decision to turn the boat around at just about the half way up the shore point. Because he turned around, we got a refund of half the original cost of the tour. Not only did we get to see these magnificent cliffs, we did it for half price!
This morning's weather forecast called clear skies; the first since leaving home a week ago. However, we packed our bikes in a cold drizzle (48 degrees on the bank thermometer). Our original plans were to ride to Marquette and eat breakfast there. David, Ted, Wanda, and I decided to try and wait out the rain and ate our breakfast in Munising. Dale and Vicky went ahead to Marquette with plans for us to meet up with them at the Wal-Mart. The rain continued until we were just past Christmas (about 10 miles out of Munising) so that was good. However, the road then became crappy - as in they took off a layer of asphalt in order to repave so we drove about 10 miles on gravel, potholes, and scored roadway. We eventually made it to Marquette and met up with Dale and Vicky.
We continued on to Houghton for lunch and stopped at a little cafe right down town. Since Ted had never had a pasty, I insisted he order one. David and I split a pasty. They were good but are an acquired taste. If you are ever in the U.P., be brave and try one.
After lunch we finally were able to take off the rain gear and put on sunglasses. With me in the lead, we went on to Copper Harbor. The drive was beautiful. There is a portion of U.S. 41 that they call the "Covered Drive." David was able to take some pictures of us riding through the tree tunnel.
Tonight and tomorrow we are in the little town of Copper Harbor. It is at the very tip top of the Keweenaw Peninsula as it juts out into Lake Superior. Our latitude here is about the 48th parallel. Our rooms all have little patios on the backside with an unbelievable view of the lake - we are right on the lake. Tomorrow the town really celebrates the Fourth of July big time with a parade and fireworks. We will be able to see the fireworks over the lake from our rooms!
The pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/patty.in.ky/SuperiorSummer
This morning's weather forecast called clear skies; the first since leaving home a week ago. However, we packed our bikes in a cold drizzle (48 degrees on the bank thermometer). Our original plans were to ride to Marquette and eat breakfast there. David, Ted, Wanda, and I decided to try and wait out the rain and ate our breakfast in Munising. Dale and Vicky went ahead to Marquette with plans for us to meet up with them at the Wal-Mart. The rain continued until we were just past Christmas (about 10 miles out of Munising) so that was good. However, the road then became crappy - as in they took off a layer of asphalt in order to repave so we drove about 10 miles on gravel, potholes, and scored roadway. We eventually made it to Marquette and met up with Dale and Vicky.
We continued on to Houghton for lunch and stopped at a little cafe right down town. Since Ted had never had a pasty, I insisted he order one. David and I split a pasty. They were good but are an acquired taste. If you are ever in the U.P., be brave and try one.
After lunch we finally were able to take off the rain gear and put on sunglasses. With me in the lead, we went on to Copper Harbor. The drive was beautiful. There is a portion of U.S. 41 that they call the "Covered Drive." David was able to take some pictures of us riding through the tree tunnel.
Tonight and tomorrow we are in the little town of Copper Harbor. It is at the very tip top of the Keweenaw Peninsula as it juts out into Lake Superior. Our latitude here is about the 48th parallel. Our rooms all have little patios on the backside with an unbelievable view of the lake - we are right on the lake. Tomorrow the town really celebrates the Fourth of July big time with a parade and fireworks. We will be able to see the fireworks over the lake from our rooms!
The pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/patty.in.ky/SuperiorSummer
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Will this rain ever stop?
Yesterday we put all the rain gear on, loaded up the five bikes and trailer, said good-bye to Carol and the Tradewinds Motel, and headed out of St. Ignace. We were disappointed that our three days there lead to very little sightseeing; the weather just would not cooperate. We did not make it to the Soo and the locks and I did not get to climb Castle Rock. About the only thing accomplished was eating and some of that was done in our rooms.
We stuck pretty much to schedule early on. Our first stop was the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point (11 miles north of Paradise). The grounds are a former Coast Guard station and the exhibits were very well done. This is the location where the Edmund Fitzgerald went down during a storm in November 1975 and made famous in a 1976 song by Gordon Lightfoot. The museum has on display the recovered ship bell from the Fitzgerald. David and I met a Mr. William Maki who was on the crew of the Anderson, the ship right behind the Fitzgerald and the last ship to have contact with Fitz before it disappeared from radar.
After our tour there the skies were threatening once again so a decision was made to skip the Tahquamenon Falls and head to Newberry for lunch and on to Munising. Our lunch at Timber Charlies in Newberry was fun. They are famous for a 10 pound ox burger but we all passed on that. Coffee, hot tea, and soup were the favorites from our group as we tried to warm up some. (The temps for the day maxed out at 59.)
After a gas stop in Newberry, we were ready to book it to Munising. About 30 miles east of Munising, it started to rain. It was a miserable, cold rain and the temperature dropped to 50. We pushed on and arrived here cold and ready for some heat. I think all of us cranked our room heaters on full blast. Last night we walked to the restaurant next door.
I'm not sure what is on the agenda for today. Currently we are just waiting for the rain to stop so we can do SOMETHING. David and I are wanting to take the boat trip out on Lake Superior to see Pictured Rocks National Park. I'm not sure the others are going. There are several waterfalls in the area. Perhaps some of us will get a chance to see them - if the rain ever stops.
We stuck pretty much to schedule early on. Our first stop was the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point (11 miles north of Paradise). The grounds are a former Coast Guard station and the exhibits were very well done. This is the location where the Edmund Fitzgerald went down during a storm in November 1975 and made famous in a 1976 song by Gordon Lightfoot. The museum has on display the recovered ship bell from the Fitzgerald. David and I met a Mr. William Maki who was on the crew of the Anderson, the ship right behind the Fitzgerald and the last ship to have contact with Fitz before it disappeared from radar.
After our tour there the skies were threatening once again so a decision was made to skip the Tahquamenon Falls and head to Newberry for lunch and on to Munising. Our lunch at Timber Charlies in Newberry was fun. They are famous for a 10 pound ox burger but we all passed on that. Coffee, hot tea, and soup were the favorites from our group as we tried to warm up some. (The temps for the day maxed out at 59.)
After a gas stop in Newberry, we were ready to book it to Munising. About 30 miles east of Munising, it started to rain. It was a miserable, cold rain and the temperature dropped to 50. We pushed on and arrived here cold and ready for some heat. I think all of us cranked our room heaters on full blast. Last night we walked to the restaurant next door.
I'm not sure what is on the agenda for today. Currently we are just waiting for the rain to stop so we can do SOMETHING. David and I are wanting to take the boat trip out on Lake Superior to see Pictured Rocks National Park. I'm not sure the others are going. There are several waterfalls in the area. Perhaps some of us will get a chance to see them - if the rain ever stops.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Laundry Day
We woke up to overcast skies. Since it wasn't raining, yet, all of us rode out for breakfast. The weather didn't look like it was going to stay dry. We weren't going to be riding to the Soo today. We will have to make another trip north and catch the locks tour some other time.
David and I also loaded up all of the dirty clothes we had accumulated so far and went to the laundry mat after breakfast. We met a couple from Traverse City, Michigan who were camping at Drummond Island. They gave us some more insight on the things to see while we are up in the UP. In just the hour we were at the laundry it began to rain again so we just headed back to the motel.
We once again dined on the gourmet lunch meat and chips in Ted and Wanda's room for lunch. Later that evening David and I decided to take the shuttle back to the casino for the buffet again while the other four went to the Moose Lodge for Bingo.
Tomorrow we leave St. Ignace and head for Munising via Tahquamenon Falls. Hopefully we are starting to see the end of the all-day rains.
Pictures will be posted, if we ever get a chance to take any, at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/patty.in.ky/SuperiorSummer
David and I also loaded up all of the dirty clothes we had accumulated so far and went to the laundry mat after breakfast. We met a couple from Traverse City, Michigan who were camping at Drummond Island. They gave us some more insight on the things to see while we are up in the UP. In just the hour we were at the laundry it began to rain again so we just headed back to the motel.
We once again dined on the gourmet lunch meat and chips in Ted and Wanda's room for lunch. Later that evening David and I decided to take the shuttle back to the casino for the buffet again while the other four went to the Moose Lodge for Bingo.
Tomorrow we leave St. Ignace and head for Munising via Tahquamenon Falls. Hopefully we are starting to see the end of the all-day rains.
Pictures will be posted, if we ever get a chance to take any, at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/patty.in.ky/SuperiorSummer
Monday, June 29, 2009
Raining - Still
It was raining this morning so we called for a taxi to take the six of us to a restaurant. The Galley was right downtown St. Ignace on the boardwalk. We had a table near the window where we could watch Lake Huron. Afterwards we wandered some up and down the boardwalk. The rain was pretty steady and we didn't venture too far before we called the taxi to take us back to our hotel.
Later in the day, a friend of Dale & Vicky's dropped by to visit so us girls borrowed his car and went to the grocery. We had lunch meat, fruit, and chips in Ted & Wanda's room. While the ambiance was somewhat lacking, we enjoyed each other's company and story telling.
This evening we took the free shuttle to the Kewadin Casino. The hotel gave us a card for roll of free tokens plus we got two free rolls for it being our first time at the Kewadin Casino. We used up the freebies (except for Vicky who hit $20 on her second free coin). David and I spent a total of $20 of our own money. We are not that into gambling and have a low threshold for losing money. The main purpose for going was dinner and the casino had a nice buffet. After eating, the free shuttle brought us back to our hotel where we are tucked in for the evening.
Tomorrow's plans are to go to the Soo. The forecast calls for scattered showers all day but it is just 50 miles to the locks. We can do scattered showers. We might have to wait out an occasional down pour but we intend to ride a boat through the locks.
Later in the day, a friend of Dale & Vicky's dropped by to visit so us girls borrowed his car and went to the grocery. We had lunch meat, fruit, and chips in Ted & Wanda's room. While the ambiance was somewhat lacking, we enjoyed each other's company and story telling.
This evening we took the free shuttle to the Kewadin Casino. The hotel gave us a card for roll of free tokens plus we got two free rolls for it being our first time at the Kewadin Casino. We used up the freebies (except for Vicky who hit $20 on her second free coin). David and I spent a total of $20 of our own money. We are not that into gambling and have a low threshold for losing money. The main purpose for going was dinner and the casino had a nice buffet. After eating, the free shuttle brought us back to our hotel where we are tucked in for the evening.
Tomorrow's plans are to go to the Soo. The forecast calls for scattered showers all day but it is just 50 miles to the locks. We can do scattered showers. We might have to wait out an occasional down pour but we intend to ride a boat through the locks.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Now in the U.P.
It rained last night and was still raining this morning. We waited at the hotel for a bit and the rain let up. I dressed for rain with the full gaiters, pants, and jackets. No one else did. So as we set out, the sun came out and we rode dry. I will take all credit for that. (Putting on the rain gear keeps all the rain away. I don't know how that works but it does.)
We only had about 30 miles of I-75 before we got off at Bay City. Our ride up the west coast of Lake Huron on US-23 was a delight. Traffic wasn't bad and the scenery was great. There were several different places where we could get a clear view of Lake Huron.
We were near Alpena around lunch time but every restaurant David plugged into his GPS was closed. The economy has really hit Michigan bad. About 10 miles north of Alpena, we finally found a restaurant open. It was great with good food and friendly server and owner. If even one of those restaurants in Alpena had been open, we would not have discovered the Parker House.
Wind picked up after we left our lunch stop and was steady and strong all the way to Mackinaw City. Once on the Mackinac Bridge, though, the wind didn't seem so bad. We crossed the bridge with no issues or problems and are settled into our rooms for the night in St. Ignace, Michigan.
One not so great note though is that once we got to our hotel, I took off the rain gear. About a half hour after that the rain started. Tonight we called for pizza delivery as there are no restaurants within walking distance and we don't want to ride in the rain.
We only had about 30 miles of I-75 before we got off at Bay City. Our ride up the west coast of Lake Huron on US-23 was a delight. Traffic wasn't bad and the scenery was great. There were several different places where we could get a clear view of Lake Huron.
We were near Alpena around lunch time but every restaurant David plugged into his GPS was closed. The economy has really hit Michigan bad. About 10 miles north of Alpena, we finally found a restaurant open. It was great with good food and friendly server and owner. If even one of those restaurants in Alpena had been open, we would not have discovered the Parker House.
Wind picked up after we left our lunch stop and was steady and strong all the way to Mackinaw City. Once on the Mackinac Bridge, though, the wind didn't seem so bad. We crossed the bridge with no issues or problems and are settled into our rooms for the night in St. Ignace, Michigan.
One not so great note though is that once we got to our hotel, I took off the rain gear. About a half hour after that the rain started. Tonight we called for pizza delivery as there are no restaurants within walking distance and we don't want to ride in the rain.
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