Pictured Rocks

 

After our morning hike, we grabbed a couple of Subway sandwiches for lunch before our boat ride to see the Painted Rocks.

We had hiked some of the trails in the Park. But the only way to see the Painted rocks is to take a boat ride.

 

The water is clean and beautiful.

Last night was stormy and windy after the fog rolled in. We could hear the waves splashing. It gave me bad dreams about my bad cruise ship experience. I finally put the fan on the cover the sound of the wind and waves.

I thought that I would post this part separately since I took so many pictures.

The caves from the erosion.

Minerals seeping from the sandstone paint the rocks.

The night before last the stars were so bright and northern lights dancing in the sky.

3 hours got a bit long. But the only way to see the rocks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lighthouse from 1800s on Grand Island

 

 

Nice people we meet along the way.

 

We are ready to be on our way in the morning back to Wisconsin. Our mission will be to find the cheese.

 

 

Munising Falls and North Country Trail

Monday morning and everyone is moving out of the campground. Ahhhh. Went for a walk along the beach, found blueberries and ate them.

When we got to Michigan's upper peninsula, I kept hearing the term Yoopers. UPers is what it means. They have a different speech pattern and mannerisms and nice people.

Had to try the pasty. Don't  have to do that again. That apple and cherry were good, rutabagas not so great. 

 

 

 

We got pretty tired after all of the going we have been doing and decided on a real rest day. We've met several couples here are the campground and enjoyed visiting and getting tips on what to do.

 

 

Munising Falls a short walk.

Sand Point Beach just up the road. The water is so clear.

Got to love a city that takes care of the bikes with a good rack.

Iron ore smelting furnace from the 1800s is now a national park

Always room for another lighthouse

North Country Hiking Trail will eventually go from New York to North Dakota

Such a nice walk that I didn't want to turn around but we had a boat tour of the Pictured Rocks booked and had to watch the time and 3 miles had to do.

The trail follows the shoreline and we would look thru the trees to see boats and kayakers.

After the rain last night, it was good to have the boardwalks.

125 giant legsteps

Yesterday was rainy and foggy. During the evening, we watched the fog roll in across the lake. It was like a wall right at the shore.

Good thing we wore long sleeves and pants.  The mosquitos were mighty large in here.

Great views from the trail.

Marsh walk

 

 

Need I say more?

 

 

 

Munising, Michigan and Yoopers

It was very peaceful in Copper Harbor with only a few scattered campers in the campground. Labor Day weekend Friday, the place filled up and were glad it was time to move on. We usually stay in state and federal campgrounds and have lots of space but occasionally stay in private ones without a lot of space when someone is next to you.

Once we arrived at Munising Tourist Campground, We had to jump, actually a slow walk, into the lake because it was so hot. This city campground is great with reasonable rates and right on the beach with fire pits in the sand.

We never knew how great it would be here. Even with the Labor Day holiday, we didn't feel crowded.

The kids were still playing in the water once it got dark. I guess they are not ready for summer to end and return to school.

 

There are stories that Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone used to hang out in the UP hiking and exploring. They called themselves the "Vagabonds".

 

Miner's Castle

 

Path to  Miner's Castle Rock. We were all alone because we started out at 8 am. By the time we were done hiking at noon, there were cars parked a half mile up the road from the parking lot.

Chapel Falls

 Not Lady slippers, jewelweed

Fungi on moss

 

Never heard of this but Mike used to like it as a kid in Vermont.

 

In the night, a thunderstorm came across the lake. We could heard the thunder and see almost constant lightening in the distance. The storm got closer and louder and then rolled by. You could tell where it was and where it was going. A few claps of thunder made us jump out of our drawers as we were falling asleep. I looked out after it passed and the clouds were hauntingly low with and foggy darkness over the lake.