Tag Archives: travel
Lighthouses and Waterfalls: Part I
I know you just can’t get enough lighthouses and waterfalls are always a favorite, so here’s how we spent Sunday in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, along Lake Superior’s shore. Sit down…this might take a bit of time.
On our way out of the Copper Country we stopped in Marquette, one of the largest towns in the UP. There we saw the Marquette lighthouse.
Pretty in pink.
It was built in 1866 and is the oldest building in Marquette. There’s a tour available, but we had so much to see that day we decided not to wait. We’ll be through Marquette again, and it’s now on our list of things to do on the next trip.
The museum there has a few retired Coast Guard boats out front, and I’m putting this photo in just for friend Michelle who is retired from the Coast Guard.
The stories they could tell!
These guys have seen better days, but still, they’re being recognized for their work keeping the waterways safe, so it’s all good.
Then as we were passing through Munising we stopped for a quick visit to Miners Falls.
Falling water in the fall.
We and about 30 of our closest friends walked the short walkway back to the falls and shot the obligatory picture. Then husband and I climbed stairs and shot one that was more interesting. There is a lot of water falling over the cliff, unusual for this time of year, which made it especially pretty.
Onward we went, heading east across the top of the UP to the Au Sable Light Station, located way out on an isolated point of land near Grand Marais. This is, perhaps, my favorite lighthouse, both because it’s beautiful and because it’s so isolated. As early as 1622 this bit of land was called the most dangerous place for ships during storms because of reefs just offshore. To get to the lighthouse, after you drive miles through beautiful countryside, you walk down a 1.5 mile path along the shore of Lake Superior.
Walking…walking…walking.
We had a beautiful day and enjoyed listening to the quiet little waves roll against the shore just feet from our path and the golden light streaming in through the fall colors. But still, the 1.5 miles seemed like more. And then finally, finally you could just catch a glimpse. Do you see it?
Almost there!
It’s a window and a bit of the tower. And as you move closer, and then explore the grounds you see what a wonderful building it is.
One light keeper and 2 assistants lived here.
And inside the rooms were huge, painted as they would have been in 1910, with wonderful views of the lake outside the many windows.
Interesting angles.
We stayed there a long time, and not just because we were resting up from the 1.5 mile hike in and the 94 stairs up to the top of the tower (where you could see views like this!)…or the thought of the 1.5 mile hike back to the car.
View toward Grand Marais. They used to walk there for groceries.
Really. It was just that it was so beautiful there.
We eventually had to move on…we wanted to get to Whitefish Point for sunset…many miles to the east. But first we stopped at Sable Falls, a waterfall quite close to the lighthouse. The information we had said the walk to the falls was only 500 yards from the parking lot. We knew we could do that, though we were stiffening up on the drive over there.
It is an absolutely beautiful waterfall!
Once again, lots of water for October.
They apparently didn’t think it was important to mention the 166 steps you needed to climb down in order to see this wonderful waterfall. Or the 166 steps you had to drag yourself back up after.
101…102…103….
But we made it, and lived to laugh all 500 yards back to the car.
Now we had to really hurry to get out to Whitefish Point, along the eastern edge of the UP, up at the top, it’s near where the freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a November storm in 1975.
We arrived as the sun was sinking, the evening was warm, the light was pink.
Beach walking.
Sunday night the lake was deceptively calm and as we waited for the sunset we watched another freighter pass silently by.
Huge.
We walked maybe a half a mile or more down the beach, clambering over logs tossed to shore during past storms and slipping on smooth Superior polished stones as we chased the sun. We must have taken hundreds of pictures of the sky filled with peach and pink and then orange light. I’ll share just one. You can imagine the rest.
Sigh…
After the sun went down and the freighter slipped over the horizon we picked our way through the growing darkness to the car.
And we smiled.
Keweenaw Peninsula
Today’s adventure begins.
All you map lovers out there know the Keweenaw Peninsula is that finger of land that juts out into Lake Superior from the northwestern edges of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Right? Of course right!
I used to live there way back in the early 80’s and I’ve only been back a couple of times in all the years since. So it was wonderful to spend a day exploring a few of my favorite places Saturday. Want to see some? I have so many photos, but I’ll try to keep myself reigned in.
Houghton/Hancock lift bridge.
It won’t be easy.
Quincy mine at sunset.
For starters the area was once a copper mining mecca. In fact more than 100 years ago the state of Michigan considered making a town in the Keweenaw the state capital! Today most of the mines are at best turned into tours and at worse abandoned. Friday night we had dinner with friends from the olden days, on the top floor of a hotel with a beautiful view across the canal of some of the old mine buildings.
Restored historic buildings.
Saturday morning we headed north, up the peninsula. First stop was the snow thermometer. What is a snow thermometer you ask?
HOW much snow??
The winter of 1978/79 the area had record snowfall…390.4 inches! (that’s 991.6 centimeters). The thermometer shows you how high the snow would have been had it all fallen at once. You can also see the arrow up near the top that shows what last year’s snowfall was. It didn’t beat the record, but it was a lot of snow!
We continued north all the way to the tip of the Keweenaw and visited Fort Wilkins, an historic site with beautifully restored buildings and displays.
Fort Wilkins..I snowshoed through here 30 years ago.
Then we headed back down the western coast of the peninsula and saw the Copper Harbor Lighthouse…
Copper Harbor Lighthouse.
…and the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse…
Eagle Harbor Lighthouse.
…where we got to go inside and imagine what life would be like as a light keeper.
What a view!
Then we drove up Brockway Mountain for a view of the fall color, the blue of Lake Superior and interior lakes.
You can see forever.
Lots of beautiful color everywhere up there!
Taking pictures.
It’s really indescribable. You’ll have to make the trip for yourselves someday…my pick for you would be a perfect October day, just like we had.
Copper Harbor from Brockway Mountain.
Three magical things happened on Saturday while we were in the “Copper Country.” We saw three bald eagles; one in a tree, one flying over Eagle Harbor, and one from the kitchen window of the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse. We had dinner with a friend I’ve known for more than 35 years, and her husband. And on our way back to the hotel Saturday we saw a beautiful shooting star.
I love the Keweenaw Peninsula. Yes I do.
I left my heart in the Copper Country.
Porcupine Mountains
So much to show you, so little time! Friday we spent in the Porcupine Mountains. I’ll wait while you go check a map to figure out where that is. (Elevator music now playing.)
Foot bridge over the Presque Isle River
OK. So now you know they are on the very western part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, over by the Wisconsin border, but up along the coast of Lake Superior. What? You didn’t know Michigan had an Upper Peninsula? That’s another blog; for now I’ll leave it to you to do your research.
Patiently waiting…
The Porcupine Mountains are truly beautiful and desolate all at the same time. We spent a long time wandering the trails beside the Presque Isle River. It flows from the mountains and into Lake Superior….
The river meets the lake.
…over a series of waterfalls.
A man and his dog enjoy the view.
We hiked way up to the third in that series, through deep woods, over hill and across crevices …
In the woods.
…and through swamps.
Walking the plank.
It was wonderful. Not all of the trails were as strenuous. There’s something for everyone at the Porkies.
Just a walk in the park.
Thirty-three miles away but still in the park is Lake of the Clouds. Can you tell how it gets it’s name?
Clouds reflected.
The road climbs up and up and up and finally there you are, high above a beautiful reflective lake.
We were there in the morning so we had to wait for the sun to come up and out from behind some clouds…
And then the sun came out.
…but when it did the trees were spectacular even though it’s past peak leaf watching season.
Fantastic views.
There are many trails in the Porcupine Mountains. In fact you can hike from the Presque Isle River all the way over to the Lake of the Clouds along the edge of Lake Superior if you like.
Grazing.
That would take us about 15 weeks, but you could probably do it in less time if you train. It’s getting to be late fall now, you’ve got all winter to get in shape for a spring hike. Up here spring should arrive sometime the end of June.
Yep lots of time.
You get ready. I’ll wait here.
Lighthouse Tuesday, UP Thursday
Original lens, Cana Island Lighthouse
Some of you remember when we traveled to Maine last July and took you along to see some of the lighthouses there. Well, this past Tuesday we explored Door County, that long peninsula that sticks out into Lake Michigan off the eastern edge of Wisconsin. There are several lighthouses along the coast and we found a few of them. Want to see a couple?
Below is Bailey’s Harbor lights. Ship captains lined up the red marker with the lights behind it (see the third structure way in the back?) to know they were in the deepest water of the harbor.
Bailey’s Harbor Range Lights
And here’s Cana Island Lighthouse, built in 1869.
Cana Island
You can go up to the top of this one and enjoy the beautiful view of the lake.
Lighthouse keeper (aka lighthouse docent)
That’s always the best part of lighthouses, at least for me. Going up the stairs and out into the fresh air with a stunning view. I like to imagine what it was like to live there every day.
Window on the world
Of course I imagine the beautiful sunny days like the day we were there, and don’t think too much about those long days in January and February. And March.
Then there’s Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, built in 1868. This one has a tour, but we had to be back in Green Bay for meetings and didn’t have time.
Eagle Bluff
It’s a stunning lighthouse, brick just glowing in the late afternoon sun, beautiful colors, the red roof, green shutters and golden walls. It looked like the quintessential lighthouse, sitting high above the lake, and it just glowed.
Windows watching
We spent the day Wednesday in important meetings surrounding truck safety, then Thursday morning we headed north, through stunning farm country in northern Wisconsin…
We saw these cement silos everywhere
…and on into the western Upper Peninsula where we stopped at an iron mine tourist attraction. Do you think this giant mining guy…
Miner guy
….looks a lot like the giant lobster guy we saw in Maine?
Lobster guy
Me too.
Tomorrow we’re going to explore a little bit of the Porcupine Mountains. It’s just past peak color here, still very beautiful. I’m hoping for sunny weather. Maybe with puffy clouds just for good measure.
Beautiful
I have a more serious, more contemplative blog to write about our meetings. It’s churning around in my mind and will spew out sooner or later. Tonight’s not the night. Tonight just enjoy the beautiful scenery.
We sure did.
Adventures!
It’s all about the water here.
We’ve been traveling up the coast of Wisconsin, along Lake Michigan. We didn’t get much further north today than where we stayed in Port Washington last night.
Morning fishing.
That’s because we slept in and then spent a few hours this morning exploring the pretty little town. We walked way out on the breakwater; it’s all huge rough stones that you have to climb up and down. When I was a kid this would have been a breeze. Now? Not so easy.
Walking the wall.
It’s harder than it looks!
Then on our way back from that adventure we came across a fisherman landing a salmon! Huge fish! I felt sorry for her (he said it was a female)…but it was still interesting to watch. It took two guys, one with the pole and one with the net to bring her in.
Almost as big as him!
After that adventure we wandered into town to find breakfast. As we walked up the main street we saw this beautiful church high on the hill.
Cute town.
Of course we had to go up there and see. Saint Mary’s Catholic Church is stunning, built around 1870, the stonework is beautiful. It’s beautiful inside as well, though we didn’t take any photos inside. It has an absolutely huge pipe organ up in the choir balcony.
St. Mary’s
Then we accidentally found the old lighthouse, built in 1860 while we were trying to find another way down the hill. Sometimes you find the prettiest, most interesting things when you just wander around! Too bad it’s only open on Sundays.
Old light house.
Finally we had breakfast which was actually lunch and then we headed north, mostly along the lake. What a beautiful afternoon we had, watching the lake, the birds, and seeing other lighthouses along the way.
Love this lake, from both sides.
Oh! I almost forgot! We also stopped in Manitowoc at a maritime museum and got a tour of a WWII submarine!
Submarine!
During the war the country didn’t have enough capacity to build all the subs that were needed, so they tapped a shipbuilding company here in Wisconsin to build more. They towed them down the Mississippi to get them to the ocean. This one, like the one we toured out in LA, was really interesting inside.
Forward torpedo bays
So that was our day. Now we’ve settled in for the night. We’ll see a bit more in Door County Wisconsin tomorrow, then head over to Green Bay for meetings tomorrow night and Wednesday. We’ll share more when we’re able.
Meanwhile, hope you enjoyed the scenery as much as we did! (Some photo credit goes to the husband.)
Evening sun + red lighthouse = magic
On the road again…
As the last post hinted we’re on the road. Want to come along?
First stop was meant to be just a quick break, a little walk after a few hours of driving, a check of one of our favorite lakes.
Beautiful!
Lake Michigan. With a stiff wind from the west we got to see some pretty nice waves. I kept my camera hidden inside my winter coat most of the time; the sand was blowing with the wind.
Amazing!
There were huge waves being blown into the channel at South Haven. Pretty cool to watch. Someone I was with got his feet drenched.
Huge!
I did not. Just saying.
Then on past Chicago. I love Chicago…really I do, but we had places we needed to be, so we just waved at the city as we went by.
Chicago!
Milwaukee was really pretty from the freeway too. But I didn’t have the camera out and it passed in a flash.
By late afternoon we were near Port Washington Wisconsin. There were only two hotels advertised on the freeway, a Super 8 that we could see from the highway exit, and a Holiday Inn that was in the other direction. We headed toward town and the lake. And this was our view for the evening from our hotel room.
The other side of Lake Michigan.
This morning we are going to explore what appears to be a cute little town in search of breakfast a bit more satisfying than the buffet scrambled eggs and orange juice offered by the hotel for $6 each.
And so the adventure begins.
Good Morning!
WordPress photo challenge – dialogue
Two photos that relate to each other is called a photo dialogue. We didn’t get to Smith Mountain tower this trip, but here’s my photo dialogue from last February when we climbed the mountain.
You can see other interpretations of photo dialogues at this WordPress blog. Or you can find a few of my favorites here, here and here. And this one too.
Letter to Mom
Hey Mom,
Sunset at the lake
We’ve been thinking about you as all your kids gather in the house you and Dad built on the lake. I’m sure you two were here too, laughing over the silly stuff, bobbing out at the end of the dock, your toes pointed to the sky, maybe even jumping from the dock for the traditional family photo, though I know you didn’t like to get water in your eyes.
Hey Mom
Last night we went out to the big water to watch the sun set. I know you and Dad liked to do that and the neighbors say he went out alone just about every evening that summer after you died.
Heading home
It sure was great out on the warm water with the crescent moon hanging overhead. The sunset didn’t pan out all that well; we only had one pink cloud, but we had a really nice time anyway.
Of course I’m sure you already know that.
Wish you and Dad were here.
Jump!
Spend a relaxing weekend
On the lake.
Doesn’t it seem like people are stressed more than ever lately? Frightening sights from all over the world flow into our nightly news every evening. The economy continues to wallow and we all work harder than ever trying to get by, trying to make a difference, trying our best.
So I appreciate a lovely long weekend filled with nothing but good food and good company. Here in the United States it’s Labor Day Weekend, when we celebrate the labor of so many generations before and appreciate those people that worked so hard to build the country we are lucky enough to inhabit today. It’s a time for family barbecue, camping in the woods, bonfires, boat rides, long walks, and naps.
I’m spending this holiday weekend on a lovely lake in the South where the weather has cooperated and the waters are warm, where the skies fill each afternoon with towering clouds but only a little bit of rain falls.
When I head back to work next week I’ll keep the memories of boat rides and deck sitting and bobbing in warm waters tucked safely away in the back of my mind. And when that customer demands immediate attention or the coworker calls in sick I’ll pull those memories out and smile again.
We hope all of you are having a lovely weekend as well. May we all relax and then start again next week with high spirits and wonderful memories.
Change Is Hard 