Back to Michigan

We are back in Michigan and back on Eastern time.

We spent the afternoon driving out on the Keeweenaw Peninsula. It was the site of the first copper boom in the US but now relies on logging and tourism. Our quest was to find some of the lighthouses that dot the shore of Lake Superior.

Sand Hill Lighthouse (which is also a B & B).

Eagle Harbor Lighthouse


Copper Harbor Light

Mendota or Bete Grise Lighthouse (you can pick out the Fresnel light)

We saw two cargo ships off shore as we drove along the coast. Too hazy and too far off shore for picture.

Lake Superior shoreline


Superior Dunes

RURAL Delivery

Cedar Waxwing


We are staying in Houghton, MI on the shore of Portage Lake. Again lucked out - there is a 3.5 mile bike trail which goes along the lake right in front of our motel. We hopped on at the end of our driving day to get some exercise.

Houghton and Copper Harbor are the two ports that provide ferry service to Isle Royale, the National Park that is about 50 miles away from Copper Harbor in Lake Superior.

The lake is actually a ship canal. The Portage Lift Bridge (at Houghton) is the world's heaviest and widest double-decked vertical lift bridge. Its center span "lifts" to provide 100 feet (30 m) of clearance for ships.

Golf and Biking

The weather forecast was for showers and thunderstorms. Although it was overcast (the first day in about 10 days with clouds), the rain never came.

In the morning we played 18 holes of golf at the Apostle Highlands golf course.



The first hole requires a drive over a water hazard that is a scale-model of Lake Superior. Clearing it allows the golfer to claim that the drove Lake Superior.


Many of the holes overlooked the real Lake Superior. If we had been playing in the afternoon (with the sun in the west) and if the day was not as hazy, we could had gotten better pictures of the spectacular scenery.


Later in the afternoon we drove to Ashland, WI to take advantage of the bike trail that goes along the lakeshore.

The long structure in the distance is an ore dock.


From wikipedia "The harbor of Ashland is dominated by the massive Wisconsin Central Railway (later Soo Line) ore dock, built in 1916 to load iron ore mined in the area into freighters bound for ports in the Rust Belt. The last of what were once many such docks, the concrete structure is 80 feet (24 m) high and 75 feet (23 m) wide and in 1925 the dock was extended to 1,800 feet (550 m); it was last used to ship ore in 1965." We were told that it is one of the largest ore dock in the world. Unfortunately it is scheduled for demolition.

Apostle Islands

You may click on maps to enlarge.


Today's adventure was a 3-hour narrated boat trip on Lake Superior around some of the Apostle Islands. The weather continued to be sunny and warm with calm "seas."

The coast line was rocky


or steeper sides of reddish soil eroding into the lake. The red color comes from the iron oxide in the soil.

Nice "sea" stack at the end of Basswood Island.

The Devil's Island Lighthouse and the keepers houses.


Devil's Island is the northernmost point of land in Wisconsin. Also notable about the island are the sea caves which undercut the shoreline. They created over time as wind and waves acted on the sandstone cliffs.

The Lighthouse on Raspberry Island

After lunch in Bayfield we headed out in the car hoping to view Lake Superior from the road on the Bayfield Peninsula. We were used to the Lake Michigan lakeshore, dotted with towns along with local and state parks. The result was a seemingly constant view of the lake. The roads we drove today went along the shoreline. The promised views were as infrequent as the signs of civilization. There seemed to be a buffer of trees keeping the lake hidden except at the few places where there was a boat launch area or a public beach.

Michigan to Wisconsin

Today we crossed the UP of Michigan into Wisconsin. For about 70 miles along route 2 we saw only trees and an occasional car. The changing leaves are a hint of spectacular foliage soon to come.


After lunch we took our bikes on a ferry ride 2.5 miles from Bayfield, WI to Madelaine Island, one of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. The largest of the Apostle Islands, it has 200 permanent residents. The car ferry provides access from Mar or Apr until the lake is frozen. Once the lake is frozen hard enough, there is an "ice highway" that can be driven. When the ice is either breaking up or settling into its winter thickness, folks can get across only by the wind sled - an enclosed boat-hulled craft with huge fans on the back that push the vehicle across the shifting ice.

Bayfield, Wisconsin


The biking on Madelaine Island was not the same as that on Mackinac Island. There was a portion of the roadways that had a designated bike path on the shoulders, but most of the time the bikers share the roads with cars. We biked about 10 -18 miles on the southern end of the island. I headed back to town sooner than John being unsure of the terrain and wanting to be sure I could get back. As it turned out, the hilly part of the ride was done early to get out of town. Another difference was the lack of lake views. Only a small part of the ride was close enough to the lake without trees blocking the view. Nonetheless, it was great to get the exercise after the time spent riding in the car.



Sharing the road!



We are spending the next three nights in Washburn, WI. This harbor is in front of our motel.


These pictures by Mark Hoffman show a wind sled. They also act as school buses to transport students from the island to Bayfield.

Crystal Falls

We drove along the northern coast of Lake Michigan for the morning. We finally headed northwest to the town of Crystal Falls. The accommodations are fine, but not as spectacular as what we've had for the last week. The town hasn't got much to offer including a restaurant that is open on Sun. We ended up driving 12 miles south to Florence, WI to find a place for dinner. The only other excitement is that we are now on Central Time and will be until we head back east on Thu.

Suel Choix Point Lighthouse at northern end of Lake Michigan


Sand Point Lighthouse in Escanaba, MI. It was at this point we left the lake and headed inland.

Across the UP

We will be traveling along Lake Michigan for awhile before we head inland on the UP. We are staying Crystal Falls, MI. No lakeside lodging tonight. Internet uncertain.

Sunrise over Lake Huron

Sunset over Lake Michigan

Mackinac Island

What a wonderful day we had on Mackinac Island. (By the way - It is pronounced Mack-a-naw.) We took the ferry over and back under sunny skies and on calm waters. Temperatures stayed around 70°F.







There are no motorized vehicles allowed on the island. To get around you travel by horse-drawn carriage, horseback, bicycle or on foot.



We brought our bikes over with us on the ferry. You can bike an 8-mile loop around the island.





Near the harbor you can pass beautiful hotels and interesting houses. About a mile from the harbor town is Arch Rock.




After lunch in town, we climbed UP the road to the famous Grand Hotel.



From there we walked over to Fort Mackinac before heading back DOWN into town.


Before heading back to St. Ignace on the ferry, we made another loop around the island. This time we went in the opposite direction to pick up any sights that we missed on our first loop.

DInner is over, the laundry is done and we are relaxing on the balcony overlooking Lake Huron. There are supposed to be fireworks in the harbor - we are hoping to see them from here.