We left Indian Point Campground in Duluth, MN at 7:30 CT. It was 67*, cloudy and sprinkling. The photos were not turning out very well on our travels today. We seemed to be following a rain storm ahead of us. On Highway 2 on the west side of WI there were mostly trees and a few lakes here and there. About mid-WI we started getting some views of Lake Superior. There were mostly fishing and boating towns along the way with some Indian Reservations and casionos scattered in areas.
We stopped at Iron River, MI to get some groceries. I knew that there wouldn't be much for the rest of our trip into the U.P. of MI. We had a Burger King breakfast too. It was 11 am CT and 72*. Still very dark and cloudy with rain just ahead of us. The roads were very wet.
As we traveled further into MI, we started to see more of a variety of trees. More birch, maples, cedar, pines and popular trees. In some places there were signs of frost that had turned the green leaves to red and yellow already. A few very small farms popped up here and there. We passed many snowmobile trails with road signs just as if you were on the state road. The industry in this area is mostly lumber and mining. Diesel was $3.15 a gallon here. Glad we had already filled up at a lower price.
We arrived at Michigamme Shores Campground in Champion, MI. We were assigned site 56 at $94.50 for three nights. No wifi!!!! Otherwise though it was a beautiful campground with a view of Lake Michigamme. We had a hard time getting the satelite dish to catch the signal, but finally got it in. Thank goodness because there wasn't any TV much to speak of. We are in the boonies!
Ok......now onto the photos!
Sunday, Aug 12 2007
Sunny and clear with 70* at 9:30 am ET.
We headed out to Copper Harbor this morning. First we stopped to fill up with diesel at $2.99 near to the campground.
Here's a view from our truck as we made our way up the Keweenaw Peninsula. We enjoyed this view for several miles as we twisted and turned our way up the road.
Our first stop was for lunch in Copper Harbor at the only mom and pop place there to eat. Then we headed out to Fort Wilkins State Park. Here stands the army post where the men and women lived in the 1800's. This sign below explains more about it. The fort was built at the time of the discovery of the copper in the area to try to keep law and order to the area. It had to be a very rough life. 
These first few buildings were the married enlisted man's quarters.
These sounding buildings were used for various housing purposes for the men and their families.
This fort faced a lake. I'm sure that the winds that seem to always be high in this area had to be biting in the winter months!
We stopped briefly to catch a photo of the light house out on an island. We did not take the ferry out there to take the tour on this trip. We had spent so much time at the fort and Barney was back at the trailer, so we had to start making our way back.
We headed back into Copper Harbor, which by the way is not much of a town at all. A few gift shops, that mom and pop diner....that's about it.
We then headed our way up the Brockway Mountain Road.
We came to a clearing with several cars, trucks and motorcycles. Surely this was the top! This is a photo overlooking Copper Harbor, MI.
Another one from another angle. See the lighthouse out there on that point?
We continued on up the road and saw this mount and thought, surely this must be the top!
We turned the corner and kept going up, up, up. Surely the top was near? Very steep grades that we had no problem tackling without the trailer. I can't imagine anyone pulling a trailer way up here!
Ah ha.....and here it was. The top at last.
Aren't the views just stunning? The clouds were dancing for the camera today!
That is Lake Superior off in the distance.
There's Mark out on that cliff!!! He seems to love standing out there on the edge!
Here's the sign in front of the tiny little gift shop way up there in nowhere at the top of the mountain.
Ok.....back down on the ground again. What a drive that was, but it was well worth it for the outstanding views!
Views near to the lighthouse.
This huge thing was parked there behind the light house. Of course we had to go see just what this thing was used for. Can you guess? It was used to roll the snow flat on the roads so that the sleighs could pass through in the winter! WOW.....
These next couple of photos are of the Great Sand Bay....
These falls were in Eagle Harbor. The sign above tells about the bridge that was built there.
Eagle River Falls...
Not much water. We saw some photos of these falls in the spring and they were outstanding. The water was as wide as the rocks and splashing its way over. Just a little trickle along the edge now at this time of the year.
This sign below tells about the Eagle River mines.
Here's one of those copper mines. It was called the Quincy Mine and was just north of Hancock, MI along M-41.
We had passed a sign on our way to Copper Harbor for Canyon Falls and hoped that we would have time to stop to check it out. So on our way home, we stopped into the rest area.
The sign said a 10 minute walk, so we headed out into the woods down the narrow path. There were areas that had nice board walks, but most of the walk was dirt and sometimes a little hard to navigate. We finally made it to the falls and took these photos. Again....not as much water as there would have been in the spring, but still very pretty and peaceful.
I'm delighted that so many have told me how much they are enjoying our travels along with us. So sorry for the delay with this post. We were without the internet again for a long time. We just returned home yesterday, so for the next few days I will be making posts to once again catch up with my posting.
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