Pictured Rocks Natl Lakeshore

After arriving at Ishpeming, MI last Wednesday, we've been out & about seeing the area.  First stop was Pictured Rocks Natl Lakeshore.  There's about 40 miles of shoreline to see between Munising and Grand Marais (Michigan).  We took a short walk to Castle Rock on the first day we visited.  On the second day we took an early evening boat tour.  Lake was calm, so the boat ride was much, much better than our return trip from Isle Royale.  If in Munising, we highly recommend the Maryland Crab Cake sandwich at Johnny's Dogs

Besides Pictured Rocks, we've taken a couple of days just to hang around Marquette, MI.  In passing through on travels in previous years, I've often wondered what the pull is to Marquette.  It's really a nice bay town on the lake shore.  Several blocks are renovated.  Downtown looks like it's full of restaurants.  Several paved bicycle and walking heritage trails. There's a nice Michigan Visitor Center south of Marquette where you may park & ride the heritage trails.

Then there's Presque Isle north of town that's worth a visit, too (pictures next week).  We've both had a pastie at Lawry's (Ishpeming).  There's also a sandwich that starts with a "C" that I can neither spell nor say that we need to try.  Then there's movies coming out that we think we'll enjoy - especially with the movie theatre just outside the campground.  So there's still lots to do in the area.  Guess it's good that we're here for another week before moving further east!

So that wraps up the past week.  Everyone have a safe & enjoyable 4th of July weekend!  David

Isle Royale Natl Park

Tobin Harbor

View along Stoll trail to Scoville Point

We made it to Isle Royale Natl Park.  Check that off the bucket list (though we may be back).  We left the trailer in Copper Harbor & stayed three nights at Rock Harbor Lodge.  We rode the Isle Royale Queen IV over & back.  Nice ride out; not so nice ride back.  Recommend a heavier boat (Ranger III) or fly in. I know it's a lake, but 4-6 ft seas directly abeam make for a very uncomfortable ride in a light boat.   In our view, a day trip out and back doesn't do it justice.  You're just wasting your time.

Snug Harbor - Ranger III at the dock

We averaged about 9 miles a day hiking on Saturday & Sunday.  Easier hiking as the climbs & descents aren't as long as Shenandoah or the western mountain parks.  Took us four tries to get to Suzy's Cave.  Suzy's Cave is an old washed-out/cut-out rock cliff that was once at the shoreline of Lake Superior.  Either the lake level dropped or the land is rising.  Possibly a combination of both.  Overall, the park looks a lot like Voyageurs Natl Park.

View along Rock Harbor Trail - note the maintenance crew boat

Most people we met were trying to get their parks passport stamped or on follow-on visits.  Oh, and to my surprise, people travel there in their own boats.  Can't speak for the other areas of the park, but Rock Harbor has overnight docking, power, portable water and pump-out equipment.  If you look close at the Rock Harbor picture, you can see two boats doing just that just to the right of the Ranger III.

Trail view

Here's some pictures to give you a taste of what we saw.  Remember we only saw a sliver of the whole island.  Come prepared to camp & hike and you can go way farther than we did.  We talked to one person who told us he'd travel 29 miles the day before.  So it can be done.

Anyway, enjoy the pictures.  We had a great time taking them.  David

Trail to Scoville Point

Nice, clear lake water

Scoville Point

Seaplane dock at Tobin Harbor

On the Road to Isle Royale

St Ignace, MI Lighthouse

Sand Lake near Onsted, MI

We're making our way up to Isle Royale Natl Park this week.  After an enjoyable long weekend at the Bahnmiller RV Resort near Onsted, MI visiting with Greg, we're on the move up Michigan through the UP to a little town called Copper Harbor where we'll leave the rig and ride a ferry over to Isle Royale National Park.  We made overnight stops at St Ignace and Ishpeming before arriving at Copper Harbor.  Copper Harbor is a nice little area - a town with only 40 full-time residents - but not a destination.  Basically, you're here to catch a ferry or a half-day visit to Ft Wilkins.

The Bahnmiller RV Resort

For those of you with big rigs, Hwy 41 is not big rig friendly though there are two of us large rigs up here in the local campground.  Rules are pretty restrictive.  When they tell you that wiping down your bicycle for the dust it's collected on the road is considering washing a vehicle and grounds for expulsion from the campground, well...it borders on the absurd.  I consider it disrespectful of the customer.

My recommendation is to leave the rigs near Houghton, drive up the day before the ferry leaves & leave time for a visit to Ft Wilkins. Spend the night in a local motel.  Then drive back the day you return.  Should you decide to bring your rig up here, do ask permission to clean your windshield from the black flies and mosquitoes you've collected on the trip up.  The face they make is as if you're torturing a puppy.  You'd think you were killing 'em.  It's actually very entertaining to watch.  I suggest you just don't come.  There's not that much here, no cell phone service, and they don't deserve your business.  If you can stand the longer boat ride, leave from Houghton.

Hopefully, I'll have a much better opinion of Isle Royale when we return.  In the meantime, have a great Father's Day!  David

Shenandoah Natl Park

We had a great stay at Big Meadows. Robin, Jessica, Stephanie, Melanie, and Terry made the weekend trip up to visit.  Got our share of the rain.  Had some good walks, but had the best of times. Also ate our share of good food, too.

We've since made the trip up to Onsted, MI with stops at Bedford, PA & Streetsboro, OH.  We'll spend the weekend with Greg (Judy is , unfortunately, away playing grandma.)  So, we're currently poolside at the Greg & Judy RV Resort.  I've also met Moe, the resident cat, and it's agreed to keep our site rodent free.  

Next week's our move to Copper Harbor, MI, and a weekend visit to Isle Royale Natl Park is planned.  In the mean time, everyone stay dry and have a great weekend!  David

Big Meadows, Shenandoah Natl Park

At least that's the plan if the move goes well today.  No cell phone/internet connection at the campground, so getting this posted before we leave the KOA at Fredericksburg for Shenandoah.  This stay at Big Meadows will be our first experience running the residential refrigerator while dry camping (no hook-ups).  Looking forward to seeing how that goes.  Donna's got it loaded with food, so we'll get to see it in full action.  And looking forward to using the new renovated showers at Big Meadows, too.

We've had a good week for our last week in Fredericksburg.  Had a nice Memorial Day.  We got to see almost everyone we planned to.  We finally got a break in the rain this past week.  And it got hot.  Looks like rain when we arrive at Big Meadows, though.

Hopefully, your week went well.  Everyone have a good weekend!  David