Moved to Ahmeek

We were lucky - when we packed up yesterday morning and took off from Cornucopia, it was not raining. That lasted about 15 minutes.  Then fog, drizzle, then rain, then fog, and rain.  And on and on and on, all the way into Ahmeek, Michigan.  Very uneventful drive other than it was dreary outside.

Captain Bill coming into dock, green building is fish cleaning and store

George is one wet bird!

Fog - had to really watch for deer - saw MANY by road

But, first - we have been serenaded by George, an eagle who lives nearby the marina in Cornucopia.  We could hear it screeching then find it sitting on the pier right near us.  And yesterday morning was no exception.  When I zoomed in, that was one wet bird!

Bye bye Apostle Island

Bad River Indian Casino

Welcome to Michigan - our 10th state to camp in

Very lonely roads

We were also woken a couple of mornings about 4:30am with Captain Bill going out to check his nets.  His family owns the marina and he goes out every day to check.  His son goes out on a similar boat from Bayfield.  They also own a fish store right at the marina where you can buy smoked trout, whitefish, and other goodies.  Needless to say, we have gotten our Omega fix by eating lots of their fish.

Then we got into much heavier rain

And then periods of no rain - and pretty clear

Old homes from 1880s - were homes of copper barons

Abandoned mines 

Dropped down into Houghton

Lots of small lakes on peninsula

Traveled through some pretty country - we think (the fog at times was pretty thick).  Passed a number of ski resorts - I had forgotten that this area of the Upper peninsula of Michigan is very hilly.  And also passed through a couple of Indian Reservations with their casinos going full blast.

We are here!

Once you start down the driveway,  it's narrow - 1 mile to go

A slice of God's country for sure

Our old spot - notice camera in tree?

And the boat house - still there

Crossed into our next state - Michigan - and started the climb up the Keweena Peninsula to Ahmeek.  Passed so many small towns that 100 years ago were bustling communities with copper mines running full production.  The mines have shut down but today many of the mines, buildings, company stores, etc. are under the federal protection of the National Parks and many places are now part of the Keweenaw National Historic Area.

7 years ago a beat up boat was in boat house, this time - WOW.

Could hear fog horn of a freighter 'out there' passing by

Crazy kids - playing in the 50 degree water

Got into our campground - we sighed a big YES, we made it back.  Here 7 years ago, almost to the day, very fond memories of our time, then. And yes, it is still raining.  It's misting as I type and in the distance, out on Lake Superior, I can hear fog horns blowing of passing freighters.  Very cool.  We leave in the morning - this campground is totally booked, but we go another 36 miles north to the end of US Route 41, to a campground for a week.  Wanted to stay put over the holiday.  We found out that Copper Harbor where we are going next, has fireworks on the 4th - at 11:15pm.  It stays light till way past 10:30pm and they wait until it is totally dark before shooting them off over the harbor.  Thousands of people are expected to come to the little town.  How fun.

Ahmeek, Calumet, Eagle Harbor, Copper Harbor - our area for next 8 days

Tour Boat Ride to Apostle Islands

Woke to a beautiful, calm morning, let’s hope that the rest of the day (at least during the boat ride) continued to be nice.  Arrived back in Bayfield by 9am, we had to be at the waiting area on the dock by 9:30, but we knew parking would be a problem - something that the town of Bayfield really needs to address. Dave found a spot where we would not be ticketed, we got into line by 9:10 - other people had already started lining up.  Glad we were early.

Our boat ride for next 3 hours, top deck, seated by flag in back

Pink line is our route around the islands

3rd boat in from end dock, with dinghy on back - is that our Windows???

And we are off, Bayfield sits above waterfront

Boarded the boat and decided to go on the top deck, in the back where we could easily stand up and not block other people’s views when we wanted to take pictures.  Also, we were by the speaker so when the captain would talk, we could hear it without noise of the engines.

Don't realize how big the area is until you are on a boat, island after island

Remains of sandstone quarry 

Rugged shoreline

Sea Stacks

Fish camp

Many islands have large sandy beaches

And some have boat houses - for park service use

Boat left the town dock at 10am, and the first island we passed - the largest, was Madeline Island.  Not part of the National Park, it has over 100 residents full-time, which disqualifies it to be protected.  Saw some bald eagles flying about, ducks, cormorants, and learned that  there is a large population of bears living on the islands.  In winter while the body of Lake Superior does not freeze, the water around the islands do.  Ice thick enough to drive a car on.  Sorta reminded us of the islands on Lake Erie where in cold winters and the lake freezing, cars drive out on the ice and set up for ice fishing.

Devil's Island visitor's kayak beach 

To get an idea of how large (small) caves are 

Some caves go in 5 feet 

Water depth is about 12 to 15 feet deep here

Captain was able to bring in boat to within 1 foot of bank here

Devil's Island lighthouse above

Very impressive

Passed Madeline, Basswood, Hermit, Oak, Manitou, Otter, Bear, Stockton, and up around Devil’s Island, back around the other side of Bear Island to Raspberry Island, then hugged the mainland back to Bayfield.  We were in calm waters for the most part until we got to Devil’s Island where we were in the open waters of Lake Superior.  Definitely felt the coldness of the water and also the chop picked up.

First glimpse of Raspberry Island Lighthouse

Highlights of the boat ride were seeing eagles, sea stacks, a quarry where sandstone that was mined from there was used to help rebuild Chicago after their great fire, a fish camp, then the best - the sea caves of Devil’s Island.  That was very impressive.  2 lighthouses were also viewed on the trip.  During the tour the captain provided many stories, legends from the Ojibwa (Cherokee) Indians, fishing tales, and one about the Outer Island work boat.  We did get to see this legendary boat in use as it traveled by us, on it's way to Raspberry Island's light house, used during the Normany Invasion of World War II, and about the ice road that is maintained from Madeline Island to Bayfield in the winter.  And about the 2 story house that a Madeline Island resident tried to take over on a trailer and sank.

Commercial fishing boat coming back in with catch

Work vessels Outer Islands

Lots of kayakers

And sailors

Group lined up for the 2pm 'grand tour' ride

US Army - NOAA boat and US Coast Guard in

After the boat ride we walked over to the free maritime museum about 2 blocks from where we caught the boat.  We learned more info on the ice roads, the Outer Island work vessel, the shipwrecks of the area, and fishing industry.  Nice museum.

Kinda like an airboat of the Everglades

The 2 story house that attempted to cross on the ice road

We saw the Outer Island on the water earlier

Great day on the water.  After we got back to the RV, we were treated to another beautiful sunset.  People had come to the beach behind us swimming, built campfires, set off fireworks.  How fitting for a perfect day. An ah-hah happened while we were waiting on the boat to take off from the marina.  We saw our sailboat at one of the docks.  Not ours, but one just like it.

Last night's sunset - North Shore in the distance