Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Lake Superior Circle Tour

We just finished a nice drive around Lake Superior,1800 miles in 10 days at 10 different campgrounds. This trip has been on our list for a long time. We definitely want to do it again! A little different trip because the kids are older now and could not come and we also left our 4-legged kids home, so pretty quiet but very nice to have the time alone with my lovely bride of 26years.
This was our 4th time out with Nellie this year, 3200 miles so far, hopefully time for another little trip before the snow fly's here in Wisconsin.
Day one. Last stop in Grand Marais, Mn for this year
On our way to Ontario, Canada always looking for a good spot for a photo. I backed Nellie out onto the old Hovland dock fishing pier.
This is a great lookout over Grand Portage,Mn just before getting to the border!
Into Ontario!!
Our first stop in Canada for lunch. We found many spots like this, nice people to visit with and a very quiet place.
First camping in Canada, Sleeping Giant Provential park, can you see the sleeping giant? We were looking all over for him until we found this beach.
Another picture of the sleeping giant and the boat launch by our campsite.
Hiking trail in the park which led to what they called the sea lion formation.
On our way to Ouimet Canyon
Ouimet Canyon, just a giant crack in the earth, hope this doesn't happen to often??
Always good to stop and see where one is:-)

Nellie getting eaten by a giant trout!
Still trying to find out where I am, Jan pointed out that maybe I should get an English map instead of French??
As long as I have pictures I'll be ok.
Playing with sticks!
Second night found us camping in Pukaskwa Provincial park, fantastic park with incredible hiking trails, only wished I had the canoe or kayak with.
We were attacked be the geese in Wawa, watch out for your small kids and pets if you go there!!
Day three found us camping in Lake Superior Provincial park and our last night in Ontario, again nice park but the campground here was next to the highway, very noisy, the first 2 nights camping were dead quiet. I also found out what people mean about bringing  extra power cords, I had 75ft. and needed 100ft. to get to the electric box.
Everything was more expensive in Canada, camping with entrance fee$45-50, fuel up to $5.25/gallon, even firewood $1.25 per piece, they really don't want you taking any dead fall from the woods either!
One of the trails in lake superior park leads to some pictographs on the shore of the lake. Don't worry there are ropes if you fall in, problem is they are just a couple feet short of the water:-)

It doesn't look to bad but that ledge is pretty slippery!
We struggled with dinner and roughing it, Nellie provides a pretty nice atmosphere for all meals!
Back into the U.S.  There were fantastic sunsets almost every day.
More photo opportunities with my beautiful wife. I am a lucky man!!
Lots of walking beaches in Canada and Michigan(miles) compared to Minnesota where a lot of the shore line is privately owned.

We stopped at many lighthouses this one at Whitefish point with the shipwreck museum, very interesting stories. Lots of ships went down in this area. 
The log slide was a large wooden shoot that was built down the banks of the lake to send the logs to waiting rafts. This was one of many signs telling us we may die, Seems like there is always somebody trying to stop a persons  fun.
Another lighthouse, I always like checking these places out, we didn't tour all of them, the view doesn't change to much from the top but sure like the area and lay out of each location.
http://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm We took a boat tour of pictured rocks national lake shore,  I thought the boat ride in 3'-4' waves was fun for the first hour but not so much for the last hour and half. I was very happy to step onto the dock.
The view out of our Airstream door in  Munising,Michigan town campground.
The VAP, vintage airstream podcast! Good reflections!
Interesting place.
Houghton.Mi. snow fall gauge, smallest amount 16feet in one season, most 31feet and avg. of 20feet.
We avg. about 5feet at home. The top of the airstream is at ten feet.
Copper Harbor, http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=419&type=SPRK Nice campground with the old fort in the middle, definitely go back here!
Again great beaches in Copper Harbor, playing with rocks!
Good climbing trees too!
I think Jan was getting tired of all the great meals and wine:-)

Back to Bayfield Wisconsin where we started our summer camping in June.
We really enjoy the time camping on Lake Superior.
Evening in the marina Bayfield, Wi.
On our way home, no more following the green circle tour signs:-(
Till next year anyway!