There no such thing as a bad Pasty...

Mary


We are finally in the Keweenaw, or the Wolf’s Mouth as native Yoopers call it. We Michiganders like to name the different parts of our state. There has been summer heat in North Carolina since early April. I know that is nothing to cry about, but I was craving some cooler weather. We had to drive above the 48th parallel to find it.

Our maiden voyage is going pretty good. So far no major arguments and the only major problem was the starter going out. That was not fun, but we fixed it and all is good. Today did feel like we were on a dream vacation. It was a beautiful day. The temps were about 60 degrees and great for walking.

We started out in the town of Copper Harbor. Its just about a mile from Fort Wilkins State Part where we are staying. We had a great lunch, fresh white fish for me and a pasty for Tim. A patsy is like a pot pie but not. Most Yoopers drink about a six pack of beer with their pasty, it’s a local seven course meal. After lunch we walked down to the shore line of Lake Superior. There really is something about this lake. I almost feel like I could look up and see one of the characters from Last Of The Mohicans canoeing across the water. It is very pristine.

From there we drove back to Fort Wilkins State Park. We visited the fort. It is on Lake Fanny Hooe. I am not sure if Hooe is pronounced like “hoe” or “who.” Either way the name is just to much fun to care. The fort had been restored to museum condition. 19 of the original 24 buildings are still standing. 12 of those are original to the fort.

When we left the fort Tim decided to drive to the END of the Keweenaw. About three miles from the state park, hwy 41 ends after about 2000 miles. The other end of hwy 41 is in Miami Florida. Someday we are going to have to get a snap shot there too.

From there on its dirt road. About 7 miles of jaw crunching, kidney popping dirt road. I do not think there is a way to get there in a car. The dodge 2500 was in 4 wheel drive most of the way and that was with the roads in good condition.

Going in we didn’t know if we were going to even get to see what we hoped was a once in a life time view.

The drive was worth it.

There is something absolutely magical about this place at the end of nowhere.

Where are we going?

June 26, 2011

We are beginning to appreciate the full time life. Since starting our journey, our travel plans have changed 3, may be 5 times. We are still heading towards Shipshewana, Indiana July 5th. Today Mary thought about heading west. She looked at the mileage to Black Hills, South Dakota and West Yellowstone, Montana. But, she decided a 4,500 mile round trip might be too much for a maiden voyage. Mary started looking at a 1,000 mile trip originating from Indiana and ending in the Detroit area by July 25th or there about. We have to be back in North Carolina for the new school year on August 16 and would like a few days to relax from our vacation.

After looking over several destinations / routes, Mary thought we could retrace our 2002-2003 route through Wisconsin. It didn’t actually take a year, but we did it over Christmas break 2002 and celebrated New Years 2003 in Escanaba, Michigan. We would stop at the Wisconsin Dells first. Mary hasn’t seen the Dells in the summer. We did see the Ringling, Barnum Bailey Circus Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin in 2002. Mary would also like to do a DUCK ride through the dells. Green Bay would be our next destination. We stopped briefly in 2002 and saw the stadium. We also did lunch just down the street at an old railroad depot converted to a restaurant. Neither of us has been to Door County. It is said to be the most beautiful pace on earth to spend an autumn day. From Green Bay we are heading into the Porcupine Mountains. It is just a short trip from there to Copper Harbor, Michigan. There we would get to explore Michigan’s rich mining history. Then it would be off to Mackinaw Island to see the Grand Hotel. Remember that crowd favorite movie Somewhere in time starring Christopher Reeves? It was filmed there. Mary’s youngest daughter was just there for her honeymoon. They told us it now costs $50 to sit on he porch of the Grand Hotel. There is always a big box of fudge to bring home as a souvenir. Not sure if it is cheaper than a Grand Hotel porch squat…

After the island, we would mosey on back south towards North Carolina and hopefully be there before August 01. That is if our plans don’t change again.