Would you believe it?? Day 50

I guess this is sort of a landmark day as I begin my fiftieth day on this year's travels. As you know my location is Upper Michigan, specifically Marquette. The trail has been quite random, a map would show you a line looking very much like a heart beat monitor. I have also come to the conclusion that I may be traveling too rapidly.
Yesterday was a very interesting day, one that took me downtown  Marquette and discovered an excellent Cajun/Creole restaurant 'Lagniappe Cajun Creole Eatery'. As good as NOrlins and such a surprise.
This area is and has been since the mid 1800s, the US's supplier of iron ore as well as copper and now nichol. There is the Michigan Iron Industry Museum outside Negaunee. Very credible self guided tour, but for the day was made by going to Negaunee itself and seeing it up close. There are about three major iron fields in UP and the one here was run by the Jackson Mining Company. They started during the discovery period and first mined the 'mountain of ore' the Ojibwe lead them to. Then the easy stuff was gone and they needed to start mining. They advertized in Great Britain to bring over the Cornish miners as their lead mines were starting to peter out. During the height of their prosperity, the company decided that much of the undercutting of the mine shafts posed a threat to the town for cave ins and closed off and moved the people out of a significant section of town. I met two natives of the town who grew up with the 'move', as it happened in the mid '70s. "Either move to another house, or the company would moved the house or they would buy you out." No other choice.
Of course, the land didn't collapse and the ore production moved to open pit mines near by, as mining became too expensive. But the damage was already done and the people moved.

All the area to the left is now overgrown and abandoned

This is part of the town that is still around and the houses are a couple of ones that were moved across town.

I walked by this red door as a man came out and proceeded to talk to me as we walked. 

Train Freight Depot that is now an architect's office.

Passenger Depot THere were once three rails - two this side, one opposite

Repurposed building and restored Packard

One of many 'moved' houses

It was a great pleasure to talk with my two 'guides' about their town and made it all the more special.

Here it is - Day 47

I am in Iron City Michigan and cleaning up the backlog of photos and getting ready to hit the road tomorrow. Had my pasty for the day. Cornishmen brought the recipe for these tasty treats from the coal mines in GB to the iron ore mines here. Never really considered how much iron ore there is here in this area.

Reminds me of the roads through Canada to Alaska

Since I am all caught up - Yeh!! - I wanted to post some photos I may have overlooked in the past that you might enjoy.

Greg loves Chevy

More later this week

Day 45 - Last day in Ashland

I got my tires rotated while I was here and decided to also have my mail sent to me by my wonderful UPS store back home. Deciding to make sure it would get here as quickly as possible - to an area sparse on airports - I spent the extra money for overnight. While rotating the tires I was told that I might have a lose wheel bearing in the front left wheel. I have been feelings as though I was channeling Vanna White with the Wheel of Fortune clacking away for so time. A little early for that kind of thing, but with the roads I have traveled for the last two summers (remember last years Alaska trip?!) I felt I would have it checked out by Mercedes. Oops! No Mercedes dealers up here. OK - Freightliner> Check one in Eau Claire - 4 hours south of my route. Make an appointment for Friday, late morning as I was to get my package Thursday. STORM!!! No package Thursday. Waited until Friday about 11AM and got the package at ACE Hardware (the local UPS affiliate) and yes it is the place with the 'friendly hardware man". In this case women. Got to Eau Claire about 4PM and the guys there checked it out and thankfully no problems. The noise just went away. As my brother in law speculates, whatever caused it probably fell out with the rotation. Wonderful side trip.
While I waited for the package, I strolled around the downtown area of Ashland and took shots of their murals. A couple of ladies in the area has been painting them on the sides of building for the last 8 years or so. They are very 'Grandma Moses' in a way, but so very local and quite good. Here are a few. THey all commemorate people and places in the area.

  Sad to leave this nice little town

After the storm

Trees uprooted near campground

Ashland experienced a very huge electrical storm with high winds (I heard in the 90's but I think more like in the sixties) with plenty of trees uprooted. I thought it would toss me over, it was so strong. One of the trailers in the campground did get moved about three feet but no other damage. Wierd.
The next night did allow me a chance to get some sunset shots that I had not been able to get in some time - always overcast!

Beach area outside my MoHo

Little gazebo at the boat inlet

Then there is the lighthouse and some geese

Just thought these were colorfully in the evening light - right on the bay.

Days 42 - 44, July 19 - 21 Ashland, WI

There has been a lot of rain and consequently washed out roads. People talk about needing to repair our crumbling infrastructure, my traveling around the country has certainly proved that. I must also say that this is particularly true for all the Northern States where the winters are severe and heavy trucks (logging and oil) use is extensive.   I know that it is farmland, forests and mountainous in parts and the locals are fiercely independent maybe even isolationist (Trumpians) but they are also the first to complain that their local roads get worked on after the US highways and the Federal lands (i.e. Reservation lands). They don't want Federal money - Tax cuts by Republicans??? I know this is a bit simplistic, but it does get a bit old bouncing along the highways and hearing my coach get shaken apart because of terrible roads.
I digress -
I moved on from Duluth to the East to Ashland at the South end of Chequamegon Bay in Lake Superior. Found a quiet little city park (there are many up here) and settled in to see the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. That's an archipelago of some 20+ island where Madeline Island is the main and most populated. Tuesday started out as laundry day (yes, must do that upon occasion) and since the only laundromat was a new one in the town of Washburn on the way, it was only right.
Bayfield is the main jumping off place for the Apostle Isles and I booked a seat on the sunset cruise of the major island. Here are some photos of that day:

It is farm land remember

Checking damage to roof of Visitor Center

Beautiful old house converted to Inn

Waiting for next cruise

 Devil's Island is the home to the 'Summer Caves' and the Lighthouse of the same name

Wind and wave erosion 

Lighthouse has no lens anymore and they use a small directional beacon

Locals cruising by and having a late snack

Some times the 'bridge' falls in

Sunset in Bayfield Concert in the Park

Moon was large and bright

Between acts at the Band shell

Great day!!

Day 41 - Superior, WI

I spent two days in Duluth and across the river in Superior Wisconsin just to see the area a bit. Now with a good signal for wifi - here are a couple of shots.

Some clouds that bring more rain

Those silly locals

 Wisconsin Point Light house

There is lots of iron ore in the water, maybe?

Then as I was about to leave I noticed this:

Did He??

One way to cool off, I guess.

Day 40 - Duluth, WI

Yes, I stopped by Duluth Trading and though I didn't buy the underwear, I did get a pair of stretch cargo pants that are very lightweight and seem very good. They really like their beer here in this city - well almost everywhere I stop in the Great Lakes area now that I think of it.

This is one of the oldest water holes

The Canal area is one of the tourist areas in Duluth that everyone enjoys. As far as tourists go, now that I think of it, most are from the midwest area and it's hard to find foreign travelers.

Their famous Lift Bridge. It is a remodel of a moving tram of the early 1900's

Rose Garden overlooking the bay

Old Leif

Family Sauna

Harbor Lighthouses

Opera

No I didn't play with the colors!!