Pictured Rocks National Shoreline

Tourist Activities! Ok, We did take one outing. Probably should not have done it. It was risky. Fortune was shining down on us however, and we escaped unscathed.  Pictured Rocks was quite comparable to Canada's Flower Pot Rocks. I would say it's way more colorful. Pictures do not do it justice.

The boat was not very crowded. Since there were so many riders, the company ran a second boat so it would not be so uncomfortable. We sat alone and had our little area to ourselves 

The rock formations were colorful and interesting. This would be a fun place to kayak.

The color of the water here was just ridiculous. Bright greens and blues. Almost tropical.

We kept seeing these incredible formations with trees growing out of the top of them, some of the separate from the mainland, but joined by roots and outgrowths.

The captain of the boat was quite skilled. She slowly moved the boat into one of the rock crevasses, and I'm quite sure I held my breath at one point!

This photo is pretty cool.  What you are seeing is a waterfall that ends right on the beach. I wanted so bad to go wading over there.

Munising Tourist Park Campground

Munising Tourist Park Campground had to be the most beautiful campsite we have ever rolled into. I was so excited I could barely scout the utilities while John was trying to back into the spot. I could not believe how it was angled so perfectly as to make you feel like you owned the place.

Yes, that is the entire site. We could have had numerous tents and still shared the spot with the other half of the Fab Four parked there too!

This picture was taken standing down on the beach at our site. We watched kayakers and standing boarders and swimmers all day. 

The water was extremely chilly. I really wanted a picture of me floating in Lake Superior, but I couldn't face the water. I got up to my knees and I just couldn't go in any further.

This is the view looking back up at our motorhome from the water. Plenty of sandy beach to play on. The motorhome was in shade. Breezy and comfortable weather.  I'm ready to go back, but I need a standing board. John did get a ride in a kayak that a neighbor let him try out.

#campingOnTheWater #NatureLover #PapaJohnAndNana

Menominee Car Show

The car show had a pretty good turn out. This vehicle was the top favorite at the car show. I don't think I've ever seen a steam car in this good of a shape. I kept looking at all the levers and knobs. You'd clearly have to be an engineer to run one of these things. I found this engineer walking around the steam car. 

Even the seats are in great condition. So shiny - It looks like you could hop in and take it for a spin. If you could figure out how.

It even has a back seat. I wonder how often he actually takes it out on the town

Now this one is really interesting. We spent some time talking to the owner and he told us he'd had it out on the water a couple of weeks ago. He said that of the 300 or so Amphicars left, only about 150 of them are water-worthy. See the cute little propellers underneath?

This one is called the hot shot. It has a 6 gallon gas tank that used to last this guy all summer. I think he said he's the original owner. It fits snugly in the in the little trailer behind it.

Very cool little car. Hands down one of my favorites at the show.

There were quite a few convertibles. But none so cool as this top that hides away in the trunk. It was in tip top shape with a mirror like paint finish.

Check out the model of the car on display.

Now if you are in the market for a motorhome, the car show had you covered. This little beauty has room for a bed in the back, but the facilities left a bit to be desired.

Popcorn 3:30

There is a little known tradition here on the Menominee River called popcorn 3:30. All you need is a brown paper bag, an air popper, some butter, and some good friends with a boat.

Sometimes a little piloting is required, and Sparkles is on the job. Well, because Lori and I are just too relaxed to worry.

We've been having perfect weather, almost everyday we take a little cruise.

It's beautiful here. The weather has been mild. Lori and I have been walking the neighborhood almost every afternoon. The few times it has rained, it's done so during the night, which makes for great sleeping in the motorhome. Raindrops on the roof of a camper is one of my favorite sounds.

Rollin' on the river.... We get underway, Steve turns up the tunes, and off we go!

Happened upon some turtles sunning on a log. Most of them hopped off before I got close enough, the log was covered with them.

The CRV Upgrade is underway. I have more colors coming, purple, blue, and mint green. I am encapsulating rust spots and covering areas where my paint is thinning badly. I've been driving, and loving, this car since 2005. She's tipped over the odometer once, and we're going to do it again, with style, and hopefully a new radio.

Made Chili in the motorhome, and it came out so good!

Now this guy has really come up with a fantastic idea. His house came with a fenced in tennis court. He set up raised beds, broke out the concrete under them, and brought in topsoil. He has SO MUCH STUFF growing in there! Spaghetti Squash! Tomatoes! Peppers! FOOD! Hence it is no longer a tennis court. Let me introduce you to the FOOD COURT!

Such a great idea and use of space. There is an abundance of tame deer around here, and you have to fence with a high fence if you want a garden.  He grows food to feed his family, and any extra he has, he puts out on a little cart for his neighbors. He has to roll it into the enclosure overnight though, otherwise it becomes a lunch cart for the previously mentioned deer.

Lori and I had walked by earlier and this time when we were walking by the guy was out there enjoying the garden and invited us in for a tour. I had to know what this vegetable was.....

Hello Kohlrabi. It kind of looks like it could have grown on an alien planet.  Food Court Farmer whipped out his machete and sliced one up for us to taste. Delicious! sort of like a potato, dense, slightly sweet. I think it would be a great addition just julienned and raw, on a fruit and cheese plate. YUM!

Fayette Historic State Park

Last night we overnighted at another state park. The park is located in Snail Shell Harbor. The historic town of Fayette was once one of the upper peninsula's most productive smelting operations.

The park now offers overnight boat slip accommodations, pricing by the foot.

Here you can see all the old pilings from when ships came in to load and unload.

They've been working to restore the buildings and grounds. There've been quite a few improvements since the last time we were here. From the view here you can almost imagine what the small community would have been like.

This is one messy bird. I cut off the top of a kleenex box for him to make a mess in.

As long as he has seed in front of him he doesn't care. 

Evening Activities

Carrying on our tourist activities, we concluded the day sitting by the water watching traffic.  There were various ships waiting to enter the locks, sitting at anchor. 

Once the lock cycled, a freighter came through, something that looked very familiar to the ship we'd been on earlier, the Valley Camp.

There are quite a few boats parked off in canals around here. Ready to go to Huron or Superior, their choice. Passage through the locks is free for any boat, you just need to contact the lock keeper and schedule your slot.

Then this scrappy little tug boat pulling a barge came through. By the time he went by us he was going at a pretty good clip.

As day faded to night, we watched the lights twinkling on across the water in Canada.

The Fab Four Take Soo Locks

The Fab Four

Yesterday we were posing as tourists and doing a darned good impression. We set out to visit the Soo Locks. This giant photo was on the wall at the visitor center. It's the only  way I can convey to you how large this marvel really is. From the campground we have been watching huge freighters drifting by. We were about to see up close how big an operation it really is. We boarded Soo Lock Tour Boat #2 and prepared to go through the locks.

This is the view looking back after entering the lock. You can see the wet wall to see the level we are about to go to. As soon as the lock doors start closing, the water starts to rise.

There is a boom arm that comes down and locks into place with a pin to prevent a runaway vessel from ramming the doors. 

All the water flow is gravity fed from Lake Superior. It took less than half an hour to fill the entire void. 

After the doors opened on the other side, The Captain took us on a little tour to see the rapids that are left, they are all on the Canadian side.

We happened upon this tour that was underway, they looked to be having lots of fun.

The hydroelectric power plant out takes are popular fishing spots. The building is immense! You have a really hard time getting all of it in a picture. The sandstone building was constructed primarily by Italian stone masons. There is some beautiful detail in the stone work. Each small section has a small lighthouse design. Really beautiful.

I was able to get a close up shot, you can hear the machinery whirring away, turbines are noisy!

Here was the only way I could get the entire building in one shot. The water flows through intakes on this side, and out the other.

#Edison #HydroElectric