23 August 2013 - Upper Peninsula

It has been a gloriously beautiful day.  Morning was clear, bright and the sky cloudless and blue.  We left Marquette and headed further east, toward the tip of the peninsula.  This is an area of the country about which we have been really unaware.  It is a land of rolling hills, thick pine and deciduous forests, straight roads and spectacular views of Lake Superior.  We also found lovely, clean, almost empty sand beaches with lapping waves and comfortable water.  The roads were nearly empty and we drove through small towns and intersections.  Homes and farms were well kept and clean.

When we stopped, the air was warm and comfortable, not hot or steamy like in some recent locations.  On the stretching beaches, occasional visitors basked in the sun or played with their dogs, throwing and fetching balls in the water and sand.

Ronda and I stopped to stroll in the sand and feel the sweet atmosphere of this lovely lake.  We had no idea before coming here how nice and beautiful the area is.  We would recommend a visit here for any of you and your families.  There are fun things to do and even spending time on the uncrowded beaches would be so pleasant.

As we proceeded further we elected to take a side trip to Taquemenon Falls. (Ta' kwe ma non).  Early trappers encountered rapids on the river between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan making transit difficult. They then found a way around the problem on the Taquemenon River, which flows between the two lakes near the end of the peninsula. It has some falls on it, but those were easier to bypass or portage.  Now the falls have become a state park, a beautiful spot to visit.  The water is stained rust colored by the tannins leaching out of the forest floor and into the water.  When the river reaches the lake, the nearby water turns dark red, a unique contrast to the blue water.

We found a little bakery and gift shop on the way, getting some sweet rolls and trinkets.  Now we have crossed the boundary into Canada and are staying in Sault Ste. Marie  (Soo Saint Marie).  Tomorrow we plan to head further east in the direction of Ottawa.