Hufnagels on the Move: July 2013

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Last Days in Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Entering the Soo Locks

Exiting the Locks 21 Ft. later

Lunch at West Pier Drive-In

I last left you in Ontanogan, MI. We were in the area for 3 nights and 2 days. We were able to see Lake of the Clouds in Porcupine Mtns., take a tour through Adventure Copper Mine, and and see great vistas of Lake Superior. The statistics of Lake Superior are staggering. It stretches 350 miles from east to west. Its average depth is 450 ft. and it is 1330 ft at its deepest. The temperature of the water is 38-42 degrees. We were told by one of our boat captains that if you took all the water out of the lake it would fill the Grand Canyon and cover the entire United States with 5 feet of water. IT IS HUGE! Recreation on the lake is mainly fishing and taking a ride in your boat if you own one. You may see a jet ski now and then but you do not see people skiing and tubing like you do in the mid-west, the water is just too cold.

We drove across the UP to Munising, MI and enjoyed taking a couple of boat tour to see 3 Shipwrecks in a glass bottom boat one day and Pictured Rocks another.

Then on up the lakeshore to Sault Ste. Marie. In the Soo, our campground Aune Borne was right on the St. Mary's River. We were able to watch the freighters come down the river. While there we took advantage of taking another boat tour which took us through the locks. What a great experience. We had watch ships go through the locks in other places but had not done it ourselves. Entering the locks you are on the lower St. Mary's River and while in the locks your vessel is raised by valves being opened at the bottom of the lock and water enters the lock raising the water level 21 feet. The gate opens and you are at the same level as the Upper St. Mary's River and you leave the locks. How Cool is that! We took in the site of a Steel Mill on the River and then proceeded through the locks on the Canadian Side back to the dock. That same day we walked the Historic Water Street, visiting some of the local shops and watching a freighter go through the locks. We took in some local restaurants that were highly recommended. One afternoon the West Pier Drive-in where we ate the BEST cheeseburger we have ever eaten. Later we were told to check out another Drive-in at the other end of town Clyde's, both were good but as for me West Pier WINS.
Here are more pictures of our adventure in the UP of Michigan.

Lake of the Clouds

Transportation to Adventure Copper Mine

View of Lake Superior

Vista of Superior

Bridal Veil Falls-Pictured Rocks, Munising, MI

Tahquamenon Falls

The Journey continues. Stay tuned.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

TRIP TO THE UP OF MICHIGAN

It has been 10 days since we left Ozarks RV Resort on Table Rock Lake. Our first day we took in our 33rd President, Harry S. Truman's Museum in Independence, MO.

The weekend we spent with family in De Soto, WI. Mike's cousin Vance Baker has 70 acres of Prairie in the area. We have been hearing about his place for years but this was the first opportunity for us to actually visit. We had a great time! Aunt Jane Baker, Ken and Marilyn Hufnagel, and Vance's son Jason, wife Kim and children Colin and Julia were there as well. We spent time catching up on family and of course eating, watching his turkeys and chickens, along with a walk or two in the prairie flowers. We stayed at Blackhawk Park a campground right along the Mississippi River. One morning we took a quiet walk beside the river.

Next Stop ~ Duluth, MN
We parked at the Lakehead Boat Basin, Waterfront RV Parking. We looked out our windshield (picture window) to see the St. Louis Bay which feeds into Lake Superior. We could see the Aerial Lift Bridge and here the freighters going through the Canal. Pretty Awesome bridge. We took in some local sights ~ Gooseberry Falls and the Split Rock Lighthouse, day two the Skyline Parkway a Scenic Byway above the city and a tour of the freighter William A. Irving.

Today we drove east to Ontonagan, MI. We are now in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We are parked in the River Road RV Park. This is a small park of 20 grass sites, with full hook-ups (for non-RVers thats electric, water and sewer), wide open sites and our site #13 has plenty of elbow room with a tree for shade. The reason we are here is to see the Porcupine Mtns. Tomorrow we will pack a lunch and take off for waterfalls, hikes, and maybe see a beach or two on Super Lake Superior.

Pictures of our adventure so far are below:

Morning walk by the Mississippi