Keweenaw Peninsula

September 22.

A very leisurely morning in L'Anse. After breakfast, coffee and then a shower and getting dressed (important for traveling among strangers) we headed into town in search of a market. While we had planned for and were all set for food, our house's water system produces a very noticeable and somewhat unpleasant odor of rusty iron (although it doesn't taste like the old well water I remember as a kid). We soon found Pat's Foods and stocked up on water for the duration.

From Pat's Foods it was back onto Route 41 heading north. We zipped around the bottom of Keweenaw Bay then up through Baraga, Chassell and the twin cities of Houghton and Hancock. Separated by a dramatic looking lift bridge across the Portage River, Houghton is the home of Michigan Technological University and Hancock the home of Finlandia College. That's right, for those of you not in the know, this part of Michigan was settled by a lot of Finns in 19th century and it still shows in the names of villages and even people running for office today.

Leaving the twin cities we made our way up Route 41, the central artery of the Keweenaw. At Allouez we turned east in the direction of Gay and the eastern shore. Naturally we got lost. After asking directions from one of the rare human beings we passed along the way we found our way to Gay and a lovely drive up the eastern shore. We stopped at Brunette Park and Point Isabelle before turning back inland skirting Lac La Belle and back to Route 41.

Brunette Park

rocks rich in iron

Susie on the hunt for interesting stones

Susie continues the diligent search for stones

It was a short drive to Copper Harbor where we stopped for lunch at the Mariner. Copper Harbor is not quite the tip of the Keweenaw but close enough for us. And we were comforted by the fact it is the northernmost city of Michigan.

From Copper Harbor we took Route 26 heading south but quickly turned off onto the Brockway Mountain Drive. Definitely one of the high points of our day, literally and metaphorically. We enjoyed sweeping views from several turnouts.

view of Copper Harbor

colors starting to change, lots of reds abound

from West Bluff

the West Bluff overlook is the highest point on the drive

After making our way back to Route 26 we zipped into Eagle River and checked out the village's main attraction, a lighthouse. It was closed but we chatted with a couple of lovely staff folk working the nearby museum and gift shop, Peter and Amy. Worth the stop just for those conversations alone. Friendly, funny and committed to the UP way of life. The town also had a lovely spacious sandy beach.

From Eagle River we continued on Rt 26 to Eagle Harbor (another nice sandy beach) and then to route 41. Retracing our earlier ride north we headed south and home for supper and relaxing by the lake.

It had been a perfect a day for traveling up and down the Keweenaw: The sky was blue, the air crisp and clear, the water lovely to look upon just about everywhere. Wish you could've been here.

Tomorrow we hope to explore a bit of Houghton and maybe Hancock as well. We have tickets and signed waivers for the Quincy Mine tour and we're excited to see what all the fuss has been about copper!