Thursday, June 19, 2014

46 degrees this morning at 9:45.  We walk around Presque Isle Park in Marquette, a nice park on a small peninsula.

 There is a small monument with feathers where Charley Kawbawgam, last chief of the local Chippewa, is buried.

Next we go by Northern Michigan University's Superior Dome.  A sports dome built totally of local wood. The largest one in the world.

They have some nice displays about local sports inside.  It is also where the US Olympic Education Center is located, which is a training center for boxing, short track speed skating, greco-roman wrestling and women's freestyle wrestling and weightlifting.   This speed skating glove was interesting, with the round fingertips.

Greg thought the world's largest 22'6" tall trophy was interesting.  It was earned for setting the Guinness World Record for Largest Skateboarding Parade.

We stopped at the Marquette harbor to get a view of their 1866 lighthouse which is still operational.

On the beach there were several lifeguards in jackets - 46 degree air temp, I can't imagine anyone swimming but I guess it is all relative.

We stop at U.P. Hair and I get a haircut while Greg gets his beard and mustache trimmed.  Nice folks.

Here is the next stop;

  An amazing amount of junk "art",  including Big Gus chain saw, Big Ernie gun, and Christine on steroids. A rock shop and gift shop.

As the ad says, free restrooms...ha ha.








Next is Canyon Falls, billed as the Grand Canyon of the UP.

While clambering over some rocks, I almost step on a snake - not sure who was more startled!  He slithered back into the rocks and I moved to another angle and waited for him to come back out, which he did.  Amazing to watch how he climbed straight up a rock wall, and then across.

  From there we stop at the Shrine of the Snowshoe Priest.  Bishop Frederic Barago (1797-1868) is revered in this area, as he ministered to area Indians and others, traveling miles through the snow and starting 5 missions.  He is being considered for canonization to sainthood by the Catholic church.








We decide to spend the night at McLain State Park which is on the water.  Nice showers and interesting campsites.  Some of the electrical boxes are very far from the sites and we don't have the proper extension cord, so are a little limited.  Greg builds a cozy fire and we cook hotdogs over the fire and finish off some leftover chili.

They have nice seating along the water and we hang out there for a while, waiting for the sun to set.  At 9:45 it is still bright.  A few clouds come in and we go back to the fire, waiting for stars and we hope Northern Lights.  The big dipper and lots of other stars appear for a short time, then are snuffed out by clouds.  No northern lights tonight, as you need a clear night.