July 4, 2012 Munising, Michigan July 4th Celebration and Parade

These folks have a wonderful time every Independence Day. Reminded me so much of the July 4 "field day" our little town in Niagara Falls used to have. Games of "chance", food prepared by volunteer fire department(s), and rides for the kiddies. We had a whitefish sandwich with homefries - YUM! Then there was the parade......

July 4, 2012 Pictured Rocks scenic cruise

This cruise along the shoreline of Lake Superior was breathtaking! Amazing what erosion can do, then rainwater seeping through different types of rock. It was very difficult to choose the pictures to post, there were so many good ones!











1. The "Castle" 2. Undercut. 3. "Rainbow Cave"











1. "Indian Chief" 2. Prow of "Battleship" 3. Deep cut that the captain took our ship into, then backed out....











1. Mosquito River 2. Spray Falls 3. "Lover's Leap"











1. Colors 2. Caves 3. Old Lighthouse in "schoolhouse" style, no longer working.

July 2, 2012 Lake Superior at Marquette, Michigan

We visited the shore of Lake Superior today at the city of Marquette, Michigan. The water is COLD but I bet it feels great on a hot day. There were rocky islands offshore and they were covered with seagulls. This area is known for the iron ore that is mined and used in the making of steel. Who remembers the Gordon Lightfoot song about the Edmund Fitzgerald? That was on this lake.... Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world and holds 10% of the world's surface fresh water. It's beautiful here now, but I bet it's dreadful here in the winter.

Beautiful Lake Superior.











The huge old structure is an old ore dock, abandoned 80 years ago.

June 26-27-28-29, 2012 On the run from the heat!

When we made our plans to leave on an extended camping trip, we didn't know it would be in the midst of a massive heat wave.  Undaunted, we took off anyway.  Sheesh!  I guess that's one way to get from south to north in a hurry!  We did nothing but drive for 4 days until we finally landed just south of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The dashboard of the truck was telling us 104, 106, and even 109 degrees.  We would park our camper, plug in the power, and get the AC running.... THEN see about doing all the other things to set up the camper.


After we got past Louisiana and Arkansas, we started seeing the Sea of Corn.  This would be northern Missouri, all of Iowa, and southern Minnesota.  Nuthin but corn as far as you can see.  Sometimes I wonder what would happen if the corn crop "failed" - would we survive?


Below are some pictures taken at various points along the way to Minnesota.

April 25-May2, 2012 Meaher State Park, Battleship Causeway, Mobile, AL

 We spent a week camped on the Mobile Bay Causeway.  Our plan was to attend Bubba's 50th class reunion, and visit with folks we know in the area.

These are from the Theodore High School 50th year reunion.

Bubba's in the back row, 4th or 5th from the left.

Martin Nelson and Bubba.

Pat and Don Breter.

Don Breter and Bubba.

Pat Breter and me.

These pictures are from our campground, and Fairhope.

Swamp Lilies

Small Terns

Geese and goslings

Bubba

Nanny at Fairhope Pier on a very windy day

Mobile skyline sunset

These pictures are from our visit to the gulf coast at the Perdido Pass in Orange Beach.

Wonder what they were talking about?

A couple of ruddy turnstones!

The water was beautiful!

We spent a day with my brother Rob on Dauphin Island and vicinity, riding our bikes, taking the ferry to Ft. Morgan, and even birdwatching...  Plus a visit to my folks' gravesite.

Gigantic tree in Cadillac Square.

Brother Rob.

Beautiful day for a boat ride!

Mobile Bay ferry ride.

Bird Sanctuary on Dauphin Island.
The big ones are pigeons and the smaller ones
are indigo buntings and one blue grosbeak.

My brother Rob and I, at our parents' gravesite.