Around the Lake

On Wednesday morning we got an early start and continued our tour around the lake in morning fog.  Our goal was to reach Rossport Campground.  We arrived in time to take a hike to view Rainbow Falls.

Rainbow Falls

Our Campsite at Rossport Campground

In the midst of preparing dinner a Ranger arrived at our campsite to inform us that the site we were in had been previously paid for by another party.  After some negotiations we agreed to relocate to another very nice campsite.

Rain started at 1:30 AM and continued until 6:00 AM.

On Our Way Around the Lake

We continued on our tour of Lake Superior by driving a whopping 80 mile to Agawa Bay Campground in Superior Provincial Park.  On the way we stopped at Batchawana Bay for a swim in the big lake.

Batchawna Bay

Don, May and Bobbi at Batchawana Bay

Don and Jack Swimming in Lake Superior

Don and I hiked to look at some pictographs located on rocks at the edge of Lake Superior.  They are only accesible when the lake is calm.

Trail to Pictographs

Horse Pictograph

Canoe and Animal Pictograph

Pictograph Rocks on Left

Then we all hiked up the Sand River to check out the falls.

Water Fall on Sand River

Our campsite at Agawa Bay was very nice but a little too close to the highway.

Sault St Marie

We got an early start on Monday morning for a tour of the Soo Locks at Sault St Marie.  Our first stop was to view the locks from shore and visit the Visitor Center for some history of the locks.  Then we drove to the dock to board our boat for a tour of the locks.

Entering MacArthur Lock

Getting Ready to Leave MacArthur Lock

International Bridge

Electricity Generating Facility

The tall ships that were in Duluth a week ago are now sailing to Green Bay, Wisconsin for an event there.  We saw a couple of them passing through Sault St Marie while we were there.

Three Masted Tall Ship

Two Masted Tall Ship

Tomorrow we continue our journey on the Lake Superior Circle Tour.

Mackinac

On Saturday morning we departed Green Bay and drove to St Ignace, Michigan.  We arrived at the campsite in time to view the Mackinac Bridge.

Lake Michigan Beach

Mackinac Bridge from North

Ladies Observing Mac

Mackinac Bridge at Night

Mackinaw City Lighthouse

On Sunday morning we boarded a ferry to Mackinac Island for a look around.  We took a carriage tour that stopped at t butterfly garden and Arch Rock.  

Mackinac Island Harbor

Grand Hotel

Arch Rock

Tall Ship

We caught an afternoon ferry back to St Ignace and pointed the Winnebago toward Sault St Marie.  We chose an RV park on the Ontario side that had a nice hot sauna for Don and me to enjoy.

Green Bay

We arrived at Apple Creek RV Park in time to relax and get ready for the rehearsal dinner in De Pere.  We enjoyed meeting old and new friends and family at the dinner as well as meeting nephew Jeff's bride to be, Bobbi, for the first time.

Cousin Elvi Routsala invited us to lunch on Friday.  We enjoyed catching up on her interesting life and meeting her friend Clifford.

Don and me with Cousin Elvi

Then it was back to the Winnebago to prep for the 4:30 PM wedding at the Botanical Gardens.

Bobbi & Jeff, Just Married

On Saturday morning we continue on our tour around Lake Superior.

Staying in Touch

We are still in Twin Lakes for a few more days before we head to Green Bay, Wisconsin for nephew Jeff's wedding to Bobbi.  On Monday morning I went exploring with the canoe again and got a couple of good loon shots.

Nice Loon

Loon in Flight

On Tuesday afternoon Don and I drove to Sugar Lake to check out cousin Chuck Jurvelin's wood shop and do some visiting with Chuck and Brian Jarvi.  Brian is an interanationally know wildlife artist who grew up in my home town of Floodwood, MN.  Mary and I have a number of his prints and really like his work.

Chuck with his Latest work

Brian Jarvi and his wife Raelene

On Wednesday morning we departed Twin Lakes for our trip to Green Bay with Don and Bobbi.  We took advantage of a boys shoportunity at the St Croix Fishing Rod company's factory store in Park Falls, WI and then settled in for a relaxing afternoon and evening at the Broken Bow Campground in Lac du Flambeau.  

Our Campsite at Broken Bow

An Appropriate Way to End the Evening

Life on Twin Lakes

We enjoyed yet another casual, relaxing weekend on Twin Lakes.  Saturday morning Don and I did a 5 mile walk on the Mesabi Trail.  Much of the trail west of Marble is on old mine dumps with periodic views of water filed mine pits.

Don on Mesabi Trail

Mine Pit

As always the lake is an important part of life here with frequent pontoon rides to fish, check on the loons and eagles or just sightseeing.  Sunday morning I paddled the canoe around the lake to see if I could get some better shots of the eagles and loons with marginal success.

Don's Place from the Lake

The baby loons are taking on their adult coloring.  They are now adolescents.  

Baby Loon with Mom

Adolescent Loon

Adult Loon

Loon Dance

A Great Blue Heron has been visiting the lake the last few days.

Great Blue Heron

Friday we had lunch with my aunt Miriam in Grand Rapids.  She is 94 and still going strong.  Sunday afternoon we enjoyed a visit from cousin Dick Jurvelin and his wife Fern from Deer River.  It was fun to catch up on things and share memories from past times together.