GITCHE GUMEE

Sat, 7/17/10. Leave Minnesota, enter Wisconsin and stop at Walmart! in Superior. Great buy at a tag sale...water hose, level, 2 snow shovels, small heater...all in almost new condition..all for $4 + a tennis ball for Zack thrown in. Leave Wisconsin, enter Minnesota to reserved RV site at Waterfront Boat Basin in Duluth.

Surrounded by boats and view of the harbor...just like home!, except there's no high heat and humidity. Breezy and 72 degrees.

Duluth's landmark Aerial Lift Bridge, originally built in 1905, rises to let sailboats to 1,000 ft freighters enter the harbor.

Tim gets comfortable waiting for the bridge to lift. It goes up 25-30 times daily during the height of the shipping season and takes about 2 min. to rise.











Short walk to bustling Canal Park and Lakewalk for shopping, strolling, and taking a peek at the Dog Show. Grilled turkey legs/wings, cob corn, fresh broccoli. Watch the sun set. Duluth is a great place to visit.

Sunday - Thursday, 7/18-22/10.

Lake Superior facts: Largest fresh water lake in the world. With the entire surface frozen (has only happened twice), there would be enough room for every person on earth to spread out a 12' x 12' picnic blanket. Large enough to dramatically affect weather patterns in surrounding areas. This Greatest Great Lake could contain all the other Great Lakes + 3 additional lakes the size of Lake Erie. But surprisingly, the reason it's called Lake Superior by it's French discoverer was not for its size, but because it is geographically above all the other Great Lakes.

5-day highlights:


Into Wisconsin again, I535, Hwy2E and 13 along the coast of Lake Superior. Can't pass up an old vacant schoolhouse! Metal detecting=little treasures.

Two nights at Town of Clover Community Park. Swimming is refreshing in unsalted Lake Superior! Bike around quaint Herbster community. Check out 2 lonely old gas pumps--owner not selling. Napping. Stunning sunsets.
















































The Keweenaw Peninsula (actually an island) is located at the northwestern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, surrounded on 3 sides of Lake Superior. Popular Copper Mining District, waterfalls, 17 lighthouses, more than 20 "ghost towns," and areas of arts and culture. Pine forests, parks, hawk migrations...lots more...quite unexpected.

Camp 1 night in historic City of Hancock, northside of Portage Lake Life Bridge....camp the next night at Lake Fanny Hooe Resort and Campground at the peninsula's tip in Copper Harbor.




























The longest continuous north/south route in the US begins at the peninsula's tip and ends in Miami.

The journey around Keweenaw is a world of things to see! Lake Superior is truly superior!

















Gitche Gumee (By The Shining Big-Sea-Water) RV Park and Campground, in Marquette, Mich, is the most eclectic overnight site thus far! Jeff, with cigar in mouth, welcomes us to his domain.











Throughout the campground are interesting etchings carved in stone.















Question: What do you suppose is stored in the RV's upper bunk?

Answer begins in the next posting.