UP VACATION

We went to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan right after Labor Day. We drove to Escanaba first to attend a lumber trade show so that the trip was deductible. We spent three nights camped at the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds where the show was located. We were right across from the exhibit field so was nice to go walk around for a while then go back to the camper to rest for a bit before going on to more exhibits both inside and out. We spent part of one afternoon watching the lumberjack & lumberjill competitions which was very interesting. They can saw through a 10" x 10" cant three times with a two person crosscut saw in less than ten seconds, its pretty amazing. In the modified chainsaw competition one guy made three cuts through the 10" x 10" cant in less than four seconds, that is starting with the chainsaw on the ground not running. I would hate to be cutting firewood with him and trying to keep up loading. But probably the most exciting was the guys standing on a 10" x 10" cant and chopping it in two between their feet as they are standing on it. The axes they use are extremely sharp so you don't want a miscue. It took them about 40 seconds to chop through the wood.

Next we went up to the Keweenaw Peninsula to visit Matt & Seri. We stayed at McClain State Park right on Lake Superior just outside of Hancock where they live. We had a beautiful view of Lake Superior right across from our camper. We enjoyed a campfire with Matt & Seri on Sat. night just talking and relaxing with them. Then Sun. Matt took us up the Keweenaw sightseeing. We stopped at Eagle Harbor and toured the lighthouse facilities then went on to Copper Harbor via the Brockway Drive which is an absolutely beautiful drive. From there we went to Fort Wilkins which is a recreated military installation dating back to the early times of settlement of the UP. The UP and especially the Keweenaw is a beautiful place and the weather was great. We really enjoyed the time we spent with the kids.

Next we travelled to the other end of the UP and spent a couple of nights at one of our favorite campgrounds Muskellonge Lake State Park. It is northwest of Newberry about 25 miles out in the middle of nowhere, maybe that's what we like so much. It is also just across the road from Lake Superior but the weather had turned windy and the Lake was a lot rougher than it had been over on the Keweenaw. I will put a link to a web album at the end of this which has a variety of pictures of Lake Superior, some beautiful vistas as well as some of us and the kids. Hope you enjoy. Just click on or cut and paste into your browsers address bar the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/dewwoodp/UPVac?authkey=Gv1sRgCNnrs9T81YTELQ&feat=directlink