Autumn Colors

The Autumn colors are really kicking in. Some areas are just about at peak, while others are mostly green still.
Friday I drove up Huron Bay-Peshekee Rd knowing the colors would be popping there. I made my first stop for a couple photos and Shit! I forgot a SD card for my camera, that really sucked, and I wasn’t about to drive all the way back home to get one. I did have my drone and my cellphone, but I hate using a cellphone for proper photos, so I mostly just used the drone. I stopped at Haypress Falls to fly down into the area to see the falls, as it is, it’s quite difficult to see these falls without some major bushwhacking. I was pretty nervousĀ  while flying. Lots of trees, rocks and I had to fly downward, so it was a little scary.
After Haypress, I continued north, flew the drone a couple more times for photos and then home. It was a full day.
Sunday I headed down Sidnaw and drove up to the Sturgeon River. I could fly the drone how I wanted due to heavy winds, but I still got some good stuff.
After Sturgeon River, I drove back south and over to Kenton and north on Forest Service Road 16, and then up to Pike Lake Road. Took some photos at Pike Lake, few the drone and headed toward home via Houghton. I was going to stop and get something to eat in Houghton, but every place I went by was packed, even the fast food joints had very long lines, so I just drove home.

Peshekee River

Peshekee River from the top of Haypress Falls

Autumn Painted Forest

Pequaming Point

Sturgeon River

Sturgeon River Area

Autumn Colored Road

Pike Lake

Pike Lake

Pike Lake

Painted Forest

Work and Photos

Well, once again I’ve missed posting things… Damnit.

Let’s go in order of the title.
Work – Today I posted an RFQ for our website at work (Website Design & Development Request for Qualification). This has always been my job. I’m quite upset about this and have asked my boss why, but the only answer I ever get is, “I don’t know the reason”. I have been kept completely out of the loop, told or asked nothing. At this point, I don’t know what the fuck to do. Should I make an appointment with our chairperson? Last time I tried talking with my bosses boss, I just got pushed up. I have, and have had, a website started since the first of the year and have asked my boss to see what people think, but once again, nothing. No input what so ever. I understand I will be keeping my job to maintain the site, but I know the damn thing inside and out, so who better to make another one. Anyway, I’m quite distraught about this.
Photos – I have a few to being uploaded for this post, photos and videos, from the past week or so.

Kunze Lake

Kunze Lake

Ghost Town of Frost

Ghost Town of Frost

Autumn Colors

Sixmile Creek

Sixmile Creek

Sixmile Creek

Smoky Skies Sunset

Smoky Skies Sunset

Forgotten Post

I thought I had made this post earlier this week…Oops.

Last Sunday I headed up Pike Lake Rd to see if there was any Autumn colors starting as this area seems to start a bit sooner. Nope, very very little.
I spent the whole time flying around Horseshoe Lake, a small lake, almost just a pond. Just after I got the drone up to height, a big adult Bald Eagle flew right by me, within 30 feet. Then the first thought I had was, “shit, what if that eagle goes after the drone?”. Well, the eagle didn’t, damn good thing.

I also went to the small lighthouse here in Baraga on Sand Point and took a quick video. The wind was stronger than I had thought it would be, so I didn’t spend much time here.

Horseshoe Lake

Horseshoe Lake View

Horseshoe Lake

Hunt For Autumn Colors

Went out yesterday looking to Autumn colors, starting on Covered Road. Covered Road runs from a little outside of Houghton on to Redridge, it’s a pretty drive, but I don’t see how the colors would show due to it being too covered with very tall trees. I then drove into Freda, turned around and took Freda Crosscut Road which heads south east toward Toivola. I took quite a few two-tracks off of the Crosscut Rd., got lost a little, then made it back to M-26. From there I went a little more south and turned on Emily Lake Rd which turns into Pike Lake Rd. Along Pike Lake Rd. I took quite a few stops at the numerous lakes to get some photos. Then on home the back way via Baraga Plains Rd to Menge Creek Rd.
During the day’s drive, I came upon an interesting farm building. A local I know on Facebook to me this about the build…
This is in the Toivola area near the former Heikkinen School. Barn is typical of southeastern Finland near the Russian border and Karelia which I believe now is a part of Russia but once was a part of Finland.
At the end of this post is a video of the drive from Baraga Plains Rd down Mange Creek Rd to home.

Farm Building

Farm Building and Barn

Clear Lake Autumn Colors

Clear Lake Autumn Colors

Clear Lake Autumn Colors

Headwaters of Pike Lake

Short, Turned Long, Drive About

After grocery shopping and mowing around the front of the house (that’s about all I can do with my bad hip), I went for a “short drive”. It was too damn nice out to just sit around, so I asked Eli if he’d like to go for a ride, stupid question, of course he did. I was going to just drive out Herman Rd and come back, but instead I took a turn on a two-track that went on for ever it seemed. The Autumn colors are really starting to pop out that way.

Beaver Dam holding the pond back from the road. Hard to tell from this photo, but I took this looking straight out my window and the water level is just about as high as my window.

Start of Autumn Colors

Northwestern Road Round Trip

Not knowing where I wanted to go yesterday, I decided to head out onto Northwestern Road again. I enjoy taking this road, it’s very remote with some challenging rocky hills and deep forests. The only wildlife I saw was a couple deer, though I was hoping for moose because someone was just on this road and got a photo of one. Oh well. At one of the rustic bridges, over Cedar Creek I believe, the water was flowing over the bridge due to either a beaver damming it up or just debris blocking the flow under the bridge.
Other than the nice drive out in the woods, not much else going. Today I’m just taking it easy, but plan to head out again tomorrow somewhere.

Pea Can Falls

Pea Can Falls

Water Over The Bridge

Yard Sale

 

Drive About

Got out for drive in the boonies today. I drove out to Big Erik’s Bridge and followed EriK Rd until the turn to Northwestern Rd and drove Northwestern Rd until it’s end at Triple A Rd near Eagle Mine. Then took Triple A until Ravine River Rd then back to Skanee Rd and home. Northwestern Rd is one washed out road these days, it’s always been tricky, but this spring has really done a job on it. The Subie did a great job over the washouts and through all the rough stuff, just have to be careful due to still needing new tires. Triple A Rd is also quite a mess, but that’s due to all the logging on the road. The loggers have really fucked up a nice drive. I didn’t get out much, as the skeeters were out in force today and I didn’t feel like putting on bug dope.

Also, happy birthday to my mom, she would have been 100 years old today.

My Favorite Pond

The Elusive Blooming Bra Tree

Campground – Day 37 (Last)

This will be the last full day here at the Baraga State Park. Finally! Tomorrow morning I leave and start moving into the new house.
Today starts out on the cool side again, around 35Ā° with mostly cloudy skies. The forecast says it should be a pretty nice day with highs in the 50s and some sun.
If I get my packing and cleaning done, though there really isn’t much at all, I may go for that drive for some fall colors. I did end up going to Walmart in Houghton yesterday to pick up a couple cheap floor runners so Grizwald has something to walk on without slipping. I know I’ll need more floor coverings, but it will have to wait until I’m in there and know just what sizes I need.
With these cooler night temps we’ve been having, the colors around here should be just about at peak this coming weekend.

Well I did end up going out for a few. I took Pike Lake Road again knowing that the colors should be coming alive.

Pike Lake Rd
Pike Lake Pond
Edge of Pike Lake
Pike Lake
Pike Lake Pond
Pike Lake Rd
Clear Lake Access Rd