Time Flies

I can’t believe it’s been so long since my last post…Yikes.
Well, Autumn colors are over with here, now just leafless trees. We’ve had some snow, but here at the house not much. I do have about an inch on the ground this morning, but that’s sure to melt through the day.
Anyway, I guess I just post some photos and videos I’ve taken since my last post.

Black Bear Falls

Black Bear Falls

Black Bear Falls

Autumn Color – Back of Property

Saunder Lake

Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness

Northern Cardinal

Grand Staircase Falls

Section of Grand Staircase Falls

Grand Staircase Falls

Grand Staircase Falls

Arrowhead Falls

Two-track

Bull Moose

I went out yesterday morning at the crack of dawn for two reasons, one to see if there was any snow in the Herman area, and two, to hunt for Mr. Moose.
Sure enough, right in the area I thought the moose would be.
He was quite a ways off, so only using a 210mm lens, I had to crop in quite a bit. He was about 800 feet away.
I saw this guy the other day, but missed getting a photo of him. I have also seen his tracks for the last couple years.

Bull Moose

Snow Frosted

Lake Plumbago

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 nervous  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

Sunset

Last night I had a hunch the sunset would be good, one because there were some clouds, and two, the smoke from forest fires in the western states.  I was not disappointed.  There was even a small storm brewing to the south west that I was aware of until I took the drone up and saw it.

Sunset Over Keweenaw Bay

Sunset Over Six Mile Creek Preserve

Sixmile Creek

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Little More Color – Back of Property

Point Abbaye

Went out to Point Abbaye yesterday, haven’t been out there in 2 years. The place sure is used more now that it has before publicized. I was happy to see you could still drive all the way out to the point, the last section I thought for sure would be blocked off by now.
There was some guy just leaving the spot I was going to, but he stuck around for a few to watch the drone.

Happy Thanksgiving

My Thanksgiving will be mostly work, work to clean the driveway, and work under the Subie. Yesterday during the storm I drove out to see what was happening on US-41 as it rounds Keweenaw Bay. During this drive I came across a smallish tree down and across my road, this tree had also brought down the power lines and snapped a power pole in half. Anyway, I saw a couple tracks crossing the tree, so, so did I, and without any problem. I went to the end of my road, parked and went to the shore for some photos of Lake Superior washing up rocks across the road. I went back to my car and made a call to report the downed tree and power pole, and within just a few minutes the fire department were coming down the road. I turned around and followed them to the point of where the tree was, talked to them for a few, then the power company showed up. I needed to get out of their way so I crossed over the tree again, well this time I heard something and bam I heard a loud sound somewhere under the Subie and it’s now making a loud sound from the exhaust system, somewhere. I checked it quickly when I got home, but things felt tight, so today I need to drive it up on the ramps and find the issue.
Before I can get to that work, I need to finish clearing the driveway. I started it late yesterday, but couldn’t finish it due to excruciating pain in my leg, and I mean fucking excruciating pain.
Now to back track a bit in time to yesterday’s snowstorm. It was quite a good storm, but with it being so warm, the snow is very wet and heavy. I lost power a little before sunrise, called it in and waited. Once it was light enough outside, I noticed lights through the trees at my closest neighbor’s house, then I saw my power line was sagging and almost touching the ground. I went out to check things out. I walked behind the quonset and saw the problem, a huge tree had fallen and brought the line down. I called again to report what I found, and the crew were right over. After about 2 hours of them working, I had power again. Ah, but only about 10 minutes after the power crew left, boom, there went the power again. I checked things out again, but didn’t see anything here. I didn’t know where the issue was until hours later when I drive out to check the waves and US-41.
In the mean time, I called Spectrum to let them know their line was still hanging and almost touching the ground. They told me they can’t come out during the storm, bullshit. Oddly enough though, I still have cable and internet. They said they would be here Friday afternoon to look at it. Their line is fucked, it’s hanging behind the quonset and hanging low from the quonset to the house, if fact, I have to duck under it when walking back to the quonset.
So anyway, the storm brought 10 inches of snow here, and there are reports of around 2 feet in other areas with some people still without power. I guess I was lucky being without power for only about 8 hours.

So with that all being said… Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Rocks being washed over US-41

Power line down across the road

My lines

Snowy Pines in my yard

Forest Road Truckin’

Headed out this morning with Eli to hit some more of the Forest Service Roads in Southern Baraga and Southern Houghton counties. The roads south of me seem to be never ending, there many many roads to explore, and most of them are in really good shape. Many of the woods through this area have some nice large old growth trees, making the drive real enjoyable, just driving through the woods. Along with coming across river, lakes and such, this time I found a couple tidbits of history. One such bit of history is that there were 5 WWII POW camps in the UP, this I did not know. I came across one of the POW camps today, Camp Pori.

POW Camp Pori – 215 POWs; 2 Officers; 39 Enlisted Men
An unusual activity here was the establishment of a Zoo. The POWs captured mice, squirrels, snakes and other small animals. It was not their only activity. The 16 piece orchestra was often heard. The education at this camp was strong. Classes in English, German, French, math, shorthand and music history were offered allowing the men to increase their work skills. To this end, workshops were offered for machine construction, technical drawing, electrical skills, and agriculture development.”

The rivers and swamps I came across all have a very low water level, some of the swamps are dried up.

Anyway, was good to get out again, as I’ve been staying at home too much lately.

Sturgeon River – Very Low Water

Bob Lake

Pori CCC Camp/POW Camps and Wild Blue Phlox

Old Railroad