Memories – Through My Eyes And Lens

Archive by category "Memories"

Drive About

May 26, 2019 - 05:00 PM May 27, 2019Baraga County, Lakes and Ponds, Marquette County, Memories, Michigan, Photos, UP, Wildflowers 0

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

Outing in The Keweenaw

August 8, 2018 - 07:01 PM August 8, 2018Keweenaw, Lake Superior, Lakes and Ponds, Memories, Michigan, Photos, Rivers, UP 0

I finally got out of the house to try and clear my head a bit today, it worked a little. I set out to find a path through an area that I’ve never explored, the southern side of Lake Gratiot. I took a trail just north of Gay that ran along the Big Betsy River and toward Lake Gratiot. There was a Y in the trail so I took the right/north turn, that ended after a couple miles at a Conservancy, Gratiot Lake Conservancy. Walked down a short trail to the lake, what a nice view. There was a box with maps of the area hiking trails, they looked quite nice, though I wasn’t really ready for that type of thing, but I will be back some day. So I headed back and took the left of the Y. I didn’t end up going where I thought I would due to so many logging roads in the area, but I did end up coming out onto Gratiot Lake Rd. From there I headed up to Copper Harbor and back south along the shore and then back home.

The shore line from Copper Harbor south has always had a big draw on me. Ever since I was a kid riding with my dad in his International Harvester Scout, I felt at home in the Keweenaw. No matter where I have lived in my life, the Keweenaw has always felt like home, where I belong. I stopped in a usual spot for me, walked around, took some photos, and cried.

Anyway, once I got back to the main road south out of Eagle Harbor on US-41, I hit road construction, and a lot of it. They were redoing the road all the way from Mohawk to the south side of Calumet, and a long wait for a section that was one lane. I felt like I was waiting there for ever.

Lake Gratiot

Superior Shore with Storms on the Horizon

Splash

Lake Superior Shore

Big Betsy River

Big Falls – East Branch Huron River

May 20, 2018 - 06:08 PM May 20, 2018Baraga County, Hiking, Memories, Michigan, Photos, Rivers, UP, Waterfalls, Wildflowers 1

Went out today to Big Falls along the East Branch Huron River. I’ve been here many times, but each time is a little different. One time there was even a tree lying the middle of the left fall. Somewhere between 20 – 25 years ago I found this waterfall completely by accident out two-tracking, then quite a few years later I went hunting for it without success. A few more years passed and bingo, found it again. Now that I live UP here, I frequent these falls at least once a year, if not more. After taking photos down in the usual spot, I decided to hike up river a ways. Wow, it’s beautiful just above the falls, but very difficult to get down to the rivers edge, which I didn’t, or couldn’t, do today. The bank down is steeper and maybe longer than the normal photo area. I did make it to the bank a little further up river, but it’s not as nice, not as rugged. Ah well, maybe next time.

After spending some time at the falls, I headed back to Black Creek Rd. and turned south knowing that eventually I would come out on Ravine River Rd. Well, that didn’t work out so well…I got lost. I made a turn that made a loop around and back to Black Creek Rd. Well in taking that loop, it bypassed the turn on Black Creek Rd. that needed to be taken, and that’s where I got lost, either finding a dead end or trails that looked mighty muddy and I wasn’t into getting covered in mud again, not this time. So, I ended up back-tracking and that’s when I saw the turn I missed by taking the detour loop.

Made it back to town, got a Jeep wash and went to Shopko for some curtains and a couple hanging plants, then home.