On to Paradise (7/26/2015)

This morning we left the "free camping" casino and moved on up the road toward Paradise.  From Munising, we took H58 to Grand Marais, stopping at a overlook viewing point, then at a Log Slide viewpoint. At the scenic viewpoint, we could see a freighter way off in the distance.  We assumed it had come out of the ore dock in Marquette.

 The drive back to the log slide was very woodsy, pretty.

"The log slide itself was a chute that loggers used to move logs from the top of the dunes down to lake superior to be loaded onto boats for transport.  The wooden chute is no longer there, but it was said that sometimes the logs traveling down the chute would catch fire due to the friction from the sand and wood, as well as the heat of the sun."

Off on another point from the end of this trail is another lighthouse -- a very familiar part of the scenery in the U.P.

Walking back to the RV, Joe spotted this tree that the woodpeckers had really done a job on.

We continued on to Grand Marais where a Pickle Barrel Museum was of interest to Joe, but we didn't go inside, just took a photo.

"This larger-than-life pickle barrel was originally built in 1926 by the Pioneer Cooperage Company as a summer home for cartoonist William Donahey. Donahey, the creator of the Chicago Tribune's popular "Teenie Weenie" cartoon strip, also drew advertisements for pickle-peddlers Reid-Murdock & Co., who sold their product in a much smaller version of the barrel you see here. The cottage, which contains a living area, pantry, kitchen, and bedroom, stood on the shore of Sable Lake until 1937, when the house was moved into Grand Marais and placed on the corner of Lake Avenue and Randolph Street. For years it was a visitors information center, ice cream stand, and gift shop, and in 2003 the Historical Society purchased the building. It has been restored to its original condition as a summer cottage of the 1920s."

We continued on our way, down 77 to Seney, then over to Newberry on the 28.  We had lunch in Newberry, and fueled ($2.779), then turned onto the 123 to the state park at the Lower Tahquamenon Falls, just a little southwest of Paradise.  The checking-in process at this state park leaves a little to be desired, and most of the campsites are a bit short, but we got ourselves situated and called it a day.  We were here about 2:30, set up by 3:30.  It was pretty warm here today, high 80s.  I think a storm is headed our way on Tuesday.  We drove 133 miles and the only wildlife we saw was a couple chipmunks, one deer, fawn actually (it still had its spots) crossed the road right in front of us.  Newberry is the Moose Capital of Michigan, but we've yet to see one.  Part of our route today is on the "Fall Color Drive," and I imagine it would be beautiful.  This is also snowmobile country.  Lots of things to do in Michigan, year-round if you can stand the cold.  But it is a beautiful state.