A Little Slice of da Harbor...: Ice Arches on the Shore

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Ice Arches on the Shore

I went for a little jog to the shore today. Just a little jog, so I didn't bring my camera. As Murphy's Law would have it, I saw some sights that I knew you would love to see too, so I ran back to get my camera and pedaled back to the shore. See what you make me do?

The day was so sunny and bright that the ice just sparkled. The old ice mounds from last week turned into dripping ice arches. I perched myself as close to the edges of these as I could to absorb their splendor. The waves splashed underneath from the open water of Lake Superior. Oh, she was shining like a queen!

Below is the first arch I came across. The icicles inside hung like the jagged teeth of a beast. Doesn't it look like it could eat you?

Here is the second arch. I particularly liked the aqua color reflecting underneath.

Can I get a closeup of those icicles and the green, please? Oh, yeah.

And how about the texture of the other ice domes along the shore? Look real close, it's all rippley. Try climbing up that!

Below is an image of the ice balls that I trekked through to get to these places. Slick, I say! But also splendid like gems.

And from afar, you never would know the majesty that lies among the snow if you didn't venture down. I'm glad I did!

And on my bike ride back home, I tipped over three times! Ha! Good thing I don't have pictures of that!

6 comments:

DeeFebruary 23, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Beautiful! What a gorgeous day. Thanks for posting.
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AmandaFebruary 23, 2011 at 2:12 PM
Dee, I'm so glad you enjoyed! Thank you for reading!
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MartyFebruary 24, 2011 at 8:46 AM
Awesome Pics
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Tom in MarylandFebruary 26, 2011 at 5:34 AM
Wow! Great shots Amanda, thanks for making the effort to share the splendor of Superior. I really appreciate it!
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UnknownFebruary 26, 2011 at 9:39 PM
Beautiful shots! Looks like it was one of those really nice days. Love your blogs, and your sense of humor.
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AmandaFebruary 27, 2011 at 9:46 PM
Glad you all liked them! I'm not much of a photographer, but the subjects were pretty photogenic! I guess it was worth the icy bike ride:)
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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

“If you’ve never been there, you wouldn’t understand” is a quote printed above an outlined picture of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on a t-shirt sold in gift shops in the area. Some people cock their heads in bewilderment of what this could mean. Well, if you’ve never been there (to da U.P.), then you wouldn’t understand.

It’s simple really. Where are you guaranteed to see more trees than people on any drive or walk? Where can you sit in a bar in April and know everybody’s name? Where can you wear flannel and Carharts anytime of the year without a flinch from a passerby? Where can you end most of your sentence with the colloquialism eh, eh? Where can you go to truly get away from the civilized world? If you answered “da U.P.” to all of these questions, why, you must have been there.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula makes up one third of the state’s land mass, but only 3% of its entire population. It’s no wonder the average number of people per square mile is 19.3. Nineteen people per square mile! Its lack of inhabitants combined with a plethora of wilderness, unique geographical features and an abundance of water is a big part of what makes the U.P. so unique. In fact, it was included in the Sherman Travel worldwide “Top 10 Places to Go in 2005."

And unique in itself, at the most northern tip in the Keweenaw Peninsula sits the little village of Copper Harbor. “Tops in Michigan,” “the beginning of the road” and quite frankly, the hardest place to leave once your soul has found its peace. It’s the least visited and most revisited place in America. Returning visitors make an appearance at least once a year, no matter what gas prices are. And when they’re back at home, they dream of their next visit to the end of the world.

Why would people want to return to a place where their cell phones don’t work and they can’t get a Big Mac for at least 54 miles? Once you drive through the one and only blinking stop light in town, you are 99% guaranteed not to see any authorities. The town can take care of itself for the most part, and people respect each other and each other’s property.

To the local residents and the handfuls of returning tourists (of which some have been adopted), Copper Harbor is the only place where they can be themselves -- completely and shamelessly (at least until the next morning). Fashion does not exist, but comfort is a must. Possessions mean nothing, but attitude means the world. Loitering is encouraged, and talk is ceaseless. Fresh air is plentiful, and serenity is down the block on Lake Superior’s shore. Ahhh.

Only 90 people can bear to live there year-round (good thing because the post office only has 130 mailboxes), but the population peaks around 250 in the busy summer months when people reopen their business or their summer home.

Copper Harbor and the rest of the Keweenaw Peninsula average 270 inches of snow each season. Whether it falls consistently throughout the winter or all in one dump, it’s guaranteed to fall if it isn’t drilling sideways. Only four businesses stay open through these long months because sometimes, there’s just nobody there.

U.S. Highway 41, which runs all the way to Miami, Florida, begins in Copper Harbor, and yes, it gets plowed the whole way up. A half mile north, six miles east and five miles south of this landmark puts you in magical Lake Superior. I know it’s magical because I’ve caught myself and many other people staring, mesmerized by its pure vastness, undulations and crashing waves.

When you can enjoy every breath of Lake Superior air, wear clothing soley for funtion and not mind seeing the same people day after day after day after day, then, my friend, then, you’ll understand.

A Little Slice of da Harbor...

Copper Harbor, That is!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Ice Arches on the Shore

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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

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