Busy Weekends, Slow Weeks

The longest day of the year has come and gone.  I certainly enjoy these ridiculously long-lit days.  It will be a while before I notice the light subsiding.

Guess what I saw on Tuesday.  It was the first one I've seen up here in a couple years.  It was running across Highway 41 south of Delaware.  Can you guess?  A black bear!  Nothing too huge, but it sure looked cute and cuddly!

My backyard neighbor has seen one by Our Lady of the Pines chapel right by our houses as well.  I think Duce caught a scent of that one yesterday.  It's nice to know the furry little guys are still around.  However, I still don't want to run into one while berry picking!

Speaking of berries, many of the bils and thimbles are green right now.  Berry season should be right on time -- whenever that is supposed to be!

Have you ever seen the big orange poppies on your way down to the Harbor Haus Restaurant?  They are blooming right now.  So lovely.

Arial view of the poppies

This past weekend was the Longest Day Fishing Tournament.  It was a bit cool and rainy, but quite a few people came up to fish.  Also this weekend, Giant brought up a bunch of mountain bikes to demo.  There were more bikers than fishermen in town, I think.  People were everywhere.  Plus, there was a wedding in town.  I got to attend the ceremony on Brockway's Nose.  Someone clocked it at 8 minutes long.  Perfect length of time for a chilly, breezy wedding!

Another happening thing this weekend was that my parents came up with 5 of their friends.  I got to surprise them with a concert of my and a couple buddies new classic rock band!  That's right!  There's a new band in Copper Harbor, baby!  And according to our classic rock-loving audience, we did a pretty good job.

We may play at a couple/few open mics at Zik's this summer, and we're scheduled to be the opening band at the Copper Harbor Chili Cookoff.  I'll update you later on this.  Never a dull moment, hey?

The progress in the park is happening quickly.  Remember the dirt shot from the last post?  Well look at it now!

Progress in the CH park

While we're looking at pictures, I may as well show you a couple other ones I took today.  This morning, as I exited my house, the sun was out, but it was raining!  Kinda goofy, but that's what it did.  And there was a layer of fog on the harbor.

Fog lining the Harbor

It was actually that cool, moving mass that crept up the shore and over the pavement like a ghost.  When I get really good with my camera, maybe I'll be able to catch a picture of that.  For now, I'll just have to tell you about it!

During that walk today, I went where my cravings often take me: to Jamsen's Fish Market and Bakery. Today they had banana cake with chocolate frosting and walnuts.  I had to try it.  Delicious.

Then I tried to get artsy and take a picture of their chalk board for you.

Follow that sign!

Life is good in da Harbor so far.  Town still isn't too crazy during the week yet, but that will change soon.

So some people say that this summer is just going to stay cool.  And some people say it's going to be really, really hot.  I don't have any expectations myself.  I'm just excited to enjoy it to its fullest.  One thing I will never bet on is the weather in the Keweenaw!

And for a book update, 500 copies of Touring the Tip should arrive on my doorstep in the next day or two.  Woohoo!!!  I'm stoked to get those little helpers circulating the area.  Soon you'll see the little book at the top of this page change!  Thanks to Kevin Blackstone for the wonderful drawings again!

I hope to see you in a week.  I'll be on my way home from Wisconsin that Monday, but I'll do my best. Enjoy for now!

Back to the Fourth of July

So my "really cool post" now lacks due to technical difficulties.  Don't worry.  I'm figuring things out to get you a higher quality visual product.  I know you appreciate it.

It had to do with the Fourth of July celebration in Copper Harbor.  I started the day actually watching the parade up close for my first time.  I've been in the parade before, throwing candy, but this time I stood along the road and watched it.  It lasted nine minutes.  Ha!

The energy I felt from the spectators, the drivers, the wavers and the candy-throwers was intense.  High spirits, smiling faces and good times were in the mix.  I'm glad I went to experience that.  It made "The 4th" a little more tolerable from a server's perspective.

And from a server's perspective, that was the least busy I have felt on the 4th of July.  One shift at Zik's was slow too, about 6 years ago.  Maybe they were both Thursdays???  I don't know, but the 5th sure was crazy!  And the 6th, well, the power was out from 1 pm to 7 pm, so the Harbor Haus didn't get to open.

Hold up.  I skipped the fireworks.  Now, I shot the display with a 5-second time lapse, and took a video of the best grand finale I have ever seen.  I was tickled that I decided to straight up record that grand finale.  However, the latter is nowhere to be found.  Sorry!  So here is a last-chance attempt at capturing that spectacular site.

WATCH THE FIREWORKS TIME LAPSE HERE

A perfectly sunny, nearly bugless weekend turned on us quickly.  We spent the last couple days in a fog.  Not just a mental fog, but a man-you-can't-even-see-Porter's-Island-from-the-shore fog.  Drive up the hill past Mohawk, and they had sunshine and 80-something degrees!  We shivered in the 50 degree fog.  Good thing I realize that you can't have it all.

More and more flowers are popping up, though!  They are little fireworks in the grass, and they smell marvelous.  I've already started collecting some for tinctures.  A little wild rose tincture does wonders in the middle of winter!

I feel like I should apologize.  This past winter and spring I got you used to my videos and pictures and somewhat timely posts.  Well, guess what?  I am working at least 50 hours a week -- running around and "Yes, Ma'am," and "Thank you, Sir," and "Have a wonderful vacation; I'd be happy to answer your questions about the area."  And I am.  But it takes a LOT of energy to keep that up.  Please be patient with me throughout the summer.  I want to keep you entertained and updated.  Only three more months to go.  Then I am all yours.