Bean, Beans

Happy Fall!

However, this week is supposed to bring some pleasant weather.  Like 60's and sunny until Monday.  We'll take it.  Perhaps I should say Happy Summer!

I thought the weekdays would be quieter than they are.  I thought Duce and I could just roam around town without a leash or a care crossing the road.  Nope.  Not quite yet.  People are here chasing colors, mountain biking, living in RVs and doing whatever else they came to do.

And the past weekend was well attended.  I told you about the Chili Cook-off, and some of you actually came!  Thanks for introducing yourself.  How cool.

The event itself had a record number of people show up for the festivities and a record number of chili entrants.  Gosh, I think there were 26 chilies.  I'm glad I was not a judge because there's no way I could fit all those samples plus cornbread and pie in my compromised stomach space.   Judging looks like tough business anyway.  See?

The judges: sniffing, tasting and scoring chili

One of my favorite bands, Frank an da Beans are in the back there jamming out.  The event also pressed fresh cider, and offered Brickside beer.  There were two amazing cheese trays fresh from Wisconsin and 9 gallons of chili from the Gay Bar, so no one would hunger.  And just look at all those entrants ready to scoop samples of their concoction!

Most of the chili entrants

See that in the background?  That's sunshine.  It was a beautiful day.  And see that guy stirring in the red sweatshirt?  That's Jay.  He won first place in the traditional competition.  Way to go, Jay!  He also brought the cheese from Wisconsin.  Now that's good karma.

After the winners were announced, Powers of Air took the stage.  Here's a photo of I-don't-know-what-song, but our bassist's wife took it.

Our band -- Powers of Air

Gosh, it was almost 9pm before we were done performing.  It was a good experience for us... we learned a lot from our mistakes!  And if anyone ever fesses up to shooting some video, I'll post it for you.  They say we sounded good.

This was really an awesome event.  Make plans to come next year.  Third Saturday in September.

Moving on.

So there's this fall trail running fest at Mount Bohemia in early October.  I think it's the first year they are doing it.  Info is below.  I bet the leaves will be beautiful for that!

Mount Bohemia's Trail Runs

Color Report

So let me get a couple fall pics up for you.  Pipe down.  I know you've been waiting.  Yes, I'm psychic.  Please be careful what else you think around me.

Looking southwest from partway up Brockway Mountain

That one was taken the 19th.  I can't say it's too exciting there yet, but check out this one from Lake Manganese, compliments of my friend Bruce L.

Fall at Lake Manganese

Now that's getting pretty stunning.  I'll have to get up there myself!  

Here's a handy dandy chart I found from Lake Superior Magazine.  I would put stock in this.  Now you can plan your vacation.  Happy now?

Lake Superior Fall Color Chart

So, 4 more weeks until my baby is predicted to arrive.  After the people and before the snow, I like to say (fingers crossed).  I know sometimes I post late, but if I post really late, you can assume I am on suckling, diaper and no-sleep duty.  Give me some time, and I'll be with you as soon as I can.  Trust me.  If I am crabby, you really don't want me to write a blog anyway.  Then I'll tell you what I really think.  Ha!

So wish me luck with that!  Even though I tease myself about it sometimes, just know that I am really looking forward to becoming a mother and learning about life all over again.

Impassable Roads in Keweenaw County

Cold enough for ya?  Cripes.  Lake Superior really wants to freeze all the way across, doesn't she.  Here's an image of the Big Lake as of Monday, January 27th.  The gray is the ice.  Oh, boy.

Ice taking over the Big Lake

Schools are cancelled and all that.  This last week has been pretty intense for weather.  Here are a couple examples.

Wednesay Night

Errrrrrrr.  Errrrrrrrr.  "This is a message from the Emergency Broadcast System.  Accumulating snow, drifting snow and impassable roads are in effect for Keweenaw County.  All roads in Keweenaw County are closed."

That was looming since I was working at the Bear Belly Bar and Grill in Lac La Belle and had to drive home.  "You better just stay in Cabin 1 tonight," the owner told me.  Bless her heart.  But Aaron and I had a friend driving up from Green Bay that day.  If he could make it, I would go for it.  "It's not that bad," was the report.

So I buckled up and mustered up some courage.  The snow was a heavy six inches deep on the unplowed roads.  I revved the VW (front wheel drive) and gave her heck up the steep hill that passes Mount Bohemia.

Gunning it in third gear, the menacing tire tracks in the road from drunken snowboarder stunts threw my own tires out of any possible tracks.  Second gear.  Spinning tires.  First gear.  Stopped.

Stopped in the middle of the road half way up this steep hill.  I was just hoping that nobody else was going to be on this road.  Nobody.  Then I could maneuver however I had to to get out of this mess.

I took a couple deep breaths and got my wits together.  Rocked her back and tried to gain some traction forward until my spinning wheels became useless.  I could barely steer through the muddled tracks and deep snow.  Well, Cathy said I could stay in Cabin 1 tonight, I reminded myself.  And I tried moving forward again.  And again and again.  Baby steps.

Someone was rooting for me because I made it up the hill revving the engine a handful of times in the red zone.  If you've ever driven a manual transmission, you know what that means.  At least I got the carbon out!

Once the grade leveled out, things got easier.  I had to drive in the only set of tracks on the road... in the other lane.  Now I was really hoping nobody else was going to come down this road.  Leaving those tracks surely meant I would come to a halt again.

Approaching the sharp right hand, uphill turn onto 41, I had already decided I wasn't going to stop at that stop sign.  Keep her in second and just go for it.  That would be my only hope of making the turn.  

At Highway 41, the impossible became reality.  It was plowed!!!  I was giddy.  My lane was plowed when the roads were "Closed" in Keweenaw County!  Granted, anyone else driving that road would have been in my lane too, but now I had dibs on the clean lane.  Somebody out there loves me.

Five miles later, I was at Medora -- the most dreadful part of the Covered Stretch in blowing snow.  Now, you are not going to believe what I went through here.  Somehow, the road looked darn near zambonied, and I could see a part of the road I hadn't seen in weeks: the yellow lines.  Yahoo!!!  I just followed the yellow lines to keep me in the middle of the road through all that blowing snow.

I made it home with a big smile on my face.

Friday Night

Friday, I was also working at the Bear Belly in Lac La Belle.  Since it was a weekend crowd, I didn't get out of there until 11:30 pm.  A Blizzard Warning was in effect, but nobody sounded concerned like they did Wednesday.

I made it up the Bohemia hill full throttle without stopping.  Highway 41 had about three inches of mashed snow on it, so I went a bit slower there.  Visibility was pretty good.

Until I got two miles before Lake Medora.

Where did all these huge flakes come from? I wondered as I started my useless windshield wipers and squinted out the only clear parts of my windshield that changed with every swipe.  By now I was back into third gear.

I couldn't even see any of the road signs that usually let me know I'm getting to Lake Medora.  I only knew I was there because, suddenly, I couldn't see anything at all.  Second gear and 12 mph.  I couldn't see anything out the front, so I looked out my side windows to make sure I was half way between the banks.  I was not, I repeat NOT going to get sucked in the drifts at midnight.

White knuckles, deep breaths and side window glances got me through to Medora Road.  I could sort of see the mailboxes there by then.  And in another mile, I could see well enough to shift her into third gear.

Almost there.  Almost there. became my mantra.  I had to make it home soon because I called Aaron an hour ago, and I knew he would start to look for me soon.

The rest of the trip went well enough.  Whew.  I was so grateful to be home safe.  That was the longest it ever took me to get past Medora.  But I guess it was a trade for that easy time two nights before.

Moving On

So yes, the Polar Vortex is upon us.  We used to just call it winter, but I guess the authorities like to dramatize things.

Here is a little slice of Hunter's Point's Vortex from, um, a few days ago!

Looking at the ice from Hunter's Point Beach

Okay.  Now I have to catch up on the rest of my projects that I couldn't do while the power was out.  Take care!

It's Snowing Again (We Say Everyday)

It's officially been eight years since Aaron and I moved to Copper Harbor.  Only eight?  It seems like longer to me.  And you know what?  In all those eight years, not one moment has gone by when I regretted that impulsive move.  Did you know I had only been to Copper Harbor two or three times in the winter before I moved here?  I hadn't even seen it in the summer!

Speaking of summer, I can hardly fathom that time right now.  The calendar does not say it's winter yet, but everywhere a person can look, it is winter.  Here is just a little comparison for you. 

The back porch on Thanksgiving Day

The back porch this morning...

that table is in there somewhere!

Yeah, so it's winter.  Sorry calendar.  

But it's winter like it's supposed to be winter!  Mount Bohemia opened yesterday, and I got to go snowboarding in some thick snow on mogul-less terrain.  Lots of other people came for the event as well, but I found some freshies to glide through.

I was so excited to carve the hill up that I didn't bring my camera.  No time for frozen fingers pushing buttons on a powder day.  That's just a rule.  But I do have other pictures from throughout the week! 

This is how I knew it was time to put the cruiser bike away.

The shivering Swhinn

And see what's leaning up against that tree?  My snowshoes!  That was the day of my first snowshoe.  It was grand.  And here are some shots from my second snowshoe.  Aaron and Johnny went out to Lake Medora to do some kiteboarding, so I went with.  I always wanted to venture to those islands out there anyway.

Snowy trees on a Medora Island

Icicles on a Medora Island

They kites in action on Lake Medora

Though the wind was really whipping, it was awesome being out there.  And though I have never been to Isle Royale in the winter, exploring those islands reminded me of exploring Isle Royale.  Probably because it was some place new, it was gorgeous and I knew I wasn't going to meet another soul.  

So Aaron and Allan have already been ice fishing at the west end of the harbor.  No catching, but the ice was thick enough to stand on and fish.  Here are some shots of ice on other parts of the harbor that day... Friday.

Looking west from the Isle Royale Queen IV dock

Looking east next to the Harbor Haus dock

And when I looked down at the lake from my house today, I didn't see any ice in the middle of the harbor.  The current 40 mph gusts probably had something to do with that.  But those gusts also make me want to get out to Hunter's Point to check out the waves.  

But before I do that, I wanted to point out one thing.  Scroll through those pictures again.    What colors do you see a lot of?  White, gray, some wood colors... oh, the kites have colors!  Thanks goodness!  What do you not see?  Shadows.  Okay, maybe under that little table on my back porch.

So imagine.  A week without shadows.  A week without a sparkle in the snow.  A week seeing white and gray for color in the natural landscape.  It makes for an interesting perspective on life.  Thanks goodness for Vitamin D supplements and snow sports!  See you next week!

Is It Still August?

Please pardon the absence of pictures in this post, but it feels like August all over again – with the weather and the rush-around-with-your-head-chopped-off feeling.  October 13^th (the day after the Harbor Haus closes) is my light at the end of the tunnel.

But here’s what doesn’t feel like August:

- Mushrooms are popping up all over and oozing their brilliant colors through the ground and old logs.

- The ponds and falls are finally starting to dry up.  Okay, well I guess that usually happens in August.

- The Isle Royale Queen IV is done with her ferry service for the year.  The last boat came back Monday... we danced out last cancan at the Harbor Haus.

- Mount Bohemia is offering chair lift rides this weekend!  Come on up, and look at the colors from up above!

Color report

Yesterday when one of the waitresses arrived at work, she said, “It was a gorgeous ride up today!”  What does that mean for you?  You might want to check the trees out!  I wish I could get out and take some pictures for you, but don't even think about asking right now.  Copper Harbor is still lacking in the color department, but you’ll miss the whole way up if you wait much longer.  I can’t say 41 is peaking right now, but it’s getting there, and after the gusts we had yesterday, the leaves won’t be able to hang on forever!

I am ashamed to say that I did this for the first time since I lived here.  “I don’t care about history,” was my excuse.  But I toured the grounds and buildings at Fort Wilkins in depth on Sunday, and I was blown away.  Their displays are well thought out.  I learned so much my head was swelling.  And the artifacts they display really take you back in time.  A couple of my favorites were the mine diagrams and the census from 1870.  If you haven’t been there, I highly recommend it.

On a history kick after the tour, a couple friends and I stopped at the Fort Store, and I found four out-of-print local history books bundled for $5!  What a steal!  The first one I’m reading is Mac Frimodig’s The Copper Harbor Stare … and Other Strange Things.  There’s even a story about the Brockway Hermit in there.  This book is a must-have treasure for any Harbor lover.  Get your soon because they are out of print!

I still hear the logging trucks cutting, slicing and hauling away the trees up by the Burma Road.  I think they started this last extraction two years ago.  Must be lots of trees left to cut down.  Careful if you drive around up there.  With the new logging roads, it’s easy to get lost, and those new roads are not on any maps.

Guess what.  It's October.  When I can feel October in my veins, I will truly celebrate.  For now I have to keep up with the grind.  The leaf peeper grind.  Hey, that could be a new dance!

On Top of Mountains

My last post was in July???  It must be August then!!!

You would be proud of me.  I just sent out my last articles about Mount Bohemia Adventure Resort.  Outdoorhub.com hired me to write them.  For my research, I kayaked Lac La Belle, hiked to the top of Mount Bohemia (yes, I am recovered) and mountain biked Bohemia.  Check out one of my live articles about it at this link!

So now that that's done, I don't have such strict deadlines.  I mean, I have a few more articles to write for other publications, but I need to get out and enjoy myself a little before I delve much deeper right now.  No worries, though.  Life is grand.

Did I tell you about Breakfast on the Flow?  Each Sunday morning from 8 - 9 am, the owners, cooks and staff from The Harbor Haus Restaurant pack up food, coffee, stoves and place settings and hike it to a spot on The Flow trail.  Then they make breakfast for everyone who shows up!  It's awesome!  Here are some pictures from last Sunday.

Breakfast cooks in action!

Happy breakfast eaters!

Do you take your coffee with a view?

Pretty cool, hey?  Do you know why they do this every Sunday through Labor Day Weekend?  Because they love the trails!  You can enjoy a scrumptious breakfast with friends and a great view all for a donation to the Copper Harbor Trails Club.  The CHTC truly appreciates the Harbor Haus for doing this, and you for supporting it.  This Sunday's menu includes gourmet omelets with fruit and tabouli salad!

Most of the berries are peaking right now.  Blackberries and chokecherries have a couple weeks yet, but come on up for the rest!

Oh, I finally jumped into Lake Superior for my first time this summer.  It was on Sunday after mountain biking Bohemia... and a beer because that takes some courage to jump in there.  It actually wasn't too bad that day.  I would do it again.

Gosh, now I have to get ready for work.  You know, my other job besides writing -- bartending.  I bet it will be another busy night in da Harbor!

Berries, Bohemia and a Beetle

If you like to pick service berries, bilberries or blueberries, you better come on up.  I eat handfuls of each of them as I walk the trails.

Thimbleberries are spotty, but they are going to be bountiful.  Raspberries and blackberries have a ways to go yet in Copper Harbor.

Whew, there is my berry report.

Know what report I never though I would give you this time of year?  A waterfall report!  That's right, we've had so much rain lately that they are still rushing like they were in late spring.  So if you love waterfalls, get your butt up here!

And if you like cool weather, this is your spot.  Man, oh man, we have had some chilly days.  People are saying, "boy, this is the first year I had to start a fire in July!" or "I had to turn my furnace on last week to get the chill out."  It's true, and I did that too.

It doesn't make for happy campers, but the berries seem to love it!

Yesterday I went to Mount Bohemia Resort for an assignment.  I decided to hike up the face of the mountain to get a couple shots for it.  Oh.  My.  Gosh.  I have been pedaling up that steep part of Brockway Mountain Drive, but hiking straight up those ski runs is ridiculous.  I can hardly go down stairs today!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF ME PANTING TO THE TOP.

What?  No one is perfect!

Lac La Belle and Deer Lake from the top

And here are a couple shots I got while photographing kayakers and paddle boarders at Bete Gris beach.

A beautiful beetle carcass in the sand

The clouds above the beach

And this Saturday I get to bike in my first Copperman Triathlon!  I'll let you know how it goes!