Copper Harbor Cemetery

Last Thursday I served a lady chardonnay, and she proceeded to tell me what she did with her day.  The event that stuck out most in my mind was her visit to the Copper Harbor cemetery.  She said it was beautiful with the falling leaves.  I went there today to show you.  Come on!

The official sign

The gates were open, and Duce was waiting

The first marker to stick out, decked with a copper nugget!

This cemetery ascends in elevation

A cliff from Brockway is right behind it

Lots of empty fences

Dr. John Livermore died October 14, 1861

(I don't know who he was, but that was a long time ago!)

The last line stuck out to me:

"At peace with God, beloved by all.

And ready at his Savior's call.

--

Be ye also ready"

"AMANDA" That's really all it said.  Yikes!

A view from the back toward the bottom

The leaves fell upon her leaves

I noticed the "NO HUNTING" sign on my way out the gate

I am not (well, at least I try not to be) an overly sentimental person.  I try to view life's events as lessons and journeys.  I'd rather learn than cry.  So it was interesting walking through these stones.  Some people I knew.  Some I had heard of before.  Some are still alive, just marking their resting place.

It was a little different for me to be in there, since I don't wish to be buried in that fashion.  Throw my ashes off the top of Brockway in the wind, and I'll end up everywhere I want to be.  Maybe I'll even wash up on Isle Royale someday!  But I'm getting a little too personal for this blog's purpose.  

As you can see from these pictures, the leaves are still really colorful up here.  It's been a beautiful fall, and now that I am done working  six days a week, I'm going to take full advantage.  Hello Life!  Here we go!

Clyde's Field

If you have ventured off the streets of Copper Harbor, chances are, you have been through Clyde's field.  Clyde's field is the large, flat area behind the one room schoolhouse and the park.  It is most easily accessed at the trail head by the welcome center.

This is the place that often starts my journeys, be it a hike, bike or snowshoe.  It provides the gateway to the trails!  The last few times I have been back there, I found some things you might like to see as well.  Come along!

Looking over the first pond, west into the Garden Brook Valley

Over the pond toward Brockway's nose

The second pond is all dried up.

Can you see who's at the other end?

The great blue heron!

I can now take this pond as a shortcut to the south trail

No shortage of mushrooms this fall

This puffball is as big as my mitten!

The maples litter the trails...

... with brilliance!

One thing I didn't get a picture of is the pigeon I saw a few days ago.  A pigeon?  I had to inspect it to make sure.  I don't know how a pigeon got up here, but I hope it survives!

As for the heron, I have seen it every morning for the past few days.  And at least once a week before that.  It flies so quietly when Duce startles it, but it always lands back in the area.  Such a majestic bird.

I have been seeing mushrooms of all shapes and sizes this fall.  More than I have ever seen.  I doubt that most of them are edible, and I don't have the knowledge to safely try them.  But I must have seen at least six varieties.  Some of them are so big, the conditions must be just right.  It's been fun discovering those!

Another thing I find myself instinctively enjoying this time of year are the deer trails.  Maybe it's because I'm not so overwhelmed with tourists that I get more adventurous, but I find myself following an animal path through the woods almost every time I go out.  I love to see new places, and how the landscape varies.  Sometimes Duce leads me into some tight spaces, but we always find our way out.  They say curiosity killed the cat, but hopefully we'll survive.

Luscious Leaves

Color Report

The leaves that are still on the trees are quite beautiful.  However, the winds have really picked up from the west, and the power was already out for 2 1/2 hours this morning.  We survived.

But Aaron, Duce and I went up to Aetna Ridge on Tuesday, and here is what we saw, in the order we saw it.  (Note: I did not enhance these photos digitally, and some were taken out the window of a moving truck, so bear with me.)

Man, was that luscious.  And here are a couple from out my back door today!

I would say this is the end of my color reporting for the year because these winds are going to blow the leaves to Canada.  My break is soon to come....

Color Me Fall

Color Report

Well, I was right about one thing: the leaves were going to change in a snap.  They did!  If you haven't already, GET YOUR BUNS UP HERE!  I have heard second hand from numerous people that the leaves are peak south of Houghton and on up.  The north-facing ridges are still a little lacking, but the color they have is brilliant.

Need I say more?  Plan a trip this week.  This is the one!

I can tell many people already know that because town is packed right now.  This afternoon, it looked like a parade was coming into town, but it was just leaf peepers!  Oh, boy.  Here we go again!

A Scenic Drive

Chances are, you've been checking this blog everyday to see how the colors are up here.  I know, I know.  If anything major changed, I would have told you right away.

Color Report

If you are getting antsy, just drive up here.  Everyone I talked to who drove up from anywhere south of Houghton (a territory currently untraveled by yours truly), said the colors are beautiful.  Granted, we do have some of the brightest maples up here, which are still mostly green.

Wednesday I took a trip down the 41 covered stretch (there were some breathtaking spots,  but still mostly green), down toward Lac La Belle (still lacking in color), down the Gay/Lac La Belle Road (not much for color, but great Lake Superior views!), down into Traprock Valley (the most consistently brilliant stretch of the trip) through Lake Linden and into Houghton (which has more of the subdued color tones).

And on my way north on 41, I would say the colors are at about 50%, but nothing really struck me as "Oh, my heavens!  You have to see this!"  Okay, so maybe you can wait a few more days.  The air has been chilly at night and the winds are low, so the leaves are still hanging on!

Whew!  Do you feel better now?  You didn't miss much up here.

It's been a busy weekend so far, though!  Last night I was so busy at work that I had flashbacks of August.  My bar was full most of the night with people waiting for a dinner table.  But that's my world.  Thanks for listening.

Oh, you might get a kick out of this.  Thursday evening was the annual Copper Harbor Improvement Association (CHIA) dinner.  Everyone dines and socializes.  The CHIA president, Syd, gave a wonderful speech and handed out awards.  We have many amazing people in this town who help it thrive.

When it came time for the Bear Pit award, which is a nicer was of saying thanks-for-doing-something-dumb-so-we-can-all-laugh-at-you award, I thought I was off the hook.  I already got one three years ago for my black market F.A.Q. pamphlet.  But nope.  "Crash and Record" I heard her say.  I knew right away I was being honored for flipping off my bike while recording it.  It was a hilarious video, though.  I still laugh when I watch that thing.  I bet they're wondering what I'll do next.  I'll keep them guessing!

Rain, Rain

Today is the seventh day in a row of cold, wet and windy.  Seven days of raincoat adventures.  On the bright side, we have had a few moments of sunshine in between to cast a couple rainbows.

Color Report

Yesterday I drove from Hancock to da Harbor in the morning.  Why do you care?  Because the leaves are turning beautiful colors south of here!  I saw some gorgeous purple and red maples.  Ooh, those are my fave.  Some nice yellow ones too.  I would say the southern part of the peninsula is at about 40% color right now.

But up here it looks pretty much the same as the last color report I gave.  I guess the trees needed some rain!  The cool weather could have hurried them along, but not yet.  No.  Not yet.  We are at about 10% color.  I have a feeling it's going to be a quick change after this, though.  I'll keep you posted.

Otherwise, all is well in da Harbor... at least from my little slice!

A Walk Along Hunter's Point

Yesterday the wind was whipping from the north.  I was supposed to go for a mountain bike ride, but since the weather was cold and rainy, I made a plan B.  I don't need to slip off any cedar boardwalks on my bike, you know.

I donned my rain apparel and rode my bike out to the Marina.  Duce was so good; he followed right along.  I parked in the bushes, and we hiked along the south shore.  My goal was to go out along the harbor side and back along the big lake side.  I was so determined not to see Her Majesty's waves until I got to the tippy tip that I even shaded my eyes with my hands if she was coming into view.

Here are some pictures of what I noticed along the way.

My favorite spot along the south shore

A view of the town from across the harbor

A bouquet of aster

As I approached the point, I could feel the wind from the north, but I wasn't going to look!

Then I saw her face.  Now I'm a believer.

A view of Lake Superior and Porter's Island

I stood on that big rock out there.  You know, the one about twelve feet high?  It's my favorite, but even up there, the lake licked us.

Splashes from atop the big rock

The wave were rolling in

It sure was slippery walking along all those wet boulders.  I even fell a couple times, but so did graceful Mr. Butters.  Then I didn't feel so bad.  

Along the pebble section facing west

A mini rock stack caught my eye.  Just a little guy!

Then I kissed Her Majesty goodbye and ducked back along the trail toward the Marina.  But the fun wasn't done yet!

Here is our color... on the ground

A long boardwalk the trail crew built

It was wonderful to be out there again.  It always changes.  And it always stills and invigorates my heart simultaneously.  Thanks for coming with us... and you didn't even have to get wet!