Category: National Parks

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North Shore of Lake Superior – Grand Portage, MN and Thunder Bay, Ontario

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The cliffs have given way to multiple islands. There is Isle Royal in the distance – about 60 miles – this is the closest we are going to see it on this trip.
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Imagine being on the shore when these voyagers came in.
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This is the first tall water falls they were needing to portage around – it is on the border – those on the right cliff are in Canada.
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This is the replica of the fort at the Grand Portage National Monument.
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With the birch bark canoe ready to launch.
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This historian was telling us about the history of gun powder and the fur traders acquiring those skins and food. We also went to another talk on food storage.
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This birch bark was being prepared to use as roof shingles but it is a similar process for the canoe. We learned the inside of the bark has an antimicrobial property that protects food from mice and other insects as well as having preservative properties.
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The Travoto is going International! We have decided the quickest route to Voyagers NP is through Canada.

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Overlooking Thunder Bay.
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Down on the harbor we found this interesting sculpture in a concert area.
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It enclosed a space without blocking any of the views.
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It is all in the details!
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Fun architecture and sculpture. Refreshing to see!
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Nature and Industry
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Hi to our friends traveling British Columbia this summer and finding all these red chairs in scenic locations – we found our own to enjoy for a few minutes in Ontario!

 

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North Shore of Lake Superior – Duluth to Tofte, Minnesota

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Sunday morning in Duluth to see the Tall Ships (see separate entry) and we visited with some friends of friends to get some ideas of what to see along the coast.
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A quick stop at Gooseberry Falls on our way to a night at Silver Bay.
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Gooseberry had this monument to the CCC workers – we appreciate their craftsmanship and all they did to build our great parks.
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Beaver River Falls as seen from Highway 61.
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We hiked up river for a closer look.
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Some nice little cascades as well.
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And some fun patterns made by the water.
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The rugged coast line of Lake Superior – Volcanic Basalt here not sandstone.
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Split Rock Light House in the distance.
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It was interesting to study it a while from this vantage point – and to people watch as many came down to the beach to look at it after their tour.
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Interesting proportions but it works very well.
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The other direction is just as beautiful.
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This is Black Beach in Silver Bay. Well worth the visit. They also have Pebble beach, Agate beach and Peach beach.
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And looking the other direction on Black beach.
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A detail shot of the Black beach and the peach granite. It looked like a fish to me – ha!
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Palisade Point cliff is full of rock climbers this morning.
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The view from there is breathtaking! There is a freighter pulling in for iron ore in Silver Bay.
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We hiked to High Falls in Tettegouche State Park.
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Oh – there is a third one around the corner – very loud!
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Interesting to hike to the top.
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And across this swinging foot bridge.
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Back on the coast admiring this view of Palisade Point.
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And looking the other direction where a friendly visitor took our picture.
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We enjoyed wine o’clock looking at this view – noting the 15% slant angle on all of the outcroppings
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Temperance River Falls – Look another falls and another walk through thick forests where you can’t see anything until you are right at the falls.
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Sugarloaf Interpretive Center was a large logging area and this ring is left over from that era of collecting all the logs on shore to be pulled across Lake Superior
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Tofte Town Park was a nice place to enjoy the water along with the seagulls.
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And to catch a nice sunset.
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St Croix / Namekagon National Scenic River Area

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At the Pacawong Dam Flowage area on the Namekagon River we parked overnight. We enjoyed seeing the wild rice on the river.
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A porcupine crossed the road during our evening walk.
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There was a peaceful sunset – too many bugs to sit out for us.
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But not for those wanting to fish.
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Just as picturesque in the morning.
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Another picture of the Namekagon.
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St Croix Falls is also the Ice Age trail where we saw Glacial pot holes.
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And a hike in the rain for a different perspective.
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We were in Danbury for Oktoberfest and enjoyed some German beer.
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Along with some entertainment and good food.

 

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Wisconsin – Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

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We stopped in Washburn and met up with a friend of a friend who grew up there – she had some great history to share with us, especially about the brownstones. We visited the National park headquarters in Bayfield before working our way to Cornucopia.
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We really enjoyed their harbor – it was a nice park area with an artesian well.
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Meyers Beach hike in the National Lake Shore had some outstanding vistas.
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Fun to see the kayakers going into some of the caves.
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They gave us a sense of scale.
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And we could see where to look for the sea caves and arches.
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The scenery was spectacular. It was an overcast day so not great distance views.
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But enough visibility!
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They said they were trying to set a record for number of hammocks above each other.
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Looking back on our lunch rock – it was a very nice place to hang out!
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We hung around for Corny Day – a nice group of people set up for the flea market and an equal number came to check out the wares.
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But it was really for the food that we came.
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We waited almost an hour for the fresh fish but it was worth it! They keep serving until they run out (which is before people get tired of eating it, we are told).
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Makes your mouth water, doesn’t it!
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Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

 

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This is the second time we have traveled together to the UP so we have some different things to see.
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We found a little lake (Brevort) with a put in site to make our stop for the night
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Really peaceful sunset
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Lunch on Lake Michigan – does it look much different?
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Hugoboom Lake was our site for three nights. It is in Hiawatha National Forest. We swam in the lake, walked around the lake , chatted with fishermen and others that stopped by.
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The color of the lake at sunset was amazing – it go so still and reflective.
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Early morning mist was also very interesting.
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Chef is making pancakes…with fresh raspberries!
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Another peaceful evening
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These are the best photos and you know we took many more!
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We went up Christmas lighthouse for our first glimpse of lake Superior.
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We walked a local nature trail to find this fun waterfall.
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Miners Rock in Pictured Rock National Lake shore. The color is superb and the kayakers added a nice sense of scale.
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Beautiful day!
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In both directions!
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Another waterfall
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A really pretty sunset even though we were not on the water.
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Early morning on Lake Superior.
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We can’t believe how calm the water is.
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In Marquette along the shore, where we had a picnic lunch.
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Shaken, not Stirred: The name is Bond. Bond Falls.
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Bond Falls camp site on the reservoir created by the power company – really a nice spot to hang out. There was also a lot of firewood so we polished off a few s’mores!

 

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Lake Michigan in the Lower Peninsula

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Manistee National Forest coastline
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Summer doesn’t get much better than this!
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Relaxing until sunset – well worth the wait!
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We found a quiet cool dispersed site in the woods – stayed for 4 nights. The solar panels struggled to keep the battery charged but we slept so well. Nice to have a break from the heat.
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Nordic Dunes Wilderness – we enjoyed a day hike along the shore.
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And hung out for another gorgeous sunset!
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Michigan Recreation Area beach.
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Dunes protect all the shoreline.
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Can’t get tired of this!
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Manistee Light House where we hung out for lunch  – along with many others.
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This is a nice looking sunset but looks like the sun won’t melt into the lake.
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Ohhh – looks like we might have some delayed color…
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This is an “end of the world” sky! Unbelievable!
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A viewpoint of the coast – an easy hike just up some stairs!
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Another lighthouse.
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Do I look like I am captain of the ship? My grandfather was a cook on the freighters….not sure I could get used to that lifestyle.
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A life saving demonstration where Raggedy Ann got saved first while Andy clung on a bit longer.
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All the helpers pulled them to shore – good fun.
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Another sunset at Sleeping Bear Sand Dune area – our final on Lake Michigan. People had bonfires on the beach and I remember doing that as a kid. I would be cold and dripping wet from swimming while roasting a hot dog. We also did the dune climb every summer – before it was a National Lake Shore
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Lunch at the Mighty Mac bridge watching the Edmund Fitzgerald go underneath.
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Historic Sights In Illinois

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In Moline, Rock Island Army Base had an interesting Arsenal Museum and Corp of Engineers Waterway museum at the Mississippi Lock. We were lucky to see this 2-part barge and tugboat going through.

The historic bridge pivots to let the tugboat through after the two barges reconnect. We were thrilled with our timing to see this during the hour we were there.

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Further down the road we stopped at Hennepin Canal State Park to see the locks on this historic canal.
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The bridge had a 4-ton limit so we were good for crossing!
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We parked overnight along the canal with this picturesque view.
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Pullman NHS near Chicago is a new addition to the Park System but the community has been working on conserving it for many years. This factory will be the future visitor center.
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It was a factory town but constructed to entice people to be a part of the community.
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A variety of housing styles.
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They used different bricks on each home to provide individualism.
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There is awesome community spirit. Most of the homes have been restored by their owners.
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Indiana Dunes national Seashore provides a view of the distant Chicago skyline.
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The bog area adjacent to the Dunes has been preserved as well.
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St Joesph Harbor Lighthouse was our chosen spot for our evening stop.
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Travato is Welcomed to Colorful Colorado

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Early morning departure from Santa Fe after a great dinner party at our friends.
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We nabbed two good campsites – one for their airstream and another from Travato.
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Ready to walk to Medano Creek and the dunes.
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The afternoon thunderstorm is building but we are enjoying the river and surges while we can.
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Interesting wind patterns.
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Another day of lounging on the beach.
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Hiked overlook trail near sunset for this view.
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Hiked Mosca Pass and enjoyed a picnic lunch here.
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An early morning start to hike the dunes. The water was incredibly cold!
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Very fun shadows on the dunes. Only an hour to hike to the high dune.

 

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Sunset on our third night.