Rocks In My Bag

I took my bag of rocks into the Rock Knockers Shop at Da Yoopers Tourist Trap only to find out that none, not one of them is an agate. That meant I had to buy one from him. (Hmm, I wonder if he told me that so I would buy one.)








Outside they had bigbigbig boulders of other ores. This one has gold in it...













but my favorite is this one with jasper. It's the red.

I Flew A Frog

I worked on the MeWarmer on the long (149 mi.) drive from Copper Harbor. I thought I'd need it this week but it has been so warm that even long sleeves are too warm.









We toured ourselves around Marquette yesterday. First we visited Knit 'n Purl where I exhibited admirable restraint.












Then we found the ore docks, seeing two big carriers coming in.






Then we drove past the ore docks and there was a carrier being loaded. It was noisy... no, it was LOUD when those ore pellets slid down the metal loading chutes but it wasn't dusty and it was interesting to watch the bow of the huge ship sink down into the water five feet. (There's those marks on ships' hulls that tell you how much of it is underwater.)




We then drove back along the shore and found a nice park where I unlimbered my poison dart frog kite and flew it. It was so eager to fly it fairly leapt into the air. Tons o'fun.






I am having a whale of a time on this consolation vacation, and I totally still love ol' Durwood, even after spending all this time with him.

Who Ordered Perfect Weather?

We didn't order it but that's what we've had all week. Our van is full of heavy coats, medium coats, hats, scarves, and mittens and we're sweltering in long jeans and flannel shirts. Happily I did pack mostly short-sleeves figuring I'd layer so I'm doing okay. Durwood's okay too since he's always cold anyway.







Yesterday we drove from Copper Harbor to Marquette, 149 miles. It was a long day in the van, but we did see beautiful country.


I could spend an entire vacation sitting on the lake shore watching it change.

Up Nort'

We drove up along the beautiful lakeshore to Copper Harbor, stopping wherever the impulse struck. This is Jacobs Falls, I thought of Rose when I was taking its picture.









The towns got smaller and older and emptier as we went. We're both having such a great time just wandering together without timetables or expectations.













I climbed down to the Sand Bay beach and picked rocks, some of which might actually be agates (well, maybe one or two).






We spent a lovely hour sitting and watching nothing in Copper Harbor, and then went back for the sunset.

Shopping!

Finally yesterday we were in a place where there are open stores that weren't tourist traps or bait shops. We stopped in a rock shop to get some info about identifying agates on the beach. I thanked them by buying a couple of mineral chip bracelets.








We were coming into town and saw the morning mist rising off Portage Lake. With the sun on the changed leaves we had to stop to take a lot of pictures.







Here's a telephoto shot of a lakeside walking path I'd like to explore with my friend Skully.






We stopped at Walmart so that Durwood could see his friend Mary the greeter. They had only a short time to chat but both really enjoyed seeing each other. I managed to spend a quarter of my "mad" money in their fabric department. (Our Walmart doesn't even have fabric anymore.)











The lady in the rock shop directed us to Roy's Bakery for "the best pasties in town." Not having eaten all the pasties in town, I can't agree but they were worlds better than the microwaved ones we had in Ontonagon yesterday. The search continues in Copper Harbor later.








I discovered the address of a fabric/yarn shop in downtown Houghton so we went there. The fabrics were mostly "eh" except for a few fat quarters but I managed to find a few keepers in the yarn department. Like the Weekend Neck Down Pullover pattern from Knitting Pure & Simple.


Like the gray and red skein of fibranatura Yummy 100% Superwash Merino (370 yds.) DK.


Or the skein of hot-colored Ty-Dy 100% Wool (218 yds.) worsted.




We had to change motels because there wasn't a room with 2 beds at the one we were in. We're out of the habit of being able to sleep together in a double bed. Dratted king size bed! I'm blaming Grandma Carol for moving so we got her bed. Our new motel was a few miles north of Houghton/Hancock so we'd be that much closer to Copper Harbor tomorrow. I can't wait to get back to the Lake Superior shore. I thought all the places we'd be up here would be along the lake but they're not. Imagine that.


On the way to the motel we passed the enormous Quincy Mine Hoist, it's the biggest thing around.








We drove to find a different yarn shop in Lake Linden (but it was closed on Monday) but we saw this along the road. Cool, eh? (I was going to write "huh" but we're so close to Canada I thought I should say "eh")

I Am So...

knitting while on vacation. I know you were wondering, but I am. See? I finished one, uh, something (not shown), and I cast on the next, um, thing.











Also remember this?








I hated it. Hated every awkward, ugly inch of it. So I'm unraveling it as I knit it into an EZ's Ribwarmer. It's 100% garter stitch, what's not to love?





In more interesting news--we went to see a waterfall yesterday! It was about 1/4 mile down a woodland path which we both walked, then down a 100 step stairs which only I climbed down and up, but it was sunny and warm and the waterfall was beautiful and LOUD. It was just lovely to stroll through the woods on such a gorgeous day with Durwood. What a perfect day.















Then we drove through multicolored tunnels of trees to Lake Superior where Durwood pulled over so I coudl walk along the road and then I found a path down to the beach and walked there. It was lovely. Anyone know what agates look like?









We shared a so-so pasty for lunch in Syl's Cafe in Ontonagon and then drove on to Houghton where we are now. More adventures to come.

A Lucky Start

Last night after supper I was sending our orange peels down the disposal when I spotted this in the backyard. It seemed a good omen for the success of our week of wandering through Michigan's Upper Peninsula.






On the drive up we stopped in Wittenburg, WI at Nueske's smokehouse for a cheddar brat for lunch. Mmm. (You should be jealous.)





There was a gigantic Loon along the highway in Mercer!











We went to The Liberty Bell Chalet in Hurley, WI for supper. Durwood had the lasagna, I had homemade sausage and peppers on penne. I've been craving garlic bread for weeks so I ordered some. It was to die for. No, that's not right. To. Die. For. I could only eat one piece; it was so buttery, garlicky, and cheesy I knew if I ate more I'd deeply regret it for days so I was mature and smart--and left the rest go. *sigh*