Copper Harbor to Iron Mountain, MI - Day 9
Today we woke up in Copper Harbor, MI. It is in the northern part of the Keweenaw peninsula, which is like a horn into Lake Superior. The end of the peninsula is the northern most point in Michigan and one of the most northern points in the lower 48 states. The terrain is more rocky with elevation changes. I wouldn't call them mountains, maybe ridges. The land is mostly all forested and it is a thicker, more evergreen forest than we saw in the eastern UP. The area was a huge copper mining area, but most of those mines have now played out. Iron is mined in this area as well. The beach sands were redder here. People come here to bike, hike, kayak, etc. There is not much in Copper Harbor. Just some small local artist shops, motels and restaurants. There are also cabins.
Just in from Lake Superior is the fairly large Lake Fanny Hooe. There is a monastery in nearby Eagle Harbor, called the Society of St. John. The monks run a very popular bakery called Jampot. There was lots of good stuff there, more sweets than regular bread. We waited in the long line and bought some. We also visited the Jamlady, a self serve jam "store". Our host at the bed & breakfast said that he mentioned to a friend that he'd lived in the area for 20 years, but had never met or seen the Jamlady. The friend replied, "that's because she's dead"! The husband apparently runs it in her name. We stopped there too.
The Upper Peninsula is known for pasties which are a pastry stuffed with meat. Sort of like an empanada but several times larger. We went to a general store in the area that served them, but we had just had breakfast and when I saw how big they were, we passed on them. I asked the old man at the store about pasties and I pronounced them "paste-ez". He said to me that "paste-ez" were found in Las Vegas, and here they served "past-ez". I got it right from there on!
Jampot.
He told me that they didn't pass a collection plate on Sunday, but was happy to have the donation bowl at the bakery. Maybe we should say he was thrilled.
Jampot.
Jampot.
We came out of the bakery and found this young monk flying a drone. (?!)
Even in the north woods, we are not safe from this.
The Jamlady sold the local favorite Thimble Berry jam. We bought some.
The Jamlady sells rocks too. Maybe there is a little copper in some of them.
These are pasties that are about to be cooked. And this place did it in that toaster oven. These are about as big as your hand, and pretty thick.
Reddish beach of Lake Superior.
A rivulet feeding Lake Superior.Eagle Harbor lighthouse. Lake Superior and small inland lakes seen from Brockway Mountain.Copper Harbor.Heading out of Copper Harbor.After all the bad things I said about Michigan cherries not being ready, we found some coming out of the Keweenaw Peninsula (where they are not grown). They were very good. Florence, WI. You don't seen these anymore. (We dipped into Wisconsin before stopping in Iron Mountain, MI for the night).
On the west side of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Brockway Mountain Drive. Scenic road parallel to the coast road takes you above Copper Harbor.
A happy tourist??
Lake Superior and small inland lakes seen from Brockway Mountain.Copper Harbor.Heading out of Copper Harbor.
Copper Harbor.
I made this one into a faux linen post card.
Copper Harbor.
In the evening we headed south and stopped in Iron Mountain, MI for the night. On our way down the peninsula, at the edge of Houghton, MI, two cars in front of me came to a stop, and a black bear crossed the road!
After all the bad things I said about Michigan cherries not being ready, we found some coming out of the Keweenaw Peninsula (where they are not grown). They were very good.
Sunset behind us driving out of Keweenaw Peninsula.
Florence, WI. You don't seen these anymore. (We dipped into Wisconsin before stopping in Iron Mountain, MI for the night).