We left home in two cars on August 27th. We stayed overnight at the Super 8 hotel in Houghton Michigan. After we checked in to the hotel, we were looking for a regional favorite restaurant. Roy's came up many times for having the best pasties around. As soon as we walked in the door, the lady at the counter gave us the bad news. They were out of every kind off pasty, so we ended up at the Library. Nice place to eat, but we really wanted a pasty. Maybe next year.
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| Kevin and Barb |
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| The Library |
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| We are all fresh and clean. We boarded the Ranger (in the background). Barb, Kevin, Jennifer, myself, Ron and Dan |
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| North side of the waterway. Notice the ski lift |
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| The Ranger, a National Park Service ship goes to Isle Royale 3 times a week. The lift bridge in Houghton. |
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| The lift bridge going up |
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| Brenden: The Purser on the ship |
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| The 1855 Rock Harbor Lighthouse |
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| The first stop for the Ranger is on Mott Island. This is where the supplies from the mainland are brought. Other items like the mail, trail building materials etc. are taken. |
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| The Ranger's purser Brendon (center) and his father and brother were also aboard. They came for a visit and stayed overnight on the Ranger. |
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| We always get a group photo at the island sign. Dan, Barb, Ron, Me, Kevin and Jennifer |
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| Checking out Suzy's cave |
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| All of us by Suzy's Cave |
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| Our first campground, 3-mile island, We stayed at Group # 1 |
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| My tent at 3-mile |
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| Barb and Jennifer's tents at 3 mile campground |
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| There are only 10 mammals on the island. This little snow shoe hair was behind my tent. The ten mammals are mouse, beaver, mink, weasel, wolf, moose, snowshoe hare, river otter, fox and squirrel. |
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| View from the trail near the campground |
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| Some of us went the long way around to get to the next campground - Daisy Farm. Ron, Dan, Jennifer and myself went to Mt Franklin and then Mt. Ojibway and finally to Daisy Farm. |
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| Indian Pipe |
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| Jennifer and Dan balancing on the boardwalks over the bog areas. |
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| Sign by Mt Franklin, one of my favorite places |
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| Dan and Ron enjoying the photographic opportunities that Mt Franklin offers. We had lunch here. |
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| Orange Hawkweed |
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| Blueberries were a little small this year. I would pick about 10-12 at a time to eat them. Delicious!!!! |
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| Lichen or Fungus |
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| My campsite at Daisy Farm 2nd campsite |
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| dinner at Daisy Farm. Bagel and pepper gravy with a cup of hot chocolate on the side. |
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| Twice a week, Rolf and Candy Peterson do a Wolf / Moose program on the beach at Daisy Farm. They live in a cottage across the harbor. They paddle a canoe over. |
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| View from Daisy Farm |
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| Black eyed Susans at Daisy Farm |
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| Found this print on the trail. Think it is from a fox. |
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| Barb slept well at Daisy Farm, she is ready to go (first one) |
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| My favorite lunch: Almond Butter and jelly bagel |
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| 2.1 miles to go before lunch. |
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| Lake Ritchie Campground sign. We stayed at Group 2 |
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| Plenty of space to spread out here |
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| We arrived at the campground early and had plenty of time to wash out some clothes. This tree was conveniently located in the sun and had enough branches for all. I counted 35 pieces of clothing. |
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| View of Lake Ritchie |
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| Saw this little toad on the rocks by Lake Ritchie |
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| When it gets dark, you have to make sure you have your headlamp |
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| Some evenings were better to get photos of the moon |
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| Add caption |
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| These moose antlers were found on the beach by McCargo Cove. |
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| view from the McCargoe |
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| found this little butterfly near the firepit at McCargoe Cove |
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| Kevin was feeling a little "Goofy" |
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| View of the Cove looking toward Lake Superior |
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| Ron, Jennifer and I stayed in our tents at Group 2, and Barb, Dan and Kevin chose shelter 4 |
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| "Are we headed to Todd Harbor?" |
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| While at Todd Harbor, we did some sightseeing. We went to the Haytown Mine and the Waterfall |
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| 1st half of the waterfall |
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| 2nd half of the waterfall, dumping into Lake Superior |
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| Todd Harbor Campground sign. We stayed at Group 1 |
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| Oxe Eyed Daisies |
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| The fog was going in and out quite a bit near sunset time. I am putting all the evenings photos here. |
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| Anticipation of the sunset for Jennifer |
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| Waiting around |
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| Rocks at the West end of Todd Harbor |
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| Almost time |
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| Darn, the fog is going to be in the way.... |
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| Sunset is back on |
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| Or maybe not tonight |
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| Oh wait, it's back |
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| Fireweed growing on the rocks |
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| Oh no, not again.... |
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| We didn't get a final sunset. Came close. Still great!!! |
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| This is a sunrise from Todd Harbor from around a rock. |
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| Leaving Todd Harbor, I found these Canadian Geese at the trailhead. They followed us for a while. |
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| Todd Harbor |
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| I always like to take my breaks on the ridges |
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| Coming out of one of the many boggy areas |
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| East Chickenbone campsite. We stayed at Group One. This site is the only one on the island that does NOT have a direct water source. We had to walk about 1/2 mile to get the water to filter. |
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| Campground at East Chickenbone Campsite |
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| A fox came into our camp numerous times. This is the best photo I could get. |
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| Turtlehead flowers grow in the bogs |
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| Many of the trails are roots and rocks |
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| Lichen |
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| View from the "Viewpoint" on the way to Daisy Farm |
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| I stopped for a few Blueberries |
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| Mt Ojibway |
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| All enjoying dinner at the Daisy Farm pavilion |
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| Jennifer was using the Sawyer Squeeze to filter water |
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| This was as far as the Sunrise got this morning at Daisy Farm |
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| Daisy Farm also had some apples. Ron knocked them down with a stick. It was great to have some real fruit. They were right in front of the #11 shelter. thanks Jeff for finding them! |
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| View of Lake Superior. On the way back to Rock Harbor |
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| Monch Aster along the bogs |
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| Closed Gentian |
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| There are many mines on Isle Royale. Some of them are marked |
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| Mine pit |
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| Rocks and Roots - typical trail |
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| thimbleberries were ripe for the picking |
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| The path was lined with moss and lichen |
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| Joe Pie Weed |
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| Rock Harbor Campground 1/2 of us stayed in our tents on #16, and the other 1/2 was in shelter # 7 |
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| One of the things we missed the most was a COLD beverage. Hit the spot!! |
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| This burger and fries hit the spot also |
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| There were 3 camps on Isle Royale |
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| There were quite a few shipwrecks on Isle Royale over the years. Many people dive the wrecks. Rembert the Edmund Fitgerald??? |
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| Butter and Eggs (in the snapdragon family) |
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| We stopped to get some cheese on the way home. |
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| Sissy the Cow at Ehlenbach's (we stopped here on the way home) |
We were on vacation for 9 days and 8 nights. Very peaceful. No cellphone or electronics the whole week. Nice way to be unplugged.
I will leave you with this: Life is an adventure. It's not the destination we reach that's most rewarding. It's the journey along the way.
