Valerie Holzberger took a mini tour of the Keweenaw, driving to some familiar places and snapping some pictures to share with us all. It’s nice to see some different scenery, all the while keeping “social distancing” guidelines in place. Valerie started with a couple photos from Gay, MI that most will recognize as the smokestack still there from the mining days and then of course the infamous Gay Bar, where innumerable photographs have been taken with folks standing in front of the sign smiling.

The next two shots are neat...Valerie spotted someone skiing on the beach in the inch or two of snow we woke up to on Sunday morning. Fun to get a last ski in before the snow melts again. Look at the scene beyond the skier, absolutely beautiful!

I know there’s a name for the wood pile in Valerie’s bottom photo, but I don’t recall what it is. I think it has something to do with a Finnish festival of some sort. I’m not sure if this pile has anything to do with that or perhaps it is just someone getting ready for a roaring bonfire this summer. I just don’t know, but it’s an interesting stacking none-the-less.

Today’s video takes us back to Houghton, for a look at the Huron Creek Falls. It was filmed by Upper Peninsula Waterfalls.

Love the video! I could fall asleep by the sound of those falls.

Just catching up, Mary, but i think this might be what you are referring to:

Midsummer bonfire

Burning bonfires to celebrate a great feast is an old tradition that has been practiced in many countries. In the old times, bonfires were burnt to dispel evil spirits and bad fortune or to enhance light and warmth and the fertility of domestic animals, crops and people. In modern day Finland, bonfires are mainly burnt in midsummer, although in some regions they are also burnt on Easter Saturday.

Formerly, large bonfires were built on hills and lakeshores in every village of eastern Finland. Besides tree branches and twigs, the largest bonfires consisted of whole old rowing boats, wooden barrels and other used-up tools or farming equipment. Everyone in the village gathered to watch the bonfire burn and to dance, sing and play games together. This custom spread throughout Finland and is still practiced here today.

A traditional midsummer bonfire event is held every year at the open-air museum of Seurasaari, located in Helsinki. The museum consists of historical rural buildings, cottages and farmsteads collected around Finland. The highlight of the event, including a genuine midsummer wedding, is the lighting of a huge bonfire.