Dave Dalquist, by pure luck, just happened to be out and about on an early Saturday morning recently, when he decided to head toward the right place at the right time. Swinging by the Breakers, he caught the cruise ship, Le Champlain coming through, so he then drove ahead of it and captured it as it came through Hancock/Houghton on the Portage Canal and then going under the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, too! It’s not a regular occurrence here in the Keweenaw, so it’s always fun to be there to see these bigger ships as they traverse through the area. Le Champlain is 131.5 feet in length, with 92 passenger cabins and 72 crew cabins. It is an Explorer’s class ship, belonging to Ponant Cruises.

Don’t forget to break out your plaid flannel shirt or even a plaid chook and head to the Houghton High School Football Field for the 2nd Annual Keweenaw Plaidurday Celebration this Friday, October 4th at 12:30 p.m. Their goal this Plaidurday is to break the 2023 attendance record - about 1,745 people! For more information click here: Keweenaw Plaidurday Celebration

Revere Overland takes us on a KOAR (Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat) weekend adventure in the Keweenaw. This is an annual event that takes place in mid-September. This year’s event is already done, but for more information about the event click here: KOAR 2024

Good morning everyone. I have been in
love with the Keweenaw since1961. For you
non math major thats over 60 years. I
have made numerous trips Up there To
enjoy The wonders The atmosphere and the
people That are so special. I check in
with pastry central daily for the great
pictures and videos and of course Order
and enjoy pasties.
A today's video set me off. I'm sorry but
in my opinion it served no Beneficial
reason In fact I felt that the
Organization Had no love Or respect of
the land at all but merely wanted to
Drive big Trucks Over Land and trails
never meant for them.
I Understand that they bring revenue to a
few Of the copper harbor merchants But
perhaps The granting of permits For
their future Meeting should be reviewed.

Nice set and I’d try that cruise if I
was healthier.
I enjoyed the gutsy video too. The white
truck trying to skirt around those rocks
was a mail-biter. I also noticed that black
Xterra which I use to own one, nice SUV.
And cruising back trails or driving up
US 41 to get there, both methods tear up
the landscape. But that’s progress and as
long as you respect what’s already there,
such as hauling out your trash or not throwing
trash out the window on US 41, I don’t see
anything wrong with cruising either.
And as I’ve quoted before;
“You call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye.”
(The Eagles)

Very cool pictures of the cruise
ship.

I usually don't watch long videos,
but because of the comment made,I
decided to check it out. They
seemed very respectful to me. I
don't see where they did any
damage to anything. And like Alex
said, as long as they pick up
after themselves, I sure don't see
the harm.

Hi
I was wondering what those big white circles were on
top of the cruise ship. If some sort of radar, why
would they need four?

Off-roading has never appealed to me personally.
When I walk or ski, I travel slowly enough to take
in the sights and sounds. But the narrator in the
video did seem to appreciate the area, and everyone
appeared to be on established roads & tracks.

I get both sides of that statement. In another 20 years, that'll be a 2 sided black top road with assigned camping. Back in the day, a friend took two of us to the 'Mouth of the Gratiot' to pick rocks. There wasn't a road (really) down to the beach, but my buddy took his 'Troynado' (Troy's Toronado) down to the beach, and we picked rocks. When we left, we picked way too many rocks, and tore the exhaust pipe off. I haven't been able to get there in years, but I heard there's blacktop, bathrooms, etc down in there now. They WILL "update" the area...it's just a matter of time.
Thank the good Lord TNC bought up tons of Keweenaw Heartland to keep it wild....

I really don't like anyone messing with the petroglyphs...those should be under lock and key. So many folks have played with them, that most of it is gone. (so I've heard...again..can't get there)

How awesome are the pics? WOW..I live on the backside of Heritage Manor, and when I hear the horn, I go on Tech's webcams and watch the ship cruise under the bridge...it went out the other day, in such fog....and looking at the "college avenue" view...just the canal was pure fog. We live in Beauty.

MTU Bridge Cam

Gratiot is still a dirt road,
Donna. But it's much easier to
get there now.

oh I know....but there's supposedly real change at the beach. And you better believe it's easier!

Yeah. The beach is awesome. Maybe
Cindy can take you out there on
one of your outings.

BTW Daniel Young (Buckeyedaniel;
I don’t mean to criticize your comment.
Everyone here is entitled to their opinion.
My apologies if you took offense.

Nice looking pics, so used to seeing freighters on
the Big Lake, that seeing a "Cruise Ship" seems
very unusual or even unnatural to me. Although I
must admit, I think cruising Lake Superior on a
luxury ship with great amenities sounds pretty
darn nice and I have put it on our list. I think
the Boss would also like to participate in that
adventure.:-)

Now, I have a very strong opinion, and you struck
a nerve about being on the trails in the Keweenaw,
whether you're in a truck, jeep, ATV, dirt bike,
e-bike or snowmobile or any other contraption you
can come with to take out in the woods. If you
respect the land/trails and you don't litter and
you leave it the same way or better than you found
it... by all means enjoy it. It's a very fun
activity and great way to be out in nature and
experience God's handy work. I would say that
Overland type adventures of all
people, do their part to respect the land and
preserve it. They are not out racing around
damaging the trails, knocking over trees,
littering or anything of the kind. In fact, most
of us who respect the trails, waterways and
streams also stop and pick up the beer cans etc...
left behind by the idiots that don't show the same
respect.
Daniel, I'm curious how you feel about
the logging trucks that are out there doing a job
and much needed harvesting of the land providing
much needed management for continued growth as
well? Not once did I see anyone in the video being
abusive or tearing things up. They were traveling
very slowly, enjoying their exploration and having
a great experience. Many of those paths were
created by the loggers, maintained by them as well
and because they are so wide and groomed for lack
of a better description, it provides safe
traversing and those "big trucks" you can't even
tell that they've been there. Also, many of us
purchase ORV Permits providing revenue for the
state and many businesses do count on all those
outdoor adventurers for their income year around.
That's why most flatlanders and people from the
Buckeye state go to northern MI to experience that
beauty. Those were not "Monster Trucks" driving
over everything in their paths, just a few
respectful outdoors's groups respectfully enjoying
God's handy work!! No apologies needed Alex!

One more thing, always respect marked "Private
Property" and stay out.

Nicely put, UC. When we're out
riding, there are let's l loggers
all over. Now THOSE are some big
trucks, lol.

No offense taken Alex..... I definitely
Appreciate All the responses And thoughts
That were generated...... not To beat a
dead horse But by way of explanation What
caught my attention And upset me was the
fact that Full size trucks were on a
trail that at 1 point Needed to be guided
around a very large rock And at another
point1 of the Trucks Actually got
stuck.... My thoughts at the time were
this is not a logging trail or if it was
It had not been used for a very long
time...
Once again my appreciation And surprise
at the number Of participants in this
conversation.....
Now that I've broken the bubble I look
forward to participating In future
conversations
I am hoping to make Another trip To the
Keweenaw next year After A knee
replacement Early in the year.
I'm wishing the Keweenaw and all The
great yoopers a whiter winter Than last
year

Welcome to the Pasty family, Daniel and I
look forward to your future comments
and input.

It will be nice to have you join
us, Daniel. Always nice to have
differing perspectives. You'll be
most welcome, and you obviously
care about our UP. On a side note,
I'm debating when to have my knee
replaced too. There never seems to
be a good time. Don't wanna do it
in the summer. Don't wanna do it
before the holidays. Don't wanna
do it in January because then all
the snow removal lands on my
husband. It's a conundrum for
sure.

Kathryn, I'll give a little primer on the domes,
they are not radar, the radars are the rotating
arms you see on the front of the mast up above the
bridge of the ship typically. There are long
range radars and short range radars. The domes
that you see in the midship area of cruise ships
like that are for satellite communications be it
TV, phone, internet or navigation. These have to
track the satellite as the ship moves because comm
satellites are typically fixed in a geostationary
orbit so as the ship moves the antenna has to
track the satellite location to maintain the
communication. Modern cruise ships now have tv,
internet, and phone service as well as other
communications related to the ships operation.

Deb
It sounds like that leaves spring or fall
for your decision..... The operation
itself is the easy part i's the recovery
That will take some time...... At Getting
the knee and particularly Muscles back in
shape..... I'm sure you have heard this
from others that have had the procedure
already But everyone that I talk to about
it says that it's the best thing they
ever did and wish they had done it sooner

Daniel, yes, my hubby has had both
of his done. That's why I'm so
hesitant. He went through ••••.
Don't know if I wanna go through
that, even though I know I'm going
to have to. They gave me the shot
in July to see if that would help.
It made it worse. I have lots of
other doctor appointments this
month. Next spring we want to go
to Alabama for a week or so and I
want to be in decent shape for
that. Ugh! My hubby had his
shoulder done in April and needs
the other one done also. We can't
do them at the same time, lol.
Getting older ain't for sissies.

Amen, Deb, it ain’t for the weak.
And I’m sure your procedures will go well.
“The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way.”
(F. Sinatra)

I personally like it better by
Elvis.

I I was thinking about that myself,
but Elvis has left the building.

Ha Ha!!