If you want to know the definition of the Finnish word SISU, just check out Kathy Erkkila Ptaszek’s photos and story here today. Her friend gave her a gift certificate for her August birthday, to the Takka Superior Sauna in Eagle Harbor and they decided to cash it in recently. It was a wild Lake Superior day with gale force winds. I don’t know what the temperature was, but I know that I’ve been bundling up against the cold and wind for my daily walks, so it was COLD! Kathy said the water was refreshing and between the hot sauna and the three dips in the crashing waves of Lake Superior, they felt relaxed afterwards. As if three dips in the cold water wasn’t quite enough, Kathy then dumped a bucket of cold water over her head as the Grand Finale.

To wrap up this Sauna adventure, we have another Crossing Place video from Visit Keweenaw featuring Jim Kurtti, Honorary Consul for Republic of Finland, speaking on the strength of the Sauna Belt. The lead-in to the video says: “A place of cleansing, relaxation, community, and peace - the sauna is a Finnish tradition that is rekindling its fire in the Keweenaw. The customs of sauna were brought to the Copper Country by the Finnish immigrants who sought work in the booming copper mining industry. While the mines faded, the Finns and their customs of sauna in the home and community did not. These days, appreciation for local Finnish-American history and wellness are bringing Keweenaw sauna culture to the fore!”

WOW!!! Very impressive Kathy! While the tradition is to jump in Superior after your sauna, you kicked it up a notch with the gales of November. I'm glad you did find the little lagoon for a bit of safety against the raging waves. The 'bucket' seems like it would be anticlimactic after Lady Superior!

Happy Black Friday to all who are crazy enough to go out and participate.

Hi
I agree that it would take sisu to do that!

Jbuck, with regard to Black Friday, my attitude is
that sales are like buses: there'll be another one
along soon. Back when I was a teenager, the women of
my family would go to an out-of-town shopping center
for the day, "stalking the wily bargain". Sort of
like a female version of deer camp. No door busting
frenzies, just fun, fellowship and food.

You are so right Kathryn! There will be another sale soon.

I've never been much of a shopper and even on the best of days when i was very motivated, 3 hours was the very most i could take!

I’m impressed, Ladies!
And yes… that definitely takes Susie.
I used to take saunas at the health club
an hour at a time until all the salt was
sweated out of my body. What a great
feeling afterwards…body and mind.
Another thing that I miss now.

Awesome stuff! I saw the first pic and knew
where/what it was...it's been on Discover the U.P.
Really well done.

Does anyone whip themselves with cedar or whatever?
Mr. Kurtti called that by it's Finnish name, but I
sure didn't catch that!~

Holy smokes! You guys are amazing!
I feel proud to swim in Superior
in the summer and into the fall
months. I could not do that. Kudos
to you guys.

No black Friday for us. I wouldn't
be out there even if my mom
weren't in the hospital. Nope. Not
that there's really any place
around here to go. I do most of my
shopping online. Much easier.