• Monday-What'sUP December 18 - 04:21 pm

There are those of us that are fascinated by the Portage Lake Lift Bridge and those that don't quite get the fascination. No matter which category you fall under, it's hard to deny that this is quite the snapshot of the structure at night, taken by Ryan Kangas. He said he didn't think he'd ever seen the water this calm, so we get double the pleasure with a mirror stillness of the canal waters reflecting all the lights.

What a beautiful sight that bridge is, especially at night. I absolutely love that bridge. That's the category I'm in.

WOW!

Of all man made, Bridges have always been my favorite.This is in my top three.

'Kay, Allen - which are the other two?

As a Non-Yooper, Non-Michigander, and Non-USAmerican, I could hardly claim to be as fascinated as others, but I claim to get the idea of being fascinated with this focal building. Following the site for a while, I've learned there's two relevant bridges in the world;), and the only question is which one's "Da Bridge", opinion of which appears to depend on one's main huntinggrounds - merely UP or Keweenaw (sp?).

Despite not being properly attached, I like seeing pictures of both bridges. Speaking of which ... Bridge Cam? The MTU is rather smallish.

Beautiful tranquil waters and shimmering lights.
Danbury, what?

GOOD MORNING,
WE'VE SEEN "BIG MAC" AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY TUNNEL BRIDGE( BEEN OVER 'EM TOO) AND THEY ARE REMARKABLE, BUT!! WHEN WE WONDERED INTO THE UP THAT YEAR AND FOUND OURSELVES AT THE RAMADA INN,IN HANCOCK, WE WERE VIRTUALLY UNDER THE PORTAGE BRIDGE. THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT IT. I THINK IT IS THE MASS. WISH I WAS IN COPPER HARBOR.

Been across this bridge by car and snowmobile many times. Is the snowmobile route the way trains crossed years ago?

Where did last week's pictures go?

Cindy Pihlaja Russell (Gone2long):
"Where did last week's pictures go?"

Aren't they where they always are?

... availalable via the main PastyCam page "...and if you missed last week" - at the bottom of that page? (They're there for me!)

"availalable"? = available (darn sticky keyboard!)

Oh how I wish I could be driving over the wonderful bridg right now!!!
Does anybody remember the old bridge?? I can remember "riding" the draw bridge when it was opened. It was a "no-no" but sometimes we would actually try to get caught on the bridge when it would start to open for boats. It was a scary but exciting at the same time. I can also recall the sidewalk part of the old bridge had very old slats and we were always afraid they were going to give way and we would fall into the lake. We would walk from Hancock to Houghton alot to go to the movies at the Lode. Going over the bridge was always scary for me---looking down at the water from above was spooky. I always walked on the inside of the walkway.

My "if you missed last week" pictures are of the week before.

My husband and I love that bridge. When we are camping at McLean's, and come into town, we always eat lunch so that we can watch it. That is a beautiful shot!!

great reflection

When I tried to access those pics last night, I couldn't either, it was the week previous to the previous week! Did you have a happy b'day, Cindy? I did wish you one Saturday, I think.

I had a super birthday weekend! Thank you! I only access this site M-F, but I always look at the weekend ones on Monday.

Cindy Pihlaja Russell (Gone2long):
"My "if you missed last week" pictures are of the week before."

Ooops - so they are! I guess I missed that little detail.
That'll teach me to post a message before I've finished my first cup o' coffee!

Oh, and I see that so far for this week we have pictures for both "Monday, December 17" and "Sunday, December 17"! (That coffee starting to kick in now!)


We have it all fixed now. Charlie must have been in a hurry this morning. Daryl

Yes, I noticed those dates as well. Oh, well, if we have two 17ths, that means more time to get ready for Christmas.

Well, I got over the bridge last June, gonna do it again this week. Dad carried me over the first time, back in 53 when he was stationed at the lower entry (my first home). Now it's my turn to carry him over. Flying in tonight from Seattle. Throw on a few extra dozen pastys, gonna be a bunch of us needin some comfort food.

(BTW, if there's a link to a weather forecast off the site, I can't find it..)

Oh, and put me in the bridge-lovers category - particularly this one.. when I'm on it means I'm back home.

When I pass over the bridge and make the left turn, I know that Hubbell is just a few minutes away. I tell the kids the same stories, about seeing a bear at a certain point and showing them the house where my Dad was born. Then pulling into my sisters driveway is always a thrill, but I am not home until I make my pilgrimage to the Bluff and remember the times there that I had with my friends. I wish that the gate could be left open on the path to the bluff since I am not in the best of shape and would love to just drive in.

Love this bridge - it's number 1. There was a pic someone took from their car while passing over the bridge that showed the signs Hancock and Lake Linden -I have looked thru the gallery and can't find it - does anyone know who took that pic. I would love to look at it everyday on my wallpaper when not able to see it in person - thanks if anyone knows.

Crossed over via the "Big Mac" one cold, windy and snowy winter. I was scared to death! The bridge was swaying, which it's supposed to do, and visibility was zero. Lake Superior and Lake Huron were snow covered and it looked like the North Pole. You could see the small waterway just barely open that the freighters used as their "Highway". It was spectacular.

Re: the question about the snowmobile route across the bridge - Yes, that is where the train used to cross (the lower deck of the bridge).

Joanie, that would be Lake Michigan and Lake Huron under the Big Mac. You're going to have to do some extra credit work in geography.

Wouldn't a right turn get you to Hubbell??????

I will never get sick of this bridge... I cross it numerous times a year to go home to Calumet. I see the International Bridge to Canada (in SSM) from my bedroom window, but I get excited when I see this bridge! It means I get to see my family!

Cindy, oops, oh no, Cindy, not extra credit work!! No wonder why I almost flunked geography!
sigh

Stefany, I have a question. When you go to Calumet, do you go up the Calumet hill or the Lake Linden hill?
Mr. Deb

Mikey gets so excited when he crosses that Houghton Bridge that he turns left instead of the
right. He must be taking the Calumet route. Mikey
next time turn to the right and you'll see how much faster you could get to Hubbell.

I've been across and under them both, but to get back to what I think of as home I have to cross both Bridges of Consequence. I figure if either of them isn't there the consequences are dire as it is a long way around the "Mac" and an even harder road to cross the Portage without the lift bridge. Friday I cross them both again for the last time this year on the "Mac". Then we need a Christmas storm to coat the trees with ice.

Backhomedon, No one else except you and Edfitz were the only ones who caught on that I went the wrong way to get to Hubbell. Believe it or not I was in Recon in the sixties in the Army, was lost a lot. Must have something to do with being left handed.

I stood on the right tower.Went up the elevator but had to use the stairs to come down because of a problem.That was a thrill! I was checking the C.B. antena for Coffee-Maker.

I am afraid I had a great-uncle and his friend try to cross the old swing bridge in their car. Unfortunately, the bridge was open at the time. They did not make it.

Becky sorry I don't have a picture of north bound but I do have one of south bound. Taken on a ATV with a police escort over the bridge, I said it then and I will say it again. A BIG thank you to the Houghton Police Dept for being so ATV friendly and giving escorts in both directions.

I have pictures of the lift bridge being built and one of the old swing bridge WITH the new lift bridge side by side in my guest photo gallery.(page 3) My cousin Dennis worked on building that bridge and he told many scary stories of working way down under the water in pressurized caissons! Also on page 1 in the "bridges" album is one I took in 1964 from the Houghton side. It shows the railroad tracks that at that time were used regularly.

I remember as a boy many walks over the old swing bridge in awe of those loose boards! My mother always told us the story of the time she and a girlfriend got stuck walking on the middle swing section and rode out on it when a ship passed thru!

I also remember well crossing the straits on the old ferrys watching from the boat the "Big Mac" being built those years!

(I caught the "right" turn to Hubbell also!)

Becky: this one? It's the PastyCam of 09-15-99.

I signed on late, mentioned the fact you'd turned left instead of "the other left" to my wife as I read down the comments but figured you were going to the Brass Duck or Nutini's for a quick one before circling around to Hubbell! My wife's family hails from Lake Linden/Hubbell area and they all have a hard time with right and left, too, thus "the other left." Maybe it's from the copper in the water? <:o So I wanna be on your short list, too!

Mikie, I caught the right turn to Hubbell too but just laughed.

Richard, I am from Lake Linden and when my hubby tells me to look left and I look right, he always says "Your OTHER left". Too funny!

Becky, go into my photo gallery. I have a picture in there of north bound.

Mr. Deb,
Sometimes I go Lake Linden hill because my parents live at the top, but usually I go Quincy hill way... much faster!!

Mr. Deb,

Were you refering to one hill?

That is, was your question "Do you call the hill between Lake Linden and Calumet LL Hill or Calumet Hill?"

I've noticed that those from Calumet call it Lake Linden Hill, and those from Lake Linden call it Calumet Hill. And everyone calls the other one Quincy Hill. :)

wow i was up in the bridge in nov of last year. my dad knows one of the guys who works up there, and i talk with him also since hes a fellow boatnerd. he gave me & my dad a tour of the bridge at night, it was an awesome view from 200ft up.

yeah the one between hancock & calumet is known as quicny hill....well......cuz the mine is along that stretch too. still would love to go for a tour of that. and as far as the lake linden/calumet hill......it's the lake linden hill to me and i live in atlantic mine haha.

steve.....i was crossing the bridge at the same time that picture was taken. i was coming from work that day and saw that atv going across. we bought atv's from evert's this summer, was gonna drive em home but then my dad decided not to lol woulda been kinda kool to do that.

Even though it is just a daydream by now, I'm looking forward to driving my bike across the Big Mac one day. That'll be fun.