• Saturday-What'sUP June 25 - 03:54 am

When the workweek is done and you're tired from toiling for days, you need to get away and relax. The Sturgeon River is a good place to do just that, as Ian Soumis already knows. Sure seems to be peaceful and calming spot, with a little excitement added if you're brave enough to try out the rope swing in the second shot. In case you haven't yet found the swing, you can just see the rope hanging in front of the tree trunks on the upper left hand side.

Good morning from a new member.

These photos are so calming. The rope swing sounds good to me.

Great pictures. Do any of you viewers remember the old iron bridge that crossed the river just south of Chassell? I nearly hit it late one night because I wasn't familiar with the road and the right headlight on my car wasn't working.

I remember it.......

I tried a rope swing once......it was up by the Hungarian Dam in Hubbell. I ran and grabbed the rope, swung out over the dam, froze and then swung back and smacked into the tree, slid down the tree and into the water! Every time I see a rope swing I think of that!! Never tried it again.

Ian did a great job with his camera. Boy, wouldn't it be great to be there in a boat or canoe and nobody else? Yipee!

We leave for our cabin in the UP tonite! We have tickets to see Gordon Lightfoot at the Bass Performance Hall in FT Worth TX tonite, and we're heading north as soon as the concert is over. Should be in the Copper Country late Sunday for 2 wonderful weeks! Can't wait!

Hi Barney and welcome! Do you live in MI or just like visiting there??
I have visited the UP and love it there. Wouldn't mind living there some day maybe.
But for now I am....
Renee in AL

that old iron bridge was the Chassell swimming hole for a long time. Just prior to that, right at the turn, is an artesion well. Folks from all over used to fill their water jugs there.

I think there used to be an old one room school there long ago ???

Last time I went fishing up that way, the water was still coming out of the pipe, but at a very slow trickle. It is about the coldest water you could get...we used to ride our bikes to the bridge..then swallow a few mouthfulls to cool off.

another thing...you can see the beachy looking area in Ian's pic. There are areas all along the Sturgeon that look like beach...in fact, right by that old iron bridge, it was like a beach.

Note how the trees grow over the water in the first image.
I was fishing with my brother one day...using my dad's boat...so this was quite a few years ago. It had a 25 horse outboard, so we were just cruising up the river...coming around the turn just before reaching the US 41 bridge. The throttle got stuck full bore and the boat took off...way faster than controllable...this kinda freaked me out...was trying to get it unstuck and didn't notice we were heading right into the trees....we did a quick pass under those babies..almost hitting...got nice and cut up..before I regained control and got us back into open water.....that was a close one..never forgot it.

Thanks Ian, for the memory jogger :)

wish you could edit your messages here...

see you guys at Strawberry Festival !!!!

Thats what I need, just sit by the river. Maybe I'll con my cousins kid to go river walking with me when I am UP next week.

I always thought that rope swing was on the otter river. I know that from it you can see otter lake. I have been there many times. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

To Anita...OUCH!!!! To Roy, I'm green with envy both the Lightfoot concert And the 2 weeks in the CC!

The Sturgeon dumps into the bay near Chassell....where we lived for two years...One year we took a 14 foot Alumicraft up to the next lake and were the first boat on the lake...Only sheared two pins on the way....down to one and drifted home...now that was an adventure......1970....waiting for the 4th patiently

David Soumis; Are you related to the late Bill Soumis who had a farm above Chassell?

doug...yes, he was my dad's uncle...and mine :)
All the Soumis' around that area are related.

The artesian well in front of the one-room schoolhouse was drilled by my grandfather Chester Meyers. I remember drinking from it as a kid when I went fishing up that way with my Dad. I still have a clear picture of that iron bridge in mind's eye.