• Friday-What'sUP July 15 - 09:35 pm

When E. Neil Harri sent me today's photos, I was quite surprised to see that MDOT is constructing a new roadside park on M-26, along Great Sand Bay. Neil said it's going to include a stairway to the beach and a changing room, along with what looks like ample parking, so folks will no longer have to park along the road to enjoy Lake Superior's shore. The project is funded through the Transportation Enhancement grant program. Purchase of the property for the project was made with contributions from Keweenaw County, the Keweenaw County Road Commission and Eagle Harbor Township. The park is expected to be complete and ready for use the beginning of August. It sure looks like it's going to be a wonderful addition to an already beautiful area. Thanks for the "bird's eye view" of it, Neil!

Oh my gosh!! That is awesome!!! Neil's pictures are always great, but this particular one makes my day!!

Oh wow...how incredible! YIPPEE!!!!!

Thanks for the photos and the info. That is one of my favorite rides on the Wing.

That will be very nice when open to mitigate some of the traffic issues along that stretch as well. Quite a number of times I have driven along there and almost got hit by other vehicles. Does anyone know if the other pull-outs in that area will remain open??

Neil, what awesome photography! Thank You!

Yes, the other pullouts are open. One has had the parking revamped and a stairway built to the shore.

Great shots, Neil; thanks! A great addition to a wonderful place. Looks like maybe they have RV parking spaces marked out around the inside of the oval.

We got back from a two-week trip to South Carolina earlier this week. Mom passed away last week; we will miss her so much, but all in the family are doing well. Dad will probably come up to the Muskegon area soon to spend a few weeks out of the summer heat. It was just awesome to get back up to the Great Lakes after two weeks of 95 degrees; Dad is looking forward to the same!

A motorcycle crashed by that parking lot last week: when we drove by, there was a bunch of sand across the road (you can see the sand on each of these enlarged photos at the right edge of the drive in to the parking area). The motorcycle hit that deep sand going across the road and went right down.
ouch!!

Funny how the DNR will let MDOT build on that sand dune. But if it was privately owned, they wouldn't allow it. I know of 2 people that were fined for changing a sand dune on their property.

i think i got my message in late yest. i'm wondering where my
hummers are . they have disappeared for 3 wks now.

Really Cool!

That is wonderful, I think you folks in the U.P
are wise to do these things. I love that spot but you had to park along the road in the past
and it was not ideal at times. Your wayside
in the U.P are excellent and many. This makes
a huge difference to vacationers.

If that's part of the Lake Superior Circle Tour, Kathy and I, and her nephew Raymond traveled that in 2005.

joanne belhart (Jojo) Our hummingbirds have also taken a short break. They aren't seen too often lately. I think the reason is because of all of the wildflowers blooming. They like the natural nectar better. Also, they eat insects which, there are plenty of right now and feed them to their babies, another reason why they're not around---taking care of the young before they "leave the nest".

The railings are up now so the project looks almost complete. There are railings and stairs on at least one of the upper turnouts. I think the other one has only railings.

hollidays
thanks for the inf. i think this happened last year.

Beautiful drive, Thanks for the unique perspective!

Dunerat, my deepest sympathys on your mothers passing. Your families loss is in my thoughts.

Hollybranches: You are right on correct with the Hummingbird information!