• Tuesday-What'sUP July 17 - 12:58 am

Spending a day on the shores of 'Gitche Gumee' is filled with exploration, discovery and wonderment. By the time the day is done, you'll have more than just treasures of pretty rocks and crooked pieces of driftwood, you'll have memories that will last a lifetime. Looks like Brita Haapala and family did just that recently. What a great way to instill a love of Lake Superior into your children or grandchildren. Take them to her shores and show them the value of searching through an uncountable number of rocks for that one elusive agate. Let them discover that even pieces of wood scattered on the beach by winter's waves, can be a playground. Then as they begin to tire, let them absorb the beauty of the quiet and the changing hues of a Superior skyline as the day draws to an end.

These wonderful shots surely remind me of many mornings checking out the sunrise over a calm and beautiful lake...sometimes a motor heard from so far away...sound really carries over the water that time of day....so quiet...so full of potential, just waiting. I'm ready to be there!

I am leaving for a scenery based vacation in Maine and Vermont this morning and I know these states have a tough act to follow with the all around rugged grandeur of the U.P. I expect I will like these two states that I have never been to before, but I won't be surprised if I find myself saying, "Nice, but still lacking the character of the Copper Country."

Gorgeous! I'm so jealous...the north shore, and all those agates! Nothing compares!

The old days of burning that wood on the beach with the kids are gone --sad

This today link from SUOMI;

http://sydaby.eget.net/swe/emi_ostr.htm

Mornin', jAPEi, interesting site.

Tim, I think you will love the state of Maine, depending where your destination is. Surprisingly, I found parts of coastal Maine to remind me very much of the Keweenaw Peninsula. It's a beautiful place, too. Have a wonderful time.

ts- what happened to the days of burning the wood? Couple days ago it burned fine. I figgered it would burn today.

Tim,
Maine is my local substitute for the UP. There are places up there that really remind me of the Copper Country and if you travel away from the tourist traps the people are just about as nice.
If you are able, try to go see Moxie Falls in Maine. Its a bit of a hike off the road but well worth it.

Does anyone know who owns the top of Brockway mtn.?? Is it State run or privately owned???

My wife and I will be there Saturday evening to spend
three days at our place. I can hardly wait!

The days of burning drift wood with the kids on the beach fade away as the kids move away. After that, it's just you and the Big Lake, alone together with your memories.

Goodbye ya'll. My daughter graduated Saturday and is leaving for home today and then UNC- Chapel Hill NC, only 4 hours from home. It's been lovely checking in on the weather, the gorgeous scenery and the chatter everyday for the past four years. Keep up the great pictures! Best Wishes to all.

Thanks for the link jAPEi. Fascinating. I hope to continue to read all through the links attached.

Wonderful pictures again, Brita.

You make a fire on lake superior beach now you get fined

Beautiful Pictures....just visited last week and walked along those shores.
Steve, Clarkston, MI.
Where is your place? Mine is at North Grosse Pointe Shores, Dollar Bay. I just spent 3 days there opening up the house for the summer.

Wonderful pictures Brita...thanks!

I have to use the word ...WONDERFUL...also! That is the UP... FULL of Wonder!

Thanks for the neat pics!

Hi ts
Where on Lake Superior were you? It seems that on your own land, as long as there was not a ban due to an extreme danger of forest fires, there would be no problem. We still have beach fires at our place on Lake Huron, conditions permitting.

What beautiful photos! Makes me lonesome for the Great Lakes.

Joe P, Lake Medora
My understanding is the gift shop is privately run. I think the land owner has a perpetual agreement made generations ago that allowed for the development of the lookout area by state and county in exchange for letting the owner run the store. All of Brockway property is privately owned, with some being held by non-profits such as the Audobon Society and the Michigan Nature Association.

Joe P. Check with your county commissioner from Copper Harbor,,,,he has the facts!

jAPEi, Great link today. Very interesting. I wonder how long it took for those guys to chop down that tree. Looks like an all day affair.

Awesome photos of the lakeshore. I love the shot of the young boy starting out across the lake. That will be me this summer (plus about 30 years in age).

Our favorite park around--McLain's. Great pictures, Brita.

Also jAPIe, Thanks for the site about Finnish and Swedish emigrants. Our parents came from Ylivieska and Alavieska areas.

I'm heading home in three weeks and can't wait to see the lake and skip some stones! I was skipping stones on the ocean once and a relative of mine said "You can take the boy out of the UP...". I was 35 at the time! How is the weather???

Steve, Clarkston: I answered your questions yesterday just so you know: Wescoat family for generations.
Clyde and his spouse own and run the gift shop.

Ohhhhhhh thanks for the memories, I went to Girl Scout camp at Gitche Gumee as a girl. You can take the girl out of the U.P. but you will never get the U.P. out of this old lady. Will summer ever get here I need to go home.

I checked with the DNR last summer and they said bonfires were OK. Burn piles need permits but not the bonfires. We have a fire almost every night during the summer. Just don't burn the really cool driftwood!!! Leave those pieces for me!

Chuck in Clarkston,MI We are on Sedar Bay near
Calumet

I remember searching Lake Superior's beaches for agates and beach glass. I have so many good memories doing this with friends and cousins. I can't wait to search again this summer!

Very nice pictures Brita. Curious to know what the young boy is thinking as he is looking over the water. Looks like he is in serious contemplation.

jAPEi the site was interesting reading, and links interesting. Thanks

I live and work in London, England which I love but have just found the wonderful pictures of your home - so peaceful and great to be able to share it from my city thousands of miles away. Thank you.

Nice pictures again Brita! Can't wait to pick a few rocks myself.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Tim,

Look around when you get to Maine. Certain areas have an old familiar UP favorite -- The thimbleberry!

KIITOS KAIKISTA KIITOKSISTA JA KIITOS ETTÄ MINÄ SAAN OLLA MUKANA.. .and same in english;

THANKS ALL THANKS TO ME AND THANKS THAT I MAY BE WITH HERE.. .

Brita - indeed VERY BEAUTIFULs pictures..in these is huges sensitive atmosphere..also I and
my family enjoy here in Finland ashore as is sunset! We or I at least is very envious as You is so large lakes !!!

Beautiful pics. Reminds me of camping on Lake Superior and spending the evening, as the sun set, on the beach. Brita, I am sure that your wonderful pictures inspired many memories for all of us. Thank you ;)

Wow, I'm overwhelmed by all of the thanks. Thanks to YOU ALL!

My wife and I are just back from a burial service Monday
morning in Esky. One family came from Sacramento, CA. You
had to wonder what they were thinking as a stiff north wind blew
first hail, then snow, and finally a miserable cold rain on us. We
found out later that the daughter of the couple being buried
(who was from Esky) felt nostalgic about this "swell" U.P.
weather, but mostly she felt so darn proud about the wonderful
barbershop glee club from Esky who came out en masse to sing
some of their old fellow-member's favorite songs as a way to
pay tribute to him. As cold as it was, we all felt so warm as the
old songs rolled over us. Pretty cool, don't you think?

Oops, I would not have put that story about the burial service in
this area except I was also thinking of mentioning that I know a
lady here in Adrian whose folks owned annd ran that gift shop
up on top of Brockway for many years. So it must be in private
hands, I guess.

Charles........you did good.........that is exactly what make the geography so special.....
THE PEOPLE...........nice story and thanks...

I have walked a great many Lake Superior Beaches in the past 70 years and thrown a ton of stones in. Today I was trying to finnish the cedar pannelling I was doing for my son's house and his Chessapeake Bay Retriever was very patiently lying arround with an occaisional sigh, but at 3:00 PM she had had enough and she wouldn't let me continue. We got in the pickup and went out to Island Beach so she could have her run and swim. It was great but I wish she had thought of it at noon!

What a coincidence. jAPEi's link today has old pictures of my ancesters - the Blomquists mentioned in Nykarlaby and Munsala. We still have lots of cousins living there - some of who have been to visit here and my folks have gone there. Such a small world.

Charles: you are so right. Same thing happened to us at our Dad's funeral last October. Unexpected snow/ice storm, gale force strait-line winds. Was a serious challenge just getting into cars, let alone driving.

Still, everyone came out.

Steve in Clarkston, where are you in Sedar Bay? I moved permanently to my new home in Sedar Bay a year ago. My location is near where Armour, the fisherman lived. It's been lovely weather here lately--a bit cool but sunny. You'll be delighted to come back here.

A at Sedar Bay. We are off Sarkela Rd. Next to the
Rowe's.