• Saturday-What'sUP March 3 - 08:03 am

When Deb and Ron Simons head to the U.P. for a visit, they're always happy to see the Pure Michigan sign as they cross the border from Wisconsin to Michigan. The next sign they look for is the MDOT Ironwood Welcome Center, as that's their "rest stop" along the way, before continuing to Lake Linden to visit Deb's Mom. The Center is named in honor of Jack L. Gingrass, who was a State Representative for the 109th District in Michigan, for 14 years, along with serving on the MDOT board for 6 years.

You can see from Deb and Ron's photos, that there was plenty of snow around the grounds when they made their stop there recently. Everything was covered in white, the ground, the signs and even Deb had a few snowflakes landing on her as she posed by the piles of snow.

It's a good thing that this "rest stop" stays open year round, as it really helps to break up the driving during a trip, when you have somewhere like this to take a stop and stretch your legs. Restrooms are open 24 hours, in case you're wondering. ;->

Wow! That's some snow, Deb & Ron! But it looks like you were dressed for it, Deb.:)
Thanks for sharing your trip UP there!

You can take Deb out of the U.P. but you can't take the U.P. from Deb! I bet your mom enjoyed the visit!

Thanks for sharing our trip into your winter wonderland, Mary. You should have shown the one where we usually sit to have a bite to eat or to just relax. Oh wait, you couldn't really see that due to all of the snow, lol! It really was fun to be in the UP experiencing the blizzard this year.

Great pictures Deb. Ron must have stayed in the
car to take all these pictures. Good old Michigan.

Is it just me, or does Deb have that look of "When I get back in that warm car, I'm going to beat Ron to a pulp for making me stand out here......." ;-)

It's just you, Capt, lol! I was having so much fun in the snow this year. I loved every minute of it :-)

Nice pics! Did Ron take the last one or did you have to use a tripod because Ron was in the car with a thermos of hot chocolate? :-)
Poor Ron, he never gets a break :-(

I love the snow pics today! The Pure Michigan blue color really stands out against all that white. Beautiful!

Alex, it really wasn't that cold. That's what I love about the UP. You may get feet and feet of snow, but when you do, it's usually a comfortable temp. I feel badly, because the pictures don't do the day justice. The snow was coming down really heavily and you can't tell that. It was actually like flipping a switch as you entered Ironwood. All of a sudden, we were in a blizzard and it was just too funny. Then as we got into Wisconsin, the snowbanks were gone, road was dry and the sun came out. Same thing happened on the way into Michigan. It was like flipping a switch! Beautiful, though!

And that's right, Janie :-)

Traveling from Minnesota to Michigan, like we say in the South, it's just "a hop, skip and a jump" across WI.;)

But the hop, skip, and jump is the best part of Wisconsin! :)

I agree, Janie...most of my journeys across WI were in the mid to southern parts. Would love to see the other end.;)

We make Iron River, Wi. our motel stop. Bob & I have traveled from Superior, Wi. to Ashland, Wi. (Douglas Co. and Bayfield Co.) by car, truck, motorcycle, snowmobile, and ATV. 65-70 miles of southern Lake Superior beauty!

Yep, Janie. Been through most of Wisconsin, and I'd have to agree that the Superior to Ironwood route on US 2 is the best part of Wisconsin!!

Sounds like fun! But after 35 years of hittin' the road I'm afraid my travelling days are over.
Sort of like Struther Martin's line in "Rooster Cogburn"...."been everywhere, seen everything, done everything".:>

oops, I think his name was "Strother", not Struther.

Hmmm I don't know Deb. I know of some very pretty drives north of state 29 in northern WI that can surely match US 2, especially in autumn when the leaves turn. But I do have to admit US 2 is one of my favourites, if for nothing else to stop at White Winter Winery in Iron River!!

Corridor #2, the old Burlington Northern Rail Line that runs parallel to Highway 2 between Superior and Ashland is hidden beauty. Much more scenic than Highway 2. That's where you can see black bears. My favorite trail to ATV, snowmobile or hike.

Loved those photos from Deb and Ron. I'm appreciating them from
our motel room in Florida where the weather is cooler than usual
(or so people say). Puts things in perspective.

Rub it in, Kosk.;> Lucky!!

Thanks, Kosk, and enjoy the warmer weather. A friend just got back from Arizona and said it was cooler than normal. I almost felt sorry for her!

Don't feel too bad; we never made it out of the 40's today in the tropics, even with bright sunshine.

Hey-I recognize that sign ...and that nice lady also! Great snowy pics!!!!

Very beautiful photos Deb! I love the contrast of your red jacket with the pretty blue color.

Some times I imagine it is very hard job for Mary to choose from the numbers of photos that are sent in. I am sure she would love to post all of them but only so much space. I would not want her job to make choices. I know I would want to place all of them on the site.

So happy for you that you had a safe journey in and out of the U.P.

Thanks, Brenda. And I know, it was a joke about showing the other one. There was nothing to see but a sea of white, lol. There was no way to see the picnic spot. Definitely nobody sitting there. I did think about you, though. Had I had some snow shoes I could have been like Brenda and walked over to my favorite spot....IF I could find it, lol. I am always in awe of the difference of that rest stop from summer to winter, this year especially.