When he's not out fighting fires, he's grabbing shots of Keweenaw scenes. You may recall Mike Radigan from a story 2 years ago this week in Eagle Harbor about the fire at the Westlake Bed and Breakfast.

I bet the thimbleberries are just about at the peak back home. See more of Mike's photos in his guest gallery.

What a relaxing scene. Good night from one tired traveller nearing the left coast again, and good morning from da U.P.

My early retired sister, Barb Williams, left the Copper Country yesterday headed back to Nevada with several hand picked/brewed cases of that Red gold. When I asked if she was stopping in Idaho on the drive home, she said nope. Lets see, there are several places on her route where I could hijack some jam. I'll have to get out the map and the cell phone......if she thinks I'm waiting til Christmas for my jam.....

I'm still subsisting off of my mother's homemade jam in Boston (MA, not Boston Location). That is how I time my vacations back home to da UP - when I run out of jam.

I've added some shots to my gallery page of the Devil's Washtub and Douglas Houghton Falls. They were taken about ten years ago. I know I've got a better shot of the falls that shows pretty much the whole drop, but I can't find it. It might be a slide and I haven't looked at those yet. When we were up a couple weeks ago we looked for the Washtub and couldn't find it. I also have shots of Ten-Foot posted. That's what we always called it, just north of Phoenix and there's a spot where you can pull your car off on the shoulder. Beautiful! I'd recommend falls like that over Taquamenon any day!

Ahh the felicity of garnering native berries in the alfresco environs of the pulchritudinous Keweenaw. An activity to be savored by ones of all ages, as the dividends of jam and pies certainly outweigh the labors indeed. Kudos on the shot, indigenous of "berry central" if you will.

Wheatman

If I cannot get North I tag the Jacobs Falls Monks and do the deal....keeps me in Jam until I can make the trip!
Pasty Central - Jacobs Falls - Millies Pierogis
I LOVE THE INTERNET!!!

I lived in the Keweenaw in the early eighties and I remember an outcropping, I think, some miles North and East of Hancock.

It was an outcropping of limestone, I think, which looked like a giant mason had built a wall as a dam across a small valley, and the huge "bricks" in the middle had tumbled down. I think it was called "Miller's Wall".

Does anyone know of such an outcropping and where it might be and what it's called and how I might locate it on a topographical map?

I'm learning more and more about my beloved UP every day! Thanks to everybody who posts about all the places to hike to and visit!
And thanks again for a picture that allows me to take an imaginary walk into the woods of the UP!

Allen that sounds like the "Natural Wall" north of Lake Linden on the west side of the Traprock Valley

Three more days and we'll be on our way to the Copper Country!! I'm working on my last jar of thimbleberry jam from last year.

Just checked the bridgecam and the lift is up. That's the first time I've caught that on bridgecam. Wonder what's going through?

All this talk of jam must be making Yooper Joe hungry. Anybody got a spoon??

Hee! ;)

Alan of Kansas City....I'd agree with Wisconsin Pete; you are probably recollecting the Natural Wall...as noted, north of Lake Linden on the west side of Traprock Valley....I might also note it's about two miles due east of Laurium, along the Old Colony Road....years ago there was a rustic scenic spot sign there, long gone (the Wall is on private property, I think, a walk across a field
on the south side of the road)

Thanks, Jim Wi, and Pete Copper Country for the information on Natural Wall.

Oops, sorry that was Pete Wi, and Jim Copper Country. Thanks a bunch!

Ummmm jammmmmm!
While I agree that the monks have some mighty fine jam, I always like to stop at the Wooden Spoon in Mohawk for my jam fix. Great bakery too, and prices very reasonable. Nice gifties too.

Toivo turning south in BC,

Are you by chance sneaking down to Washington to see Tina? Or are you taking the ferry up to Alaska from Bellingham? Just curious, those used to be my old stomping grounds. Still wondering what you were up to when you were home?

whoever's land this is better watch out for vermin...two-legged vermin

Well I just want to pass on some exciting news. Today I caught a 20 inch 3# Northern Pike in the Keeweenaw Entry right off the dock. I don't know if some of you may remember I left a message on here one day last week about me coming up there asking how the fishing is up there. Anyway I caught it using a blue with silver stripe spinner bait with no bait but the funny thing is it had previously had a small minnow in it already. Anyway I'm going to try the docks down by the portage lift bridge on Thur morning Houghton side maybe somebody can give me tips on what bait or lure to use there. Thanks anyway.

This neat photo reminds me of a blueberry pickn' experience I had a few years ago near one of my favorite UP towns east of Marquette.. We camped in county park and had learned of a place to pick from an older couple who stay there every summer. So when we decided to go on our own one day,we finally found this big open meadow where we'd found many berries. But when I spied several "calling cards" of bears my instinct led me to grab my heavy walking stick "just in case." My better-half said I spent more energy scouting the horizon than picking. Well the reason was when I stayed with our cousins near Hubble one year in 1948, age 10, My smarty-pants cousin had a good laugh on us city girls and told us the bears in the woods right behind their house could climb up to the 2nd story and get us!!! I had many a nightmare about bears thru the years :) But I still love the UP inspite of bears!!!

Good story Ms Katie. After what your cousins did I'd say you had a good reason to be afraid of bears. I don't know how you ever slept!!!

To Kerry, MI: I sincerely hope that you put your lovely 3# Northern Pike back as the legal length for Northern is 24". I believe that Walleye can be taken at a shorter length, but I am quite sure that the Northern limit is 24". Anyway, the fun is in the catching as long as we eventually catch one or two for eating.

Marsha/Genesee & Aura, Mimi and I were up at the Devil's Washtub in May. It's still there. It's behind the new gaurd rail on that first corner out of CH but I was told it's private property now. Pretty soon it'll all be gone. (sigh)
Alan/KC, I've spent most of my childhood in the CC and went to the LLHS and have never seen the Natural Wall. Seen pix of it is all. Maybe someday. We went to the Canadian Soo last week-end for the FINNGRANDFEST 2003. It was wondermous and fun. Many Finns up there. Next year # 65 will be in Timmons.

Caught a 24 pound pike in lake Ritchie on Isle Royale many years ago. Took me two hours to get him in with a one man life raft. That was for sure legal, but didnt taste as well as smaller pike! Sure was a thrill to catch though!

Anyone noticing the northern light show tonight? Or should I say this morning?

Ms Katie Il: I gotta say this! As a kid spending the summer at my grandparents in Woodside, (in the 40s) my brother and I, and cousins often went up the hill behind "Grandmas" to explore, pick berrys etc. One day my uncle Jim and his friend RCW went up and around behind us unbeknownst to us, and grunted, growled like a big bear! Picture 4 little 8 to 10 year old city kids screaming in terror running and stumbling down the hill until we reached the yard where all the Aunts and Uncles were falling off their chairs with laughter!

Russ E:
What were your grandparent's names? My Great Grandparent's farm was a stone's throw away from Woodside.

SDC: It is a small world isn't it! Turns out Fran in GA lived not far away and RCW out here is a regular submitter! My Grandparents, rest their souls, were Emil & Mary Laplander and in those days they knew everyone around there.

Russ E:
Were they related to Rick Laplander that lived in a white house that faced the main highway (kinda off to the side)near Woodside? If so, my dad use to take our T.V.'s to be repaired there. We lived on that farm about a mile off the main highway (Can't remember the highway's name)in the late 50's, early 60's. Matti Mattson and his wife also had a farm down the road before you got to our farm. Fran's father use to help out on the farm at hay time. When I lived there, it wasn't a working farm. Just a great place to live.

Cuculi's in Channing is the best!

SDC: Yes that was my late Uncle Rick (rest his soul) I remember when he built that house in the early 40s. It was the first house off the hiway (M26) near the corner and it faced Woodside not the hiway. He did a lot of TV & radio repairs plus welding over the years, plus worked at the Essex wiremill!

Well hi all you Dollar Bay folks!!!! I couldn't get on for a couple nights due to storms so I missed all of this.My son said Mom someone was talking about you--- so I Had to check it out! Hi Russ, Sue and RCW-nice to be in touch with old --aaahh I should say former neighbors.Ha! The woods in back of Laplanders,Neveaus, and Wenbergs was a favorite spot with my friends and I. Bye everyone.

Russ E and Fran:
Yes, now it's all coming back to me how Mr.Laplander's house was situated. Cute little white house. Froggy Neveaus, didn't he own and/or run the gas station on M26??? I think Mr.& Mrs. Utala also lived nearby too. Their house was gray. Nice people. Visited there many times with my mom for coffee and cake.
Boy, I miss Dollar Bay and the good ole days on the old homestead!

Sue, yes Utala's lived along the highway.They were nice people. Do you remember their daughter Shirley? She was younger than me but not a whole lot. When you mentioned Matti Mattson you made me think of my Dad. I remember him often talking about Matti. Weren't we lucky to live in such a good time in a wonderful place. Thanks to Pasty Cam we are able to find and keep in touch with those from our past. Alot of my friends are so envious.!

Yes, I remember Shirley and her brother Ronny. My mom was really good friends with Mrs. Utala. Matti use to drive his tractor over to our farm and asked to see the "funny little girl". Guess who he was talking about! My mom would bring me outside and he'd ask me questions and when I answered him, he would laugh so hard. Still don't know what I said that was so funny to him. His cows would get out of their pasture and stroll over to our farm and my brother, sisters and I had to chase them back home. It was sad when he passed away. Mrs. Mattson lived there alone for a few years before she passed on. Yep, love Pasty.com!!