With a cooler morning, after a warm day has heated up the Keweenaw waterways, you often find a picturesque scene such as this one, captured by Tom Cook. Some may say it's spooky looking, others describe it as mysterious, while many find the peaceful beauty of this setting quite calming... one of the many moods mother nature takes on here in the north country. Looks like a good place to quietly explore with a kayak.

By Steve Brimm, Pasty Cam Archives

morning all.

you can almost hear the loons in the back ground.

Good Morning, Raining here in Saginaw.

Good morning everyone.

Good morning all! Five days until we are in the keweenaw! Have a great day

Good morning. How peacefull. Wish I was up there.

betcha a buck there's a big ole speckie lurking in there !!!!!
just need a bobber and a worm

What a beautiful but haunting scene. Great picture. Thanks and have a good day everyone.

Good morning from warm and wet Kalamazoo.

Good morning y'all!
Still an as yet unknown number of days/months/years until I'm UP. ;)
Oh, and definitely relaxing, what with rather humid 80°+ and a busy street outside.

Hi B., still work in progress!

Turned the air off this morning..It's 56 and raining in Lansing...

Yeah it was a great morining downstate. We got some rain and it cooled it right off.

Wonderful picture, do we know where it is taken from?

4 Days and counting...

Funny. This is Chuck from Saginaw. Who is the other one?

Good Morning a quiet and peaceful place to be.

Yaaawwwwwwnnnnn!!!! That makes me want to crawl back into bed. Especially with all the rain we're getting right now.

Rainy & cooler in the Flint area, also. Just skimmed Sharon Smith's journal and saw that Baby Bear returned yesterday, looking "thinner" & scraggly. Anxious to see if Jim Dreyer makes it swimming across Superior. As I said last night, I'm rootin' for Superior!

chuck r u the chuck who grad 69 mtu, lived in marion, had a honda cycle??? worked at the big X

looks like the Ojibway meadows just north of Gratiot Location, good fishing there back in the 50's, all the Upper end Mohawk boys(Rodney,Gerald,Gubs,Chucky,Parsky,Guzo) road bike there during the summer to fish

Just checked on the web and Jim Dreyer gave up after completing 28 of the 73 miles across Superior. Is the score now Superior-3, Dreyer-0? So if you're standing on the beach at McLain watching for him, you can go inside now.

By ert, GA on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 - 08:43 am:

Bridge is up with a sailboat motoring thru. Beautiful morning!

It will be a wonderful day in the Keweenaw. Low temps,low humidity, high sun....bridge is up with a nice sailboat going under. Have a nice day.

Poor Dreyer. Superior will always win, the big lake will never be completely conquered. She's like a woman, she likes to keep her secrets well hidden, and no man will ever have the upper hand with her.

just heard on the scanner here at the house that there are two sailboats wanting the bridge to lift for them. For all you cammers who would like to see how the bridge looks up now is the time.

Uncle Bud, Mohawk guy. I was born and raised in Mohawk on Cliff st.

did the sailboats already go through?

Yup, knew your dad/Mom (Ray/Bertha) Gene(Butchy), Marcia, u were just a baby then,originally u lived in Seneca)

Sharon Smith may want to contact Best Friends Animal Sanctuary through the internet regarding baby bear. They have contacts throughout the US who may know of someone in the Michigan Wisconsin area that can help.

Hello to Chuck and Chuck in Saginaw - I just moved from there to Houghton. Did the school bond issue pass?

Jo Ann, Hancock: What frequency is the bridge on the scanner ? I have never gotten anything on mine. Seem to be hearing less and less on the scanner lately.

Marsha -

Superior 5, Dreyer 0

If Superior is like a woman that wont let a man get the upper hand, does that mean that a woman would have better luck crossing Superior? :) Just wondering.

t-minus 10 days till my UP vacation, really hard to wait that long!

I can't find the frame with the baby bear...which number in the archives is it at?

Morning from HOT and I mean HOT Houston!

Shelly: I didn't find it either, but read about it in her journal.

Any Trout in that there dam?

Now less than two months till the yoopers see me again... Thought - Isn't most all boats named w/ a womans name - Thus Bob G would be correct.

After a few hot / humid days in the LP, I would have welcomed a "flashback" pic of the winter swim suit n' ski or the sauna and swim pics...

Shoulder is fine!

Beware Big Traverse--the Hitchcock's are on the way!!!
Saginaw did pass the school bond.

Oh, I just can't wait, I just can't wait, I just can't wait 'till September, I've waited 23 years and it's amost here, I just can't wait 'till September. Yes, after being lost in Calif. for 23 years and now in the Chicago area I'm on the way to the U.P. I booked our room yesterday in Eagle Harbor at the Shoreline to arrive on 9/17.
Yaaaa Hoooo!!!!! I feel so happy. I know alot has changed in that time but I'm sure glad we will be able to see things we have only been able to see here, on this web site and in the guest gallery, for so long. See ya there.

I am sooooo jealous of everyone who is heading to the UP while I am stuck here in the LP. I just realized that I have lived exactly half of my life in the Upper Peninsula and half of it in the Lower Peninsula. Makes me wonder why I ever left.....

With all the postings counting down days until you are back in the UP I was wondering what made you leave in the first place? I left to go to school at CMU and then got a job in Mt. Pleasant. I moved to Fremont after a year, got married (and divorced) and had two wonderful boys. I have been here ever since, but try to make it back whenever I can. My parents still live on the west end of the UP so it is quite a trip to visit them, but well worth it.

I am relatively new to the pasty website so maybe this subject has already been discussed, but humor me anyway, please!

Jimmer, the school bond issue in Saginaw passed 5064 to 4797.

Hi Chuck from Saginaw, I'm Chuck (Chas) Aubin from Lake Linden originally, now living in Saginaw since 65. Graduated from Calumet High in 65.

Lisa in Fremont. We went west to Calif. during the time of the downturn in the economy in the early 80's. The state was making it easy for anyone to leave and still get their unemployment checkes. So we thought we would give Calif. a shot. We found jobs almost right away. Almost to quick in fact. We settled into the beach life and got hooked. It wasn't until a few years ago when I became disabled that I found this web site and started to really miss the U.P. We would remember all the good times we had there of course and even sometimes wondered why we moved but anyway we are now closer and can now look forward to visits now and then. I even have posted some of the pictures of your time in the U.P. in the Guest Gallery. And who knows, maybe we will move back some day. I do miss the place where we livd in Eagle River. So that is why we moved.

Lisa in Fremont - Why I Left the UP...

Well see I wasn't Original to the UP. I grew up around Lansing and my family vacationed every year in the UP, Houghton, Copper Harbor, Many Many years in Skannee etc. So when I went to school I went to NMU in Marquette to be a teacher. I wanted to student teach in the UP b/c thats a decent way to get known for job openings. But after my first year my real passions for computers and networking resurfaced and I found my self in the Computer Information Systems school. Worked for the University for about 2 years and a Network Tech while dating a girl whom I met freshman year who had since moved back to Holland, MI.

She moved up to the UP again but when things in the economy started going south up there I decided to start looking in Grand Rapids. My wifes Family owns a buisness and she really did want to be involved with that. So we left, and moved to Zeeland.

We will continue to vist, and maybe one day we will make the move to come back up. I like where I live now, it's semi-rural and close to Lake Michigan. But it certinally isn't the Kewenaw!

More about me can be found at http://patricknsarah.com if anybody is really interested...

Chuck Aubin
Hello. Been a long time since we talked. Grew up in Lake Linden with you. Just down the street across from the High School. Probably been since "64" since we saw each other. I'm now living on the coast in South East GA for the last 5 years. Good to see someone I know posting on Pasty

Only 24 days before we arrive at CMX airport and spend 2 weeks driving around the UP! Have our trip all (loosely) mapped out and all our accommodations booked! Very excited about this trip. Staying in Lauirum, Copper Harbor, Big Bay, Marquette, Paradise, Manistique, Ontonagon and back to somewhere in the Keweenaw before flying back home. This will be my 2nd trip to the UP, and my husband’s first.

Is anyone aware of where I might find a Keweenaw County map?

Where are today’s pictures taken? They are absolutely stunning!

Lisa, I'm just a wannabe. Parents and several of their brothers and sisters came to Detroit area during WWII to get war work. Raised families down here, then several, including my parents, retired to the Keweenaw. Been there once or twice a year every year of my life, and will never stop doing that! However, am rooted here with friends and family near, so doubt I will ever move. It's lovely having pasty mail to check into, and the idea of moving there makes a wonderful fantasy!

Audrey San Jose. Go to the home page of Pasty.Net and click on the link 'Keweenaw Chamber' this will take you to a site with lots of good information on the Keweenaw and also it has a map online that is also available in most stores and Tourist information sites. Their is a tourist information building as you come into Calumet on US 41 at the signal light. Enjoy your vacation. Have fun.

Lisa in Fremont-

I wasn't raised in the U.P., but I was "made" in the U.P. My parents lived in the Soo, and after I was adopted, grew up in Gaylord. After my divorce, a friend suggested a move to Houston where the kids and I could get involved in a great church, and she would help me out. (which all is true to this day) However, I hate the city and miss Michigan so much that I can't really feel rooted here. Its a tough decision to stay or move back, because the church is so great, and I have tons of support that single Mom's need, and the kids have adjusted. It's just not easy to move again on a single Mom salary...so I am waiting to see what the future holds..my ultimate wish is to be back in Michigan, and visit the U.P. as much as possible.

Ken Pini,
Yes it has been a long time. Good to hear from you. I will send you an e-mail tonight after I get home from work.

Chuck

Man I swear I've floated a bobber and a worm
in this very spot.

Looks like a beaver dam I used to fish on the
black creek west of bumbletown.

brings back wondeful memories. ;-)

Chas Saginaw… thanks for the info. I have gotten SO MUCH information over the internet, so many incredible websites to look at, the one you suggested included. As far as maps, I was hoping for a more detailed paper map, the ones on the internet are good, but when driving around, a detailed paper map would be nice. I called the AAA in Marquette, and they’re gonna mail me every UP related map they have, but they didn’t have one for just the Keweenaw Peninsula. My husband’s busy reading the Hunt’s Guide to the UP. I’ve been doing my trip planning on the web and the Pasty Chat. Gotten some great ideas here – Crisp Point Lighthouse, Point Abbaye and the Covered Drive, just to name a few!

Audrey in San Jose, check out this site for detailed topo and county maps:
http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/michigan.shtml

Man-Woman-Child-Animal: I don't think anybody crossing Superior should count on luck!

Lisa in Fremont-- thanks for bringing up the subject of why people who love the UP end up leaving it and yearning to return. When we were in the Keewenaw last week, we talked to many local people, and noticed one common thread - none were originally from the UP! All were from down state, or Ohio. I never lived in the UP, but my dad did and we visited my grandparents and cousins in the Soo and Rudyard area every summer. As soon as we crossed the bridge in our station wagon, my dad would take a deep breath and say "We're in God's country now." I firmly believed (and still do) that God's area code is 906. Did not visit the west side of the UP until the late 70's, and promptly fell in love with it. Would move to Copper Harbor in a heart beat, but my husband would rather live on the opposite end of US 41 (Florida). However, he loves the UP as much as I do, so we visit as often as we can.

Mary Ellen, IL ... thanks so much for that site! As a map lover, I think I've just discovered heaven :-)

Maybe I'm the only nut who actually lived there and moved away? I guarantee I will be back to live someday. It may not be until I retire but it will happen. Right now the kids are in a wonderful school system and I have a partnership in an accounting firm that I can't give up.

I was fortunate to find a man who loves the UP just as much as I do and we go as often as we can. I think he was a Yooper in another life.
:-)

My parents still live in Bessemer so it's a ten hour drive just to visit. The upside is that I get to see the whole UP whenever I go home. It doesn't matter what time of year it is; it is the most beautiful place on earth!

There's a boat going under the bridge right now.

Audry, San Jose, CA

UniveralMAP " Copper Country of Michigan's Upper Peninsula" RoadMap ($5.95) is just what you want, we own four, one for each car and, each house. A Mobil down in Barrage has them, but try www.universalmap.com

Ask for one second day UPS over-nighted, it can't cost ten bucks extra .....

There is more local historical trivia noted on the reverse side than you can imagine. Many life-time residents have asked "Where did you get this?"

Have a ball!

I don't see how swimming from Grand Portage, MN to McLain Park constitutes swimming across Lake Superior. If he went from McLain Park to Port Arthur, Fort William, that would be swimming across the lake. I suspect he was going to stay nearer the shore to take advantage of the warmer water. He didn't make it anyway, so what is he going to do next time; swim in circles until he logs 100 miles?

Big Lake 5, Dwyer 0.

Pasty Central should start a new service where an E-Mail is sent to anyone who wants it, about 5 minutes before the bridge goes up. Then we wouldn't miss the chance to see it!

Now Mr. Dreyer must successfully swim across the lake 6 times to take the lead 6-5. Gonna be tough. I'm bettin' on the lake.

Mr. Bill... thanks so much for the lead! I'll give it a try. And thanks, I know we'll have a GREAT time!

Lisa in Fremont - Nope as I posted above I'm a nut with you also. I moved up, lived for a few years and moved out... Oh Well... Someday...

mckenneyp in GR - I suppose the popularity of this website is due to "misery loves company?"
:-(

The U.P. is like something you search for all your life, a peaceful place, a quiet that allows you to think about who you are, and what you've become, and where you want to go...it allows you to drop your heavy burdens that pile up ..work, bills, that fast pace of life where you don't even know whats for certain anymore..
For me, even getting to Mackinaw City, its like I've entered a paradise that was only talked about in Fairy Tales. How do you put into words how you feel when you see the land and water before you and it magically takes away all your problems, and you begin to notice your shoulders relax, and a smile takes up residence on your face again. I am not a poet, or much with a way of words like an author, but I know how I "feel" when I am there, and even looking at pictures of the U.P. can mesmerize me. Does anyone else know what I am talking about?

shelly/Yankee in Texas... I know exactly how you feel. I was only there once, 4 years ago next month. I was on a cross-country trip by myself. My husband was at home working, taking care of the house and our cat and enjoying hearing about my daily travels. The feeling I remember the most when I was in the UP was… I just HAVE to come back to this place with him. It just felt so good to be there… aside from the beautiful scenery, lovely people that I talked to and the sense of remoteness that I felt (which is why I went there to begin with) (any place north, coastal and/or on an island, points that stick into a body of water and remote, especially remote) intrigue me to no end. So, 4 years later, we’re going back together. And he’s as excited as I am. Two weeks of traveling around… heaven!

When will you be there?

shelly... we arrive Sat Aug 28 and will be there for 2 weeks.

NW Airlines is at the airport! Hurry, you may miss it.

Well, Audrey have a great time! Hope you and your husband make alot of good memories while you are there!

Thanks, Shelly. I'm sure we will! Been curious... where did you go when you were there recently? How long were you there?

Okay, Shelly and Audrey. I hope this trip is going to be as exciting as you say. We plan on being there in a couple of weeks and I'm sure hoping I'm going to enjoy every minute of this well deserved vacation. Thank you everyone for your help in making our plans. Have a great evening.

Ms.Quilt/LP... I hope so too! (where are you going?)

Ms. Quilt, If you have never been to da U.P. then you will LOVE it, trust me!

Audrey, I stayed at my Fathers in Manistique, he lives on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan...then we went up to Houghton, Hancock, Calumet, Copper Harbor and then Eagle Harbor. Take him to Ft. Wilkinson if you get the chace, its really neat if you like History..and of course the Brockway lookout is a must! Because I lived an hour below the Mac bridge, I spent alot of time in the U.P.. Its all good!

Audrey, we are headed to Munising and the Baraga, Copper Harbor area and then just keep driving until the car runs out of gas....well, not really! We have to go to see the JamPot. We saw that on the Food Channel....must have a muffin or two. They tell me Toni's in Laurium is wonderful for Pasties.

Both sound similar to the places we’re going to. We’re staying first in Lauirum, then Copper Harbor, Big Bay, Marquette, Paradise, Manistique, Ontonagon and back to the Keweenaw the night before we leave. Some of the places I want to see: all the little towns in the Keweenaw between Houghton and Copper Harbor, Brockway Mtn (been up there before), Crisp Point Lighthouse, Point Abbaye and the Covered Drive (all mentioned here, otherwise would not have known about them), Whitefish Point (loved being there), the Jampot (was closed when I was here last) – and to TRY YOUR BELOVED PASTYS!!! Those are just a FEW of the things we want to do and see.

We left the Copper Country for higher paying jobs and to be closer to family. Faster pace of life down below sucked up the "extra" money and some family we did not see any more than before. I was lucky enough to get my old job back and we are in the process of moving back (anybody have a decent house for sale?).

I'm working in Houghton and staying with friends. I already feel much better even after only a few weeks back. I'll remind myself of that in January when I am shoveling snow, (oops, I mean scooping snow), but I will still feel better, I am sure. Better than battling slush and freezing rain all winter in Saginaw any day.

I believe there is something in the environment up here that gets into your blood, changes your brain waves, alters your genes, or something. It helps you put up with the negatives of U.P. life and constantly draws you back when you are away. From now on, I will keep the "away" to a minimum.

Fair warning to all you finned creatures of
Mud, Portage, and Medora, the "Piscator"
arrives on saturday.

Shelly, your words were beautifully put and I totally understand that feeling. I can't wait to be up there in less than two weeks and bring back visions implanted in my brain that I can call out when I need to during times of stress. When the going gets rough, I sometimes just close my eyes and bring out my vision of a Brockway Mountain sunset or the waves hitting the rocks along M26. Each visit brings new images and a whole lot of fun in finding them.

What it is, is the "sacred" feel that Lake Superior has, AND passes to you. No matter where on this Great Lake you may be honored to stand, it draws you in...touches your soul....and takes just a little of it...

And for your soul to be whole again...you need to touch Superior!

There is no where else on this beautiful Earth, that touches you quite like the Keweenaw....or like Lake Superior.

Hi Chuck. This is the other Chuck from Saginaw. Raised in Tamarack. Graduated Dollar Bay H.S. in 1960. Graduated MTU 1969. No it did not take me 9 years, just had time off!!! Retired GM Powertrain. Heading for the shores of Lake Superior Aug 29 for a week.

To Audrey in San Jose

While in the Manistique area you might want to check out Seul Choix Point Lighthouse, and Kitchi-iti-kipi springs, also known as Big Springs. Seul Choix Point lighthouse was on tv as a lighthouse with a ghost story. I grew up in Manisitique and find that the last several years I have been missing the Great Lakes in the summer. I just read in Coastal Living magazine recently that Lake Michigan has more coastline then any other coast in the US. Another great place to visit is Mackinac Island. I hope someday I will be living by the water again. Have a fun trip.

Great picture of a boat going under the bridge right now.

Lisa in Fremont - 15 years ago now my husband and I were invited with friends to the keweenaw for the weekend. It only took one time to get hooked on the area. It is the peacefulness of the water, friends that we have when we are then, the friendliness of the people of the up - just a different type of life that we find refreshing. As I stated this morning - just 5 days until we are there. Look forward to "coming home"

The Piscator IL -

Hey, I will be up on the Portage all next week also, arriving Saturday as well. We have a place we are renting on the Portage down on the south side, in the channell to 'Pike Bay'.

If you have a radio, I will be on Channell 68 and am called 'SalmonTracker'. If you don't have a radio then go to my website and in the Photo Area you can link to my Gallery Here (or search for Patrick McKenney here) to see pics of the boat and come and say 'Hi'. I have pics of last years catch also. We go up every year.

Have you all gone to bed already? Such a nice cool
evening here without the humidity. Feels great.
Hope you all have a safe and adventerous trip to
the U.P.

I first stepped foot in the UP in 1963. Have been back nearly every year since. I never get enough time looking at Lake Superior, the lighthouses (Crisp Point is my favorit because you are to far from everything), walking the beaches, collecting rocks, etc. It is the place I would choose to live but I know that may never happen. So I enjoy the time I do get to spend there.

Shelley and Donna have both expressed exactly how I feel about The Lake. It's like being in a cathedral to stand on the shore. I guess it's the immensity of the lake, but there is definitely something holy about it.

MrsQuilt/LP
If you can't get pasties at Toni's in Laurium, which are good, try Sheldon's bakery on Sharon Avenue in Houghton. Delicious pasties also.

Thanks to each of you for giving us heads up with what to see and what to eat. You can bet, we will try to do it all. So little time and way too much to see and do. Don't pick all the berries...save some for me.

Misplaced Michigander, NJ...

I ordered this print awhile back: And it is hanging and looking out at Superior!

http://www.nanoel.com/Controller?action=product&id=18

Angel of the Lake....she is beautiful!

Not much talk about the photo today. I think its outstanding.