What if it was here????

We have all watched the CNN coverage of the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. But many of us are quite far removed. Some have visited the Gulf so have some perspective of the disaster. But what if Chequamegon Bay had a leaking oil well? What would a leak like the Gulf disaster do to something we have a serious connection to? Say like Lake Superior? It really makes you think when you look at the map. Yes it would cover that large of a area. Give or take a few miles.But you get the idea. This is really a bad situation that is happening. Shocking! This won't take years to clean up but perhaps decades say some experts.

Canal Park Development

A developer wants to build a hotel on Minnesota Point it was reported today in the Duluth Mn. news. Sadly this is often the trend in a nice place. People want to come and enjoy what we know is very nice so the demand is there for more rooms and more stores. I'm not much for over development and some people living on on Minnesota Point also agree stated the Duluth newspaper. But there is the balance between the need for jobs and the preserving of a way of life. Residents of the sand spit once inhabited by Indians likely enjoy their world the way it is already. Extra traffic is OK for the Art shows and other short term activities but how much more traffic will a luxury hotel cause? Alot of questions for zoning commissions and city councils to figure out in meetings.

Back on Skyline Drive Duluth Mn.

I am fascinated with high places. Always have enjoyed being on Skyline Drive in Duluth Mn.

I'm also interested in history. Skyline Drive is the former lake level and it left a ridge which the road was built on. Yes the lake was really that high 10,000 years ago or more. Give or take a thousand years. The controversy lately is luxury homes blocking the views. But I notice that tree growth over the years is blocking much more. What is most interesting is a older home on the drive made of stones. Some call it the Stone House. I found a old postcard of the home which used to be surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Grizz Works

Just outside of Maple Wisconsin is a woodworker that uses a chain saw to make huge bears.He also makes Eagles and other animals. When you drive by on HWY 2 it's the big bears that

catch you eye.

http://www.superiortelegram.com/event/image/id/9863/headline/Grizz%20Works/

No mattter where you are.....

You always want to be somewhere else. I think that is human nature, we are never satisfied to be where we are right now at the moment. Sure the present place is fine but then you look at the Grand Marais live cam and want to be walking on Artist Point and afterward getting some Fish Chowder at Angry Trout for lunch. Also I can feel that wonderful cool breeze off the lake. During the end of June I'll be in the Grand Marais area for a several days. I can't wait!

Memorial Day weekend and Buena Vista Supper Club

Recently while touring Skyline Drive I recalled the Buena Vista Super Club and Motel. Torn down and replaced by a Condo development that was built at the peak of the housing boom. It seems to be mostly empty due to financial problems. One of the best views in Duluth was from the dining room at the Buena Vista. The reason I know Duluth like I do is from failed Memorial Day weekend camping trips. We would do canoe trips and State Forest camping trips. 30 years ago on Memorial Day weekends it almost always was wet and cold.(Enter your own climate change rant) We could last about a day or two and then take to the motels in Duluth and tour around in the car to avoid the rain. Yes wimpy campers indeed. But because of this we did things in Duluth, ate and stayed in motels that are now all gone. But I saved postcards and pictures and really recall fondly these holiday weekend adventures.

El Grande View

It was a very nice weekend before the big rain storm hit on Sunday night.Good for touring around and sightseeing despite the Interstate 35 construction. The Bong Bridge was a good alternate for crossing from Wisconsin. It provides a different view of the St. Louis Bay then the normal High Bridge or Blatnik Bridge usual crossing. Canal Park was pretty quiet but I believe that will change next weekend. Can anybody guess where this scenic view of Duluth was taken from? I really like the city of Duluth and the North shore. It has alot of character.

http://www.amitycreek.com/sevenbridges/skyline1.html

Yes it is the Skyline Drive and the view from Enger Tower.

It truly is a gem that needs some updating on the road surface someday soon.

The season begins

The Pictured Rocks National Shoreline cruise is one of the nicest on Lake Superior.

I see by the Live Cam in Munising that the tour boats are at the dock and ready to go.

This area of Michigan is very rewarding to visit if you enjoy the beauty of Lake Superior and the cliffs. The water has a different color due to the sandstone I'm assuming. There are very nice beaches in Munising and AuTrain. Miners Beach is a favorite just east of town.

Defender of the Ore Dock?

The Falcons are nesting again on the CN Ore Dock. The efforts to stop them from doing so with netting and other devices has failed. They just simply found another spot further out on the dock. Removal of the dock can continue however further away from the nesting site if permits can be obtained. Last year the Falcons stopped the demolition of the dock which was rescheduled for this year. It might take years to remove the dock and it's going to be sad to see it go. The waterfront in Ashland will look vacant without it.

Delta Diner

South of Iron River Wisconsin on HWY H is the Delta Diner. This restored diner placed in the woods is just a wonderful place to eat. They do more then a excellent job of serving fine foods. Everything from bacon and eggs to a Prime Rib Sandwich for lunch. The setting in the township of Delta on a very scenic road makes it more enjoyable. Many lakes in the area with summer visitors will have this diner hopping all summer. They are open even in the winter on weekends.

If you like nostalgia this is the place for you. A real old fashion diner that is the real deal.

I have no idea who these people are? But they look a bit off center to me.

http://www.deltadiner.com/

May winter storn

I was in Clam Lake Wisconsin in the Chequamegon National Forest last weekend which is located just south of Ashland Wisconsin. It was rather nice last weekend when I was there and not like in the picture shown. Yes that is a snow storm today on May 7th. Not unheard of of course but after such a warm spring it's a surprise. Mother nature seems to be good at this. Last weekend was the inland lake fishing season opener but I was just sightseeing.

Nasty May Day

April showers lead to May flowers? Or a snow squall? Really a blustery day down at the Duluth Shipping Canal today. Waves are large and winds are blowing hard due to a passing low pressure. You can't enjoy the nice days unless you have some nasty days. All weather is good and interesting to watch. The North land needs the rain.

More Duluth Memories

Doing some rainy weekend house cleaning recently has generated interest in Duluth history that related to trips taken in the early 1980's. I like many would collect postcards from trips and places visited. Since these trips are nearing 30 years ago I've had to really think hard to recreate these experiences. (Wish I dated photos)

I also heard the saying that just because it happened to you doesn't make it interesting. So bear with me and enjoy the pictures at least. I recalled eating at the Flame Restaurant and the fact they had tour boats. The Flame Boat and the Flamingo boat. I can't find a postcard of the Flame Boat but found one of the Flamingo.

Also recall staying at London Road motels alot as this was the main passage thru Duluth before

the Interstate 35 was built thru Duluth. You would take Superior Street and London Road before heading north on HWY 61. Locals used to call it Motel Row because there were so many.

We would stay on London Road and take day trips to places of interest on the North Shore. Gooseberry Falls and hiking trails. I recall staying at the Edgewater Motel, Viking Motel and the Lake Aire Motel. There were others but I can't recall the names or have the postcards of them. Does anybody recall the others??

More Duluth Memories

Canal Park looks much different today then the past. No longer a industrial zone.

Pictured is the Lakewalk in 1988 under construction. I believe this photo was taken in September of that year. No Motels yet along the lake. Only metal industrial buildings.

Also pictured is a old Postcard of the Arrowhead Bridge. I drove across it in the early 1980's when they were constructing the Bong Bridge. It was quite the old wooden structure. Built in 1929. I recall thinking it was moving or shaking when driving on it. No doubt did? Duluth was always a fascination with the High Bridge or Blatnik Bridge, Aerial Lift Bridge,all the sights and of course Skyline Drive. If you love history this area is overflowing with it.

The Flame Supper Club

While reading a book recently about the Duluth lift bridge history I noticed picture in the book of a tour boat called the “Flame”. That triggered a memory of the Flame Supper club. Once located where the present day Aquarium now stands. This was fancy dining for that time. Not quite certain when it opened but I’m guessing late 40’s or early 50’s. I ate there only once in the very early 1980’s perhaps 1981? Hard to recall that long ago but I know we really were splurging at the time doing so. We quite often camped when in the area or stayed in a inexpensive motel if it was a rainy weekend. So to have that fancy meal was a real treat. I have found no pictures online of the Flame tour boat but it was the predecessor to the Vista Fleet that now provides that service. When I first visited the Canal Park area during that time it was a scrap yard and industrial buildings on the waterfront which now hosts nice motels and the lake walk. Quite the improvement from the past for all of us to enjoy. The Zenith City only gets better in time.
And yes I do post more about Duluth and the North Shore then other areas of the region. But soon there will be more postings about the Lake Superior region as trips are planned for Canada and Upper Michigan.

Climate Change?

No debate about CO2 levels or warming, melting glaciers or jet stream patterns.The pro and cons and political arguments can go on all day on talk radio. All I know is it's been warmer then normal recently in the Northland. Check out this live tower cam from the local TV station in Duluth. I saved this shot because it was a nice picture. I ran across it the other day and thought this is when the ice left the lake? Yes we have had a very early spring this year!

Just a little hike around the lake

A couple is spending their summer hiking around Lake Superior! I'm jealous even if I doubt I could ever complete such a task myself. I certainly would want to try. But we all can follow their progress on one of the nicest looking web sites I've seen:

http://www.fullcirclesuperior.org/

Summer planning

Time really flies and summer planning has begun. The winter has just gone and spring has arrived. Thoughts instantly turn to what are we doing this summer? It's been awhile since a road trip to Ontario Canada so that is in the planning. The North Shore is part of the route and is a favorite drive. You have to stay somewhere and it has to have a historic story. I like history and you don't find that at a Best Western. So one planned stop will be the Cascade Lodge.

http://www.cascadelodgemn.com/

One of the lodges that opened just before the Great Depression and expanded when HWY 61 was paved and tourism after WWII really took off. Imagine driving to Canada in those early days staying at Lodges and eating pie in one of the many Cafes that dotted the drive. Some that are still there today. So hikes are being planned, sights to see and see again. These lodges fill up on weekends and holidays so planning is key. I can't imagine anybody being bored driving around Lake Superior. That just can't be possible! I have a niece that wants to have a wilderness experience she announced this spring. How about seeing a moose? Isle Royale?? Gunflint trail?

Kakabeka Falls in Thunder Bay? Nipigon Canada? I love the planning as much as the trip.

Marquette in April

A few posts ago I made a comment about how Marquette residents are known to snow blow their driveways in April. Well it happened again yesterday with 10 inches of snow. This picture is the Marquette lighthouse in a beautiful white April snow scene.

http://mqtmaritimemuseum.com/

Statement as of 1:45 am EDT on April 09, 2010

... Record daily maximum snowfall set at the Marquette National
Weather Service office on April 8th...

A record daily snowfall of 9.8 inches was set at the Marquette
National Weather Service office yesterday. This breaks the old
record of 6.2 inches set in 1979.

Split Rock Lighthouse turns 100 years old this summer.

The most photographed light house on the North shore and perhaps the Midwest turns 100 years old this summer. So it's a good year to stop once again and check out the event and see one of the finest lighthouses on Lake Superior.

http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/srl/srl100.htm