Icon of the Northland

How does the Gulf Oil disaster effect us in the upper Great Lakes? The icon of the Northland we all so enjoy hearing in the twilight hours migrates to the south for the winter.

The Common Loon we see on interior lakes in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin Lakes.

Sometimes they are spotted on Lake Superior bays as well. This is a symbol of the North. They winter in the marshes and coastal areas of the Gulf Coast. I wish them well as they are a favorite.

The souvenir place at the border.

Ryden's is the place for souveniers. You name it and it's in this store.
I find this very entertaining and you have to stop to do the walk thru. You might find something after all? Ryden's is located on HWY 61 right before the customs stop as you enter Canada.

>A souvenir (from French, for memory), memento or keepsake is an object a traveler brings home for the memories associated with it. Souvenirs include clothing such as T-shirts or hats, postcards, refrigerator magnets, miniature figures, household items such as mugs and bowls, plates, ashtrays, egg timers, spoons, notepads, and paintings plus many others. They may be marked to indicate their origin.

Artist Point Grand Marais Minnesota

If you take a walk on Artist point in Grand Marais you see that people often create a rock garden or build things with the stones. It's very entertaining. Some are more creative then others. I've not been there yet this year so will be interesting to see what can be found on a walk after dinner on the point. Hopefully a Moose will also be found on a drive up the Gunflint Trail.

This is a wonderful area with no shortage of things to do, matter of fact we will never be able to do it all. Which makes me happy as then we will have to return again and again.

http://www.grandmarais.com/

Lester Park Duluth

Back in the day Lester Park had a huge attraction. A massive wooden bridge.

What a stroll this would have been on this bridge. Really is a impressive structure.

Thanks to these old postcards we can see what was once there.

Trip planning and research

The big summer travel season is upon us. Those that are able to get away for a few weeks should make plans and enjoy the region. For me the planning is part of the process.I really enjoy thinking about things in advance and web surfing all the options. You have only so much time and there is so much. You could spend a month around Lake Superior and never see it all. Back in the late 1930's Grandpa and Grandma drove their Model A up the North Shore which I understand was gravel at that time. It apparently wasn't paved or blacktopped until the mid 1940's or after WWII. It was a true adventure back then. They went as far as Port Arthur Ont. This is now the city of Thunder Bay Ont. To the west was Kakabeka Falls and it was yet to be a Provincial park until 1955. There was a hotel at the falls back then. I wish they had pictures of that.This is the picture taken of them taken on a viewing pod back in the early days. I will recreate that picture in a few weeks with the great granddaughter.

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.