“All come to look for America.” - Paul Simon.
The last time we visited Northern Minnesota was over 10 years ago. So when Dave’s sister extended an invitation, we started thinking about time and plans. Then it hit us—why not take a spontaneous road trip? Pack the kayaks, paddle in Lake Superior, see something different—wing it. The idea of the great unknown could be quite exhilarating. We could visit the Upper Peninsula and Dave’s alma mater on the way up to Grand Rapids and Hibbing. Then spend time with family, and maybe, just maybe, kayak in the Boundary Waters. Avoid mosquitoes and deer flies. Albeit ambitious, with 30 hours driving there and 19 hours back, adventure was calling.
So, we went for it. Headed out on a Monday, stopping in Lexington, Kentucky. After driving through Ohio, with an overnight in Gaylord, Michigan, things began to get interesting.
Cincinnati, OH.
Munro Township, Michigan
Mackinac Bridge
Passing over the Mackinac Bridge led to a brief stop in St. Ignace, Michigan, a charming little seaside town bustling with cyclists and tourists, and ducks.
Upon the shoreline of St. Ignace, with Wawatam Lighthouse in the distance.
Clear, clean lake water.
Side trip: Au Train Bay, Hiawatha National Forest, Munising, Michigan
Dave’s visit to Michigan Tech provided him with much-needed time to reminisce, as it was his first visit back to Houghton in nearly 40 years. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The Floating Copper still exists.
With time on our hands, we took a detour to explore the grounds of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum off Whitefish Point.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
The mission of The Great Lakes Historical Society is to: “Preserve lights and stations which warned mariners of the dangers inherent, Honor those who were aboard and who bravely attempted rescue, and Discover, document, and interpret vessels which instead took the deep.” Cue Gordon Lightfoot’s Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Whitefish Point
Our next stop was Bayfield, Wisconsin, a picturesque tourist town located near the Apostle Islands National Seashore. This is where Dave and I hoped to get those kayaks down from the Jeep and explore off Little Sand Bay. It wasn’t meant to be. When checking out the landing area, we couldn’t help but notice a group of experienced outfitters, wearing wetsuits and packing ocean-going kayaks. OK. Duly noted. The scary displays telling the stories of unprepared souls who perished at sea pretty much sealed the deal for us. Plan B: cut the Apostle Island portion of the trip, head back to Bayfield, and enjoy whitefish from Hoop’s Fish Market.
Chequamegon Bay, Washburn, North Shore, Wisconsin
In hindsight, finding pet-friendly restaurants and hotels was somewhat limiting. The West Coast seems more amenable to our furry friends. However, given Luci’s reactions to seeing Lake Superior, I wouldn’t change a thing.
After four days of travel, the land of Judy Garland, Kevin McHale, and Bob Dylan was within a day’s drive. The kayaks remained untouched, but our spirits remained high. We stayed hopeful, knowing that journeys are as much about the experiences along the way as they are about the destination.
