Spent a lovely day in Michigan's Copper Country, at the extreme end of the Keewanan Peninsula – look on a map of Lake Superior, and see the peninsula pointing to the left, near the extreme west end of the Lake. It's a lovely drive up from Marquette, and the last 15 miles into Copper Harbor were arched by elm and maple trees, just beginning to turn colour. The two lane road is fine to drive, and I recommend Copper Harbor for wanderers. DO GET GAS IN HOUGHTON/HANCOCK, before going further.
Also, good camping at the Fort Wilkin's campground at Copper Harbor – full hook-ups for Rvs, clean, level shaded tent sites, clean bathrooms/showers, good fishing (I hear); a local Camp Host who provides info and teaches how to bake bread on a stick over an open fire.
Copper Harbor houses two bars, no churches, no gas station, one ice cream store, and a wonderfully restored military fort, dating from the mid-19th century. Originally built to maintain order during the first Copper Rush, Fort Wilkin was active for only a few years in the 1840's; then recommissioned again briefly in the late 1860's – was there a perceived threat from Confederation?? Don't know.
The Fort is staffed by in-costume interpreters, who not only know the actual history, but also local myth from both Indian and Soldier perspective. (Was local lovely Fanny Hooey really kidnapped ? Both local and Indian legend agree that it was so, but formal history does not substantiate the event– hmmm.)
After Copper Harbor, drove back through Houghton and Hancock, Michigan - a local university seems to provide most employment, and students on their first days back at class did their student thing – walking out in front of passing traffic etc.
The Keewanen Peninsula is well worth a longer look – it has a history for both fishing and copper mining, and there are many small villages around the exterior; and so many beautiful views of Lake Michigan, that one can't take them all in.
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