In Marquette County, there are several bridges which will get you across the Dead River, but Rick Manthei gives us a view of one particular steel span, along with an eyeful of colors. This structure - - which reminds me of my old Erector set - - has a history all its own. Interestingly enough, this 271 foot, one lane bridge was bought in 1919. It crossed the Allegheny River upstream from Pittsburgh, PA at the time and was disassembled and transported to Marquette County. In 1921 it was erected in its present location carrying traffic on Co. Rd. 510 (formerly M-35), over the Dead River. Back in May 2003, a dam burst upstream causing a disastrous flood. Several other Dead River bridges were damaged or washed out, but this span survived unscathed. It has proven to be quite sturdy, as well as pleasing to the eye.

Good Morning!

Plan your dinner at the Quincy-Franklin Township Fire Hall tonight. Spaghetti dinner from 4 until 7. Yum!! Where would we be without our volunteer firemen!

My mom owns a camp on the Dead River right down from the bridge. Wish I was there right now to enjoy the beautiful colors. Lots of wonderful memories have been made there. Can't wait to go back up there again, next summer.

Good morning from Mishawaka IN.

Nice picture! Good morning everyone. A few people I know are on their way UP this morning - wish I was, too!

This is a great picture. Wonderful bridge and beautiful color.

To Elvira and Cook: The pasty you mentioned the other day sounds delectable. I am a diehard cornish pasty lover since my mother was from England, but I love carmelized onions, portabellas, and asparagas. I will be trying your recipe soon. On another food note, has anyone heard of or tried the southeast asian "Food of the Gods" called Durian? Let us all know. Have a great day everyone.

Durian is said to be delicious, but however very "stenchy". Must be an aquired tasste.

Guess what my new wallpaper is, as of this morning!

to Kosk in Toronto: Thanks for asking about me. I wasn't checking in for a while because I was in the Keweenaw, unfortunately because my Dad has acute congestive heart failure. He is hanging in there at this point. He is 90, has taken a swift decline recently, and we have to realize that it is time for nature to take her course. I really appreciate that you asked!

Nice to see that bridge again along with the great color...

beautiful picture heading to copper harbor in 2 weeks will the colors be gone? if we miss em oh well, we will still be there

maijaMI - Have been in your situation. Thoughts and prayers are with you.

This is it- enjoy the colors before they blow off. They're spectacular this year! Even the short stretch between the airport and and Dollar Bay is beautiful, if you can't go far.

Does anyone know why it's called the Dead River?

By ed/mi on Saturday, October 9, 2004 - 08:50 am:
two schools are in lockdown mode here in Monroe County and Sumpter Twp in Wayne Co.


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By Kevin K. Lodi,CA on Saturday, October 9, 2004 - 09:47 am:
So ed/mi,
Why are these schools in lockdown mode?
Please explain.
Why post a teaser and not explain it to us?

It was reported in the Detroit Free Press on October 6 that two
schools in Oakland County MI were locked down because of a
cougar sighting.
http://www.freep.com/news/locoak/cougar6e_20041006.htm

We lived in Singapore for several years and traveled to Thailand where Durian is almost revered. It has a somewhat creamy texture and a VERY STRONG musky smell. The taste is strong and not overly sweet. Certainly an acquired taste, but if you have the opportunity to try one by all means do- if only in the name of adventure!

Kevin, my error this was in reference to U. P. cougar sightings that were being discussed....have a good weekend.

Love the color and the bridge--we don't have much of either one here.

Back to the Portage Lake Lift Bridge--the large link chains counterbalance the changing weight of the cables.

To Rick Manthei....wonderful photos in your album, I see you haven't lost your touch! Are you looking through "Nature's Window?" (remember the days?) I'm so excited to see your name, have been looking for you for years! We are old friends! Please email me.

Its a nice sceane with the bridge being tucked in the trees,while they change color.

Hello from the storm hit central Florida where things are still all messed up. Nice photo, nice to see the colors wish I was back up in the U.P.

Re school lockdown: lockdown also may be because of worry over terrorism after a disc was found that had school floorplans. Schools in several states were on the disc, including MI.

to NKR: thank you for the good wishes. They really do help.

Hello all, What's the price of gasoline around Ontonagon and up thru the Kee ? Trying to decide if I have enough "Frog Skins" saved to make the trip. Enjoy the Pasty cam site daily. Hope all have a fine weekend.

John in Ga. Just notice in Houghton this morning gas at $2.09.9!!!!!!!!!!!!

I nominate this photograph as a WOW!

Just love those old steel bridges. They have
charactor! They get replaced with those ugly
flat concrete bridges that just don't look
or feel like anything. The old steel bridge
seems to belong there.

Can we ask for a better fall? Not! It's just
beautiful and so sunny this year.

RCW-- Thanks for the info. Not much worse than down here. ($1.88 yesterday) Sure puts a crimp on seeing all the sights. 1400 miles just to get there every year --- but always worth the effort.

Ralph in FL -- I've been wondering how recovery was coming along in FL. From the pictures I saw, it looked like it was going to be a LONNNGGG haul. My best to all of you -- wish I could be there to help.

There surely are a lot of us on here from GA; I am amazed. It's nice to see the fall color on here as we surely don't have much here in GA. A few scattered maples and sweetgums are all I've seen so far.

Hello Everyone

What is the price of Diesel in the up , I want to
drive up there today but was concerned as to the cost of fuel.

joe

Joe,

Diesel is like $ 1.97 locally, which is why I'm glad to have a tank, and use the off-road flavor here on the farm.

Hey Yupper Willie

Thanks for the price check, I still have a hard time believing diesel is that high.It's 2.09 down here by lansing

Joe

All you Yoopers can thank your lucky stars: gas here in Northern California (or at least my little corner of it) is running $2.25 for regular, $2.55 for premium. That's up 40 cents from two weeks ago! I'm so glad we drive fuel-efficient vehicles!

And Maija, letting go is the hardest part. Now, while he's still with you, can be sweet as you are able to say goodbye -- and tell him you love him. We did that last December with my mom-in-law in Calumet, but she was already in a coma and couldn't say goodbye back. God's peace to you.

Joe,

Remember the extreme transportation costs, AND, the smaller demand up here.

Candy, CA: you are so right. Thank you so much for your kind words.

I second the Wow! nomination. Beautiful!

To A Mistress fan of the Dark......check my posting on Friday the 8th. I have tasted the fruit Durian and yes, it is a "Fruit of the God's".

Maija... My Dad died six years ago last week of lung CA. My brothers and I all stayed with Mom and Dad two weeks to care for him with Hospice help. He was in a coma the last week, but before that we had time to say goodbye, to promise him to care for Mom, to thank him for everything he gave us, to remember the fine times camping or walking through the woods, picking apples, tobagganing, visiting the art museum. The last thing he saw before he closed his eyes and slipped into the long sleep was old family movies of us as little kids and him coming through the door after the Korean War.

When he died it was of course a terrible grief, and at the same time a relief that he was no longer suffering. But there was something else going on also, something that transcends my understanding of what is real. His priest described it this way, that when a person dies in peace the veil between this world and the next becomes so thin that you can almost reach through and touch the face of God. It is an intense joy, and has taken away the fear of my own death.

What a great photo. My grandfather Howard Jackson, his brother Austin Jackson and my Great Grandfather Alexander Manisto owned a camp on the Raney(SP?) Creek not far from this bridge. Loved spending summer days there, sure do miss it. Thanks!!!

If I may offer a weblink (from my own site) which features the Dead River bridge from today's photo as well as a history of what happened to M-35 through the Huron Mountains and how Henry Ford himself did much to stop the construction of this highway:

http://www.michiganhighways.org/indepth/M-35_huronmtns.html

(I also note a part of the description for the photo was 'adapted' from my site...)

What has happened to Josey yooper?

Excellent link to history on the Huron Mountain
club and info about the road. I love
the history of the area and it's so rich
in the U.P.

Very nice picture!
Does anyone have a recent picture of the foot bridge by Black River Harbor? I would love to see what it looks like this time of year. Also, does any one know how long that bridge is? And one other thing, I heard that the campground there is closed for a couple years for updating. Anyone know what they are doing? I hope they don't turn it into another "parking lot" campground. It was real nice as each space was pretty secluded from the others. I really hope they don't change that!
Any info would be great appreciated!
Have a great weekend!
Best wishes,
Renee

WOW

NKR- I believe the river was called "River of the Spirits of the Dead" by the Native Americans living in the area; at least I think I remember reading that in a Michigan History article quite a few years ago. Chris, interesting article on Blind 35. I have a camp on 510, so I find this doubly fascinating. It's strange to be travelling
a two-track up near the HMC and come across a concrete bridge in the middle of nowhere...which is exactly where Blind 35 leads.

I just happened to stumble on the pastycam website this morning. I couldn't beleive what I saw. Every picture taken in the Greastest State in the Union was at my finger tips. Thanks to the great photographers and their awsome veiw of this great state of Michigan.

Kurt from Michigan