If you're planning a Keweenaw summer vacation, be sure you head to the tip of the Peninsula and take in the Copper Harbor Lighthouse tour. Carl Kiilunen caught the navy motorwhale tour boat just making its beginning ripples, on one of the many daily trips over. It's quite the experience, motoring over from the Marina to the Lighthouse, you'll get a history lesson from your Captain. Then after docking at Hayes Point, you'll be assisted by a guide, through the 1866 era interior and grounds, where you can check out Michigan's first commercial copper mine site. If you plan on this excursion, allow about an hour and a half to take it all in. It's a real look into the past, including the arrival by boat just as the lightkeepers did 100 years ago.

On our way to the UP )

2 weeks and a day until a long restful vacation at Mclains.
I hope the weather will be better than the 4th's weekend.

This is a great tour to take! The boat ride over added to the tour. When we got to the lighthouse dock the guide was delayed - by a bear which was sitting outside the lighthouse door! By and by the bear moseyed off, the guide came down to the dock and the tour of the lighthouse was outstanding! No further encounters with said bear outside the light as we checked out the point. Well worth the time and price!

Good morning everyone!

26 Days till Vacation in Chassell... Maybe we should go on the lighthouse tour this year. We went many many years ago, but that was before I was married, and I know she has never been there... I think we will have to do that!

Have a great day everyone!

here is a follow up to July 10 story.
07/11
Marquette......
Marquette's harbors have been busy. On Friday the tug Billmaier towed the crane barge Schwartz and two barges loaded with rocks to Marquette to continue work on the breakwalls. This is the barge that was shown in the SKY-PIX on Saturday July 10 here on Pasty.com. There is a great picture of the tug/barge entering the harbor on the wwwboatnerd.com site..go to the news page and check July 11 pictures.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How was the Strawberry Fest this year??

24 days, 9 hours, and 45 minutes until my first trip "back home" since 1987!!!!

62 days 'till we return to the north country. Hopin' to see a lot of big boats this trip. Do freighters still come to Marquette to load? We have yet to see one any time we've been there. It would be such a thrill. I know, timing is everything!

Leaving in 4 days and will be back to the greatest place in the world THE U.P.

finngal fl: Don't remember that phrase from Reino. Do remember that at that time I could speak a little Finn, and at my Grandpa's house on Saturday morning, not listening to Reino was not an option.

One day, I'll do that lighthouse tour!!! G'morning y'all...

b c: WHDF was only on Scott St. in Calumet at that time. The Douglass House studio didn't exist

AL, MI: I'll never forget that phrase. And I remember the disappointment I felt when WHDF opened the Douglass House studios. I just knew that great radio station was leaving Calumet. Even though I grew up in Hubbell, I wasn't happy about the move. Wimple wasn't even on the horizon then.

Ken and Mimi from da UP: Reino did use a lot of Finglish. But listening to him was once of things I looked forward to when I visited my Grandpa. He lived in Raymbeaultown. Wonder how many remember that spelling of what's now known as Rambletown. The SS South American used to have a band on some of its cruises. In the summer of '56 I played alto sax in that band.

19 more wakeups, then Ahhhhhhhhh Vacation

Brad of Canton, Think Gary D. will show?????

25 days until we are in Eagle Harbor! YEA!

Back down state after a great 2 weeks in the Keewenaw. Wheather was finally perfect last 2 days. Got in a round of golf at the Mountain Lodge and have the black fly bites to prove it.

What a great way to bring back a fun memory...my kids loved the boat ride across the harbor to the lighthouse. We visited there a couple summers ago, and it is still one of my oldest daughter's favorite destinations. Makes me want to come back!

Good Monday Morning,

I loved the picutres of Sharon's bear that were shown yesterday. The big wild life in Iowa are our deer; which seem to hunt our vehicles down when the crops come out of the fields in the fall! They will also come up to our decks and back yards looking for a food handout. But the bear on the deck would definitely take the cake for this Iowa girl!

I think there needs to be a Pasty Central web cam--then we can catch a glimplse of the "wild life" there!

Take care and have a good day,
Cindy

Ya dare, dis is a nice site and I gotta pictur dat I think youd like. But i don't no how ta get it ta ya.

Editor's note: You can get your own Guest Gallery, where you can add pictures. Check out the details here:

Just reserved the new Steve Hamilton book from my local library. I see my position is 54 out of 55! Probably due to the fact that it was reviewed in yesterday's Flint Journal. Read his books on a hot day and you're guaranteed to feel the temperature drop! I can always feel the cold wind coming off Superior when he describes it. I've only read his latest books which are set in the U.P. I don't think his earlier ones are.

The Strawberry Fest was a blast. 79 degrees for the parade and Sunny!! Bought a few things at the craft fair, and enjoyed visiting with old friends! Just a lovely day all around.

Looks like a nice way to look at Lighthouses.

To Rice Lake Gary, I believe so.

To all: What are your top 5 things to do while up in God's country?

Oh yeah ask the pilot of that boat how scarey it was to be underneath the fireworks on the 4th. Embers were raining down nearly upon him and his crew.

Here's a great site for info on Lake Superior lighthouses....including the Copper Harbor Light.

http://terrypepper.com/lights/lake_superior.htm

Those must have been some intrepid souls that staffed the lights in the early days.

I'm repeating this from yesterday as most people probably won't go to the Shoebox Memory this morning. My grandfather worked in L'Anse for a year or two as a bookkeeper about 1921-23. From the histories I've read, Henry Ford didn't get involved with the lumber business there until the late 20s or early 30s, when the "woodies" were manufactured. But my grandmother's story was that he "worked for Henry Ford" in L'Anse. Does anyone know how early Ford was employing people there?

I can't remember the last time I actually watched the Strawberry Fest parade. For as long as I can remember I have always been in it as some novelty or another or I was marching with the CHS Band. Some year I'll have to get up there and experience it from the sidelines. :)

My top 5 (in no particular order):

1. Find a beach or dock and sit and listen to the water.
2. Drive out to Copper Harbor on US-41 (not quite the same since they flattened some of those hills and curves) and back on M-26.
3. Spend a night camping in the Huron Mountains.
4. Visit the local establishments (fish bowl anyone?) "uptown".
5. Visit with friends and family lucky enough to be living up there. :) This list could go on forever!

Two weeks and counting.... Can't wait to leave the humidity. To find out when the boats dock, look in the Marquette newspaper. The names and times were always posted.
My favorite things to do near Marquette, in order of succession will be:
1. Watch the shoreline.
2. Visit family.
2. Pick blueberries.
4. Drive to the Island. (Repeat from #1.)
How's the berry crop coming along this year?

We're leaving this Wednesday for 2 weeks camping at McClain S.P. Can't wait to be up there.

1. Visit Silver River Falls between L'anse and Skanee.

2. Tour the Keweenaw: the Jampot, shoreline and Brockway drives, and lots of other sites.

3. Watch the weather over Keweenaw Bay from our living room window: I don't care if its sunny, rainy, stormy, foggy, or windy!

4. Eat! Discovered the Ambassador and the tostada pizza from my pasty cam friends! Lots of other favorite restaurants, too.

5. Take evening drives to enjoy the wildlife.

QUESTION: does anyone out there know how to eat-or harvest wild gooseberries? I'm 70 years old and only have vague memories of them and the wild cranberries. I think gooseberries ripen in late August.....not too sure....help !

The St Louis Post Dispatch (www.stltoday.com)has a travel story in the Life and Leisure section (7-12-04) about Isle Royle.

Things to do
1. Take a Trail Ride at Loose Reins in Lake Linden
2. Go down the Big Slide at Shutes and Ladders in Houghton
3. Kayak lesson in Copper Harbor
4. Visit the shops in Calumet and eat at the Michigan House
5. Sunset Cruise

to Brad of Canton:
1. buy pasties at Toni's and have a picnic at Esrey Park.
2. Take the mine tour
3. spend a day at Bete Gris
4. rent kayaks in Copper Harbor
5. spend a morning in Houghton with breakfast at the
Suomi
can I add a few more? Hike, cycle,or drive to the top of
Brockway Mtn., eat pizza at the Ambassador, visit the
Tech archives, go fishing, another day at McLean's,
stop at the Jampot, buy strawberries in Chassel, buy a
freshly-caught lake trout from a launch in Skanee, tour
historic Calumet, Houghton, and Hancock, swim at
Eagle Harbor, take the Ranger to Isle Royale, take the
CH lighthouse tour.... so much to do and see, so little
time!

1.Eat a Cheeseburger at Jims Pizza.
2.Eat pasties from Tony's in Calumet.
3.Go 4 wheeling.
4.Shop at Copper World.
5.Go to Houghton.

To Marsha, Genesee/Aura

All of Steve Hamilton's novels have a UP connection. A Cold Day in Paradise was his first. I hope you get Ice Run soon. I had better luck at our library.

Ice cream at Lindell's..

I read Ice Run the day it came out in June. It is very good, but the first, A Cold Day in Paradise is still the best.

Thanks Larryk
I am from the time of
PEOPLE POWERED WMPL.
I had a chance to buy a bulletin board from the scott street studio {thanks for the update I had forgotten where is was } .Anyway,It was in an antique store that was a couple doors down from copperworld in the 70's.I REGRET IT NOW!
I did buy{ok a friend Fred Marsy from Bootjack bought because I was a cheap tourist}.. and I still have.. a set of the Mortgage papers for the Italian Hall.I do plan to donate those to Houghton County someday.

Brad, #1 Staring in aw at all the stars we can't
see in the big city.
#2 Four wheeling..
#3 Campfires...
#4 Having everybody at the lake at
the same time....
#5 Trying to drive every single road in
the KEEWENAW in 2 weeks

1. Drive 41 toward Copper Harbor.
2. Stop and camp at our cottage at Lake Medora for a minimum of two weeks.
3. Take day trips if it rains.
4. Pick and clean thimbleberries for jam.
5. Meet with family and friends. I think I haven't had a vacation in a while!!!

You're right, Bob. It's Joseph Heywood that has the earlier books that I don't think have a UP connection, such as the Berkut.

Just a beautiful summer's day today. All you vactioners shgould be here now...this is the one perfect day we will all be talking about. When are all you folks coming anyway? Better hurry...I saw a red leaf in my driveway yesterday.

Five plus things to do:
1. Breakfast at Toni's in Laurium.
2. Get picnic supplies at Pat's in Calumet.
3. Go to Bucky's (Calumet Waterworks Park, for those who are under 40.)
4. Go to Breakies, (McLain Park Breakwater, ditto) have a snack.
5. Pizza dinner at the Ambassador.
6. Check out the sunset from Bumbletown Hill.

Tom TC -- I'd never seen real gooseberries until I ran into some on an island in Maine. They were beautiful. I've heard of gooseberry jam, and I imagine you could make pie or cobbler from them using any berry recipe. Sure does make me hungry.

Hey All,
Four days till we leave for the 17 hour or so drive from TN ( depends on construction lol).
1. Saying hello to "The Lake"
2. Breakfast at Slims every morning with my dad, whether I am ready or not!
3. Heading to Eagle River for the yearly Bonfire, cookout, sunset.
4. Going to Bete Greis even when the kids don't wanna go.
5. Wishing I could stay and do 1-4 every day.
Enjoy what you have every day of your life, for those of us that envy you daily.
See you Soon!

4 weeks today we will be in Eagle Harbor, Hoorah!
5 top things to do while in the U.P.
1. Watch the sunset
2. Lighthouses - Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor
3. The Jampot
4. Fort Wilkens
5. Sight seeing on M26 - the Great Sand Bay while
on the road from Eagle River to Copper Harbor
6. Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
7. Eagle Harbor Inn
Wait --- that's more than 5 but just the tip of the iceberg when in the U.P.

Top Seven things to do:
1) Drive through tunnel of trees on US-41
2) Eat Venison at Harbor Haus in Copper Harbor
3) Have adult beverage on back patio at Fitzgeralds
4) Hike to end of Hunter's Point.
5) Skip Stones at Brunette Park
6) Spoil my dinner appetite at the Jampot on Peanut Butter and Jam brownies.
7) Throw sticks for dogs at Great Sand Point in 3 foot waves until I can't throw anymore.

Brad in G B WI: The things we wish we had done! I'll never forget the Jag XK-140 that I could have bought in Louisville, KY, in 1970. Price was $400.00. Thought it wasn't worth it. Oh, My!

If you ever get to the museum in Lake Linden, you'll find 3 things that I know very well. A Friden mechanical calculator and a Burroughs 110 key glass sided adding machine that my Dad taught me how to operate when I was a kid (they came from the Hubbell smelter office) and a copper salesman's sample case that Dad donated. I'm glad it's in the museum.

Rose, by the looks of it, all (most) us tourists will be there in August. You will be soooo glad when September comes around and we are all back home. We will have all our pictures and memories, while you are there enjoying it all year long. Save us a pasty or two.....we must hit Toni's and the Jam Pot I am told!

Does Stil Waters sell pasties only online? Or can I buy
one in person at the facility in Calumet?

One of the best trips home we ever had was in 95. Nearly every day for 3 weeks we would pick up my sister and her husband,get lunch somewhere and then head off in a different direction.We visited the usual places but we also discovered some places we had never seen before. Our day ended with a great meal at one of the many good places to eat. I videoed it all and enjoy looking at it everynow and then. I sent one copy to Ellen,an elderly former C.C.resident and she really has enjoyed it.

I'll be there in September (post Labor Day)!!! :) Maybe I can avoid all the RV's on US-2.

Anybody know if I can get a Hilltop Sweet roll online?

I'd like to tip my hat to the captain of that fine boat.it probably was Kurt Fosburg from negaunee who has been skippering for a couple years now.It's an honor to call him my best friend and I hope every tour he gives is a good one.Otherwise...it is a great trip and i recommend it to everybody who gets up to the harbor....eh?

Sweet Tooth,

Try http://www.sweetroll.com/

Enjoy!!!

sweet tooth look on the front page of www.pasty.com Hilltop sweetrolls are listed on the left side..

LarryK
Was your dad a smelting works bookkeeper or accountant? I have a few accounting ledgers from the smelts 1888 to about 1915 or so.. not all years however.I got them at an Auction at the U P state fair grounds.they were tossed out by U O P when they were closeing down.I also have a nationalities records book for the smelts and some ledgers from the Dollar bay smelts.Someday I have to find a home at tech or tthe museum for them too..

Thanks for the sweet roll info :}

To Brad in Canton:

It's hard to limit this to five, but here goes:

1. Visiting the relatives (mine are wonderful)
2. Stopping by ghost towns.
3. Picking berries (and or ) buying
thimbleberry jam.
4. Eating breakfast at the Suomi (especially
on the Christmas trip)
5. Checking out old cemeteries and thinking
about the ghosts of those who have gone
before us.
I can't do 5!!
6. The first view of Lake Superior.
7. Pasties at Lehto's
8. Cinnamon buns at the Poor Boy
9. Staying at the cottage my parents built from
scratch.
10. Sauna the old way with a dive into the lake
afterwards.

Aren't we fortunate to have so many wonderful
memories and blessings to count?

1.) Depending on your current location, drive either east or west until you reach U.S. 41.

2.) Turn north and drive as far as you can possibly go.

3.) Stop.

4.) Remain where you are. Do not return south.

5.) No further instructions necessary.

1 watch the sunsets and have a lot of craic 2. 16 more days and a wakeup

Here's my 'to do' list:

1. Ambassador Pizza (Cheese and pepperoni - no tostada!)
2. "Two trackin'" along the Pike Lake and Donken-Tapiola roads.
3. A couple of nights at 'the camp'in Skanee
4. Mouth of the Huron and Big Ericks bridge
5. Point Abbaye.

If anybody is going to see President Bush tomorrow, give him my regards.

walter p, are you from the Gaeltacht? there are many
spots for good craic in the Keweenaw.

What happened to our nice cool weather? Can't take this hot and humid stuff. This is one yooper who can't wait for fall after a day or two like today.

Nine more days of work until we leave for the Keweenaw! My top five:
1. Breathing in the fresh, clean air.
2. Gazing at the beautiful sapphire blue water of Lake Superior and the red, rocky shoreline.
3. Staring at the stars twinkling in the night sky.
4. Listening to the wind in the whispering pines, birch, cedar, maple, etc.
5. Dreaming about our move to the Keweenaw next year!

Nine more days of work until we leave for the Keweenaw! My top five:
1. Breathing in the fresh, clean air.
2. Gazing at the beautiful sapphire blue water
of Lake Superior and the red, rocky
shoreline.
3. Staring at the stars twinkling in the night
sky.
4. Listening to the wind in the whispering
pines, birch, cedar, maple, etc.
5. Dreaming about our move to the Keweenaw next
year!

It must be getting past my bedtime. I accidentally posted my list twice!

Good Night then..Sleep tight.

If I was there I would
1 - Enjoy coffee and Trenary Toast for breakfast
2 - Walk along the shores of Lake Superior
3 - Gone fishing, take the boat to Houghton and
listen to the summer concerts
4 - Back home for mom's hot pasty dinner.
5 - Lying on a nice soft mossy mound and looking
at the sunset, and then the millions of stars
and listening to the linden trees as there
leaves are fluttering and it sounds like
castanets that put you in a dream world.

In WI: My Dad started with C&H as an accountant in the smelter office in 1923. Much later he moved to the Calumet office as chief cost accountant. He was with C&H from 1923 until they closed.

Good morning from Toronto. We could always
start another top 5 of what we miss the most
when we are away from the UP and the ways
we cope with it. An outsider to this site would
have no trouble figuring out how much the UP
means to us--whether we live there or can
only dream of the time that we will be able to
live there.

Top 5 to do list, while in the Copper Country:

1. Lake Superior sunsets...
2. Seeing the jet black sky and the twinkling stars while listening to the waves roll in to shore.
3. Munching Ambassador pizza!
4. running the trails through '40 acres', 'up swedetown' and 'the tracks'...
5. bakin in the sauna at China Rd. camp...

Funny how often Ambassador pizza makes it into the top 5 lists!

Just 1 week until I am there with my daughter who hasn't stepped foot in the UP yet. What I miss most....

Clean fresh air
Watching The Clear clean blue lake
Swimming in the Clear clean blue lake
Listening to the Clear clean blue lake while
watching the stars and laying in the sand
Hiking around Presque Isle Park

To Brad of Canton MI....Great to see so many of us agree on the top five!...and that it is hard to keep it to five: Here are mine...and we'll be there in 15 days!
1. staying at the Lake Breeze in Eagle Harbor
2. muffins at the Jampot
3. buying thimbleberry jam
4. campfire (smores) at Eagle Harbor
5. Star gazing at the lookout by Eagle Harbor
Lighthouse

Great lists everybody. I guess I should list my top 5 eh?
1. sunsets from the bluff at Mclains.
2. up and over Brockway
3. swimming at Big Traverse
4. swimming out at White City
5. family get togethers at Da Plot.
(sister and brother-in-laws place on Rice Lake)