• Friday-What'sUP September 25 - 08:04 am

Now that were into September and fall has arrived, time at the beach isn't a priority for many folks, but these pictures from Chad Johnson are a good reminder that Superior's shores are just as beautiful while wearing a sweatshirt and hoodie, too. In fact you'll find you have places like Keystone Bay here, pretty much to yourself to enjoy the quiet and various moods of Lake Superior. So, pack up a sweatshirt and a box of matches, too. You'll need them to make that roaring bonfire so you can ward off any chill in the air.

Lovin' pictures of the lakes any time. And I love looking at a bonfire, especially from a distance like this, where I don't have to smell like smoke, lol!!! Thanks!!

Nothing like a bonfire on the shore!

Bonfires complete with good friends, hot dogs, s'mores and beverages of your choice...good times!

Looks like fun!
A reminder to be careful and be safe:
There was a story recently in the news about a bonfire that was not burning fast enough, so the man threw some kind of flammable liquid on the fire. He and his granddaughter ended up going to the hospital with severe burns.

sooooo peaceful......

Funny; I didn't realise we had a professional football player for the Bengals as one of our contributors to the PastyCam!! ;-)

Keystone is one of our favourite spots on the Keweenaw. Very peaceful and quiet especially this time of year as Mary points out. There are also other goodies along those beaches as well....

My only problem with the beach bonfires is that we would often find iron bits and driftwood remains left from Very old ship wrecks in the ashes. I would rather leave these on the beach for others to see what Lake Superior has taken and occasionally brings out for display. I would really like to be UP there this time of year. Any idea how the name Keystone became attatched to this beach area?

ALEX;

It was a father and his 6 year old daughter. The little girl passed away from her burns over 90% of her body.

AND, it was a small firepit in the backyard, if you will, of where they lived, not on a beach. Either way, BE CAREFUL.

OOOH Keystone Bay! What a absolutely great place anytime of year! And the bonfire is wonderful! If the rain stops in time tonight, I hope to have one in my backyard! Have a wonderful and restful weekend Pasty family!

Chad, did you have to go thru the beaver pond to get to Keystone or did you go another way?

We did drive through the beaver pond. Have a great weekend everyone!

Beautiful!!!!

Please remember to continue to vote for the Copper Harbor ambulance barn. We only have a week left, and we really need you!

http://www.refresheverything.com/copperharborambulancebarn?utm_source=em

By the way, beautiful pictures of the Girdle of Venus (the pink to mauve area above the earth's shadow). That's my favorite time of day,

Hello
I love when my family can get together with a beachfire. Sometimes we've been lucky enough to have a ship all lit up go by offshore. I don't need the treats to have a good time, just the socializing and drinking in the beauty.

The firemaking skills I learned from my Grandpa do not include using lighter fluid or gasoline. We are also careful to have no flammable vegetation near our fire and to drown the coals (another benefit of being on the water)when we're done.

Alex/mckill- This was not too far from us over in a trailer park near New Haven. Just found out he was using GASOLINE ! rather then approved Charcoal liter fluid which can be bad enough!
Sad.

Beautiful Keweenaw scenery.

That father has been charged with child abuse and possibly murder. He was incredibly stupid, but isn't this tragic enough?

Yes, Maija, it sure is tragic enough. Another young innocent life lost.

As for the bonfires on the beaches, there is nothing like the aroma of wood burning while Gitchee Gumee is in the background. As for the smell---there's nothing like it.

Beautiful pics! It's been a decade or two since I've been out there, and it's a bit of a shock - again - as to how low the water is! There's certainly a lot more beach to bonfire on these days. :/

Sharon-"girdle of venus" I just learned something today, thanks! I like that part of day as well.

Yooperguide- I agree, don't forget the cold one!

Vote Cast, spam free! Go Copper Harbor!

Forgot, Chad, How deep was the pond at Keystone? What were you driving?

Great Pic's today Mary as always! You're the best!

UC

One more email, Pasty Camer's, can you smell the Vollwerths cooking over that fire? I can!

Uncle Chuck, having Vollwerths on the grill as we speak. On the charcoal grill, battling the strong winds. Hope my sausage doesn't blow away, hehehe!

It is fun to learn new things such as Belt of Venus or Girdle of Venus. I have seen this phenomenon many times but did not know it was called such. Thanks Sharon and thank you Chad for such beautiful photos of Gitchee.

That brings back memories. It was 34 years ago that I spent an extended weekend hiking that area of the Peninsula. I hiked to Keystone Bay from Copper Harbor and spent a night next to the very beautiful beach. Then one night at High Rock Bay.

I vaguely remember several concrete slabs there (High Rock Bay). They were too strange looking to pass for old building foundations. I thought maybe they were some sort of old launch pads for small rockets. Does anyone know what I am talking about?

Don Afman asked about the concrete slabs at High Rock Bay. Don, you were at the old Rocket launch site:
Click on: Keweenaw Rocket Range.

Thanks so much for the information.

I was only guessing as to the use of the concrete platforms for rocket launches. It seems I missed all the excitement by just a few short years. Probably just as well.

While the quotes from their Dr. Harold Allen that they "admired the site" may have seemed related to rocket testing we all know that he actually was talking about the beauty of the Keweenaw.