Jun 16-03

Past-E-Mail: Cam Notes - 2003: Jun: Jun 16-03
Clear water in Tobin Harbor    ...scroll down to share comments
Photo by Captain Ben Kilpela
Ideal day for kayaking    ...scroll down to share comments
Photo by Captain Ben Kilpela
Day 2: Flower Power week    ...scroll down to share comments
Photo by Tex DeGraves

By
Captain Ben Kilpela on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 06:47 am:

Back in Copper Harbor for the summer... I made my first crossing to Isle Royale as master of the Isle Royale Queen III on Saturday. The top two shots are from Tobin Harbor on a beautiful cool summer day along the shores of Isle Royale. What a great day it was. The lake level was low, but the water was, as usual, still astonishingly clear.

Captain Ben

The bonus flower is from Tex DeGraves


By Captain Chris Little on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 07:16 am:

Hi, Ben
Greats shots! been a while since I've been out there. This makes me miss it even more. May have to pay you a visit later this summer!!

Captain Chris


By JulieB Holland The Netherlands on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 07:25 am:

is the flower a trillium ? ... just a guess hence the 3 petals and 3 leaves ? .. Julie B


By Betsy on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 07:54 am:

Large-flowered Trillium, Trillium grandifolium, start out white and turn pink with age.


By wayne GH on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 08:12 am:

Can someone tell me how to get to the Mining Gazette web page? I was told they have one, but the person who told me couldn't remember the web site address. Thanks


By 100%yooper on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 08:18 am:

www.mininggazette.com


By lyndy Freeland, Mi on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 08:44 am:

What a great morning it is to wake up and view Tobin Harbor on Isle Royale! I wish it was me in that kayak. Are trilliums found on the island? Thanks Captain Ben for the WOW!


By Larry-IN on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 10:58 am:

Speaking of low water I was SHOCKED on the way home via the US-2 "Banana Belt" at how low Lake Michigan is!!!!! It was back 20-30 ft from shoreline just 3 years ago.....Superior did not seem so dramatic a drop.
Anyone with some insight on the "other" lake water level?????


By David S. - FL on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 11:02 am:

A buddie and I took the Isle Royale Queen out to the island in 1982. Beautiful but sooooo cold. I remember standing by the ranger station in Rock Harbor on that sunny August day staring at the thermometer; 46 degrees. Hard to believe we had frost at night. Too old for that now.


By Dave, Dearborn, MI. on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 11:55 am:

Larry, a recent story in the Detroit News stated the the Great Lakes are as much as a foot lower than last year at this same time! Who would belive we could have a water shortage in the lakes region.


By Laure- Minnesota on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 12:05 pm:

Hi from Minneapolis!!
Can anyone tell me of a website or a store in the Copper Country where I may be able to find a U.P. license plate holder. Being so far away from home, I would like to get something to let everyone know I'm not from around here and that I'd much rather be "there"!!! Only 15 more days and I'll be "HOME" ! :-)


By Laure- Minnesota on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 12:18 pm:

I just had to add that I haven't thought of " Holy Wah" for years and I'm sitting here with a smile on my face remembering the times I said that as a kid :-). Thanks for taking me back !!


By Missin the UP from NJ on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 12:20 pm:

Thanks for the flower pics. So pretty. Something relaxing about flowers. Hope there's a pic of the Trailing Arbutus. Haven't seen one since I was a child. I remember how wonderful they smelled.


By Marge Roberts, Cincinnati on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 04:45 pm:

Do you take requests? My trip to Lake Michigamme the week after 4th of July was canceled. Wah! If the Pasty Cam guy can go to the little waterfall just west of Lake Michigamme (Tioga Creek), and take a nice pic, I can survive the rest of the summer in Cincinnati. I'm gonna have to get my T-shirt from the Yooper Tourist Trap over the Web instead of in person. Wah again!


By JohnK,Mi. on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 05:13 pm:

Larry-IN.,
Here is a link to all y'all want to know about the Great Lakes water levels.
http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/now/wlevels/
Your tax dollars at work!!!


By Tim, St. Clair Shores, MI on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 05:47 pm:

My wife and I just got back from a rare perfect weather trip to Isle Royale on Thursday. We rented kayaks on Tobin Harbor just like the blue ones photographed by Master Ben. Normally, we get fogged out, rained on, or chased by blackflies at least once during a few day stay at Isle Royale, but Tobin and Rock Harbor were like mirrors Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. There was not a cloud in the sky. The winds kicked up on the way back to the mainland later in the week, which made the ride entertaining with 2-4 foot waves. That boat ride made me wonder what 4-6 or 6-8 foot waves would feel like, which probably happens a lot in September. Made me respect Gitchee Gumee more than I already did.


By Sam on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 05:56 pm:

Maybe you can find your license plate holder here, http://www.dayoopers.com/catalog.html


By Jack Holzhauer Mich on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 01:10 am:

Ben - Enjoy your e-mail. God's Peace - Jack


By on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 04:05 am:

Hey, Jack, glad to see your message to Ben. You're coming along fine using your new computer. I'm proud of your progress. See you soon.


By Melissa, Lansing, MI on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 07:37 am:

Two months and six days until my Isle Royale trip! Thanks for the pictures, I can't wait to get out there!


By Laure-Minnesota on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 11:34 am:

Thanks for the link Sam, but what I'm looking for is a license plate frame/holder, not something the same size as the license plate, just the frame to go around it...
I'll keep searching!!


By Capt. Don Kilpela Sr, Copper Harbor on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 09:22 pm:

Hello Jack. This is Capt. Don Sr. Good to see you on
the web and enjoying the pictures at pasty.net. What a
wonderful service they provide. I made what will be
one of my final trips to the island today and probably
my last will be on July 4th after which I will "hang it up."
It's been a good career and a lot of fun at times
(especially during calm seas) and I got to meet many
peole on the island and the boat. But 33 years is a long
time. Also got to see some spectacular weather
formations on the lake, a lake that is ever changing.


By Paul, Lorain OH on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 09:38 pm:

Tim, Gitchee Gumee can kick up 16 and 18 footers in a good November blow out of the Northwest. The night the Fitzgerald went down in 1975 the waves were as high as 25 and 30 feet, washing over the boat deck with spray sweeping over the stack. We're talking 60 and 70 knot winds! Six and eight foot waves on Superior are routine when you're sailing on a laker.


By Dave janke Colorado on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 10:40 pm:

Capt. Kelpala- I used to watch your yellow Queen come around the islands and go to your dock at Rock Harbor. Loved hearing the diesel every day. I was about 14 or so and lived at the white house for a while, west of the lodge at Rock Harbor. I could walk across to Tobin's and see the sights in the pictures. Also remember the Queen Two. As I remember, the picture is still in the web site Fish tugs of Superior. Spent a total of 12 years as a kid at Isle Royale.


kelpala-


By Rose - Channahon, IL on Saturday, June 21, 2003 - 01:46 am:

To Capt. Don Sr.:
Happy retirement! We have gone on the Queen with you in the past and enjoyed it very much. Each year when we get to Copper Harbor I am there almost every morning and evening to watch the Queen leaving and returning! I don't think I could even count how many pictures I have taken of her! Thanks for great trips!


By Bryan/Farmer families, MI on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 08:10 pm:

If my stomach forgot to growl I always knew it was lunchtime when the I.R. Queen would come into Snug Harbor about 12:30 p.m. We'd watch it from Coffee Pot Landing. Isle Royale is the closest to paradise that I hope to get in this lifetime. Happy retirement, Captain!


By J.O. Michigan on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 - 02:58 pm:

WOW, Beautiful pictures. Brings back memories of working on "the island". (summer of 1965)


By Capt. Don Kilkpela Sr. on Tuesday, June 24, 2003 - 10:18 pm:

Thanks for the note, Bryan. Westy and I were good friends. I have a signed copy of his book, "From My Old Boatyard." I would have given my eye teeth to have been able to spend a couple of relaxing days at Coffeepot Landing. And to Dave, they used to call the Queen the "keweenaw county snowplow" when they would see that bright yellow boat with that huge bone in her teeth enter the harbor.


By hillbillymom on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 08:24 am:

Hello, Capt. Don Kilpela,
Another era is passing with your 'hanging-it-up' on the Isle Royale Queen.
Watching the Queen leaving and returning was always such a thrill, in our young years, when Dad ran the "Sea Gull" from the near-by docks there.
We spent many days out on "the big lake" with him on 'trolling parties.' I remember the Harbor even before the motels were built there.
Best wishes in your lazy years.



Powered by:  
Join Today!
Messages can no longer be posted to these older discussion pages, but you are welcome to join the conversation on Today's Pasty Cam

Here's a list of messages posted in the past 24 hours

See our guest photo gallery for more great views from the U.P.

While in the Copper Country be sure to visit
On US-41 north of Calumet
on US-41 in Kearsarge, a mile north of Calumet.
(The home of Pasty Central)

Home | Pasty Cam | Contest | Order Now | Bridge Cam | Pasty.NET | GP Hall of Fame | Making Pasties | Questions