August 20-28, 2012 -- South Shore of Lake Superior

Back to Houghton, where we began our trip south.

We stopped in Big Bay, famous for the Thunder Bay Inn, the site for filming Anatomy of a Murder, with James Stewart. We had dinner at the Inn.

Next morning, we saw this Canadian Hobie Cat get fuel. The skipper was just finishing up his circumnavigation of Lake Superior on this boat, returning home to Munising.

Now, off to Marquette, where we pick up crew: good friends Carl and Marlene Bihlmeyer. Prior to casting off, we visit the Farmer’s Market……

…………and the bakery for provisions.

On our way to our anchorage of Munising, we pass by the spectacular Pictured Rocks, and the Grand Portal. All along this shore, the 500 million year old Cambrian Sandstone has been scoured by centuries of Lake Superior’s wild waves.

On this weekend day, lots of tour boats and small boats are out. This pontoon boat is passing right through an arch near Lover’s Leap.

Rainbow Cove is an especially fine example of these colorful cliffs, where ground water oozes out of cracks. The water drips its suspended iron, manganese, limonite, copper and other minerals, which decorate the face of the sculpted cliffs.

The Miner’s Castle, from afar, seems to have the profile of Abe Lincoln. Here, the Munising Formation makes up the angled slopes and surfaces.

After all that sightseeing, Marlene goes for a refreshing swim in Trout Bay, just off Grand Island, as we settle on our hook for the night.

The next morning, more of the Pictured Rocks is in store, including the Vase, where the evergreen’s roots extend in mid-air to the main cliff.

Spray Falls is quite a sight.

On to Grand Marais, where we explored the historic town. Here is the Pickle Barrel House, where William Donahey lived; he was the author of the famous Teenie Weenie children’s comic featured in the early 1900s Chicago Tribune.

On to Whitefish Point Harbor of Refuge, and we round the Whitefish Point Light.

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is located at Whitefish Point, and we walked up for a tour. Holding center stage is the bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald, which was raised from the wreck. In its place, a duplicate bell was installed as a memorial, inscribed with the names of the 29 sailors who perished.

The artifacts on the grounds remind us of the 30,000 men, women and children lost in 6000 shipwrecks on the Great Lakes.

Our next stop is Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. We pass under the international bridge…

….and into the MacArthur Lock, where Marlene helps with lines..

….and Carl documents with photos.

And we bid a fond farewell to Carl and Marlene Bihlmeyer at the George Kemp Marina. Thus concludes our two months in Lake Superior. Now, on to Lake Michigan.