Lake Superior

After a very pleasant drive through Ontario I was excited to get back to the United States. Of course, because I was so excited I managed to get on the slowest custom line out of five choices. Every line was streaming through but my line, I thought about changing but then worried it would look suspicious. The hold up was a very earnest and thorough custom agent. All my papers were in order but as soon as she saw Maya she wanted to know about dog food. Did I buy any in Canada? I had purchased a couple of cans in a Walmart so I said, “yes”. She needed to see them – well I had thrown them in the back of the car under all my shoes (Thank God they weren’t packed in the camper!). She needed to see them but I couldn’t reach so she had me hold Maya while she rooted around in my smelly shoes searching for the dog food. She finally found them and they were O.K., apparently you can’t bring dog food into the US that contains goat meat. Glad I was in compliance. I waved goodbye and re-entered my country.

The sky was stormy so I made a pit stop at the grocery store since Maya could wait in the car. (I can’t leave her in there when it’s hot and sunny). With all my supplies I headed to Grand Marais, Michigan, since my Tom Tom didn’t know where Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was. My relationship with this device is strained, but that is for another post.

Finally we find Grand Marais and Lake Superior. The wind is really blowing now! I see the temperature has dropped from 72 degrees on the mainland to 55 degrees. After I find the road to the lakeshore we search for a camping spot, it’s first come first served. The first place I go to, 12 Mile Beach has none available. These sites are right on the beach and I see everyone with their winter coats, hats and mittens on! Maybe right on the beach isn’t such a good idea anyway.

At Hurricane River we find a nice spot, not on the beach but a two minute walk from it. It’s sheltered a little from the wind. There are bears in the area so we will have to go into bear protocol. All our food must stay in the car and we eat off paper plates so we don’t make to much dishwater. The dishwater also attracts animals so it has to be lugged to the vault toilets and dumped. This place is known as primitive camping, no showers, no flush toilets but hey, it is only seven dollars a night!

After backing the camper into the site, Maya and I immediately go and check out the beach. The trees are swaying back and forth, It’s now 50 degrees and the windchill probably makes it much colder. Big breakers are rolling in; now I’ve just driven up the Atlantic coast and never saw waves like this. The air is fresh and cold, it feels wonderful to breathe. The sound of the trees in the wind and the crashing of the surf is exhilarating. Maya is crazed, she is so excited she is running, jumping, twisting in the air and playing tag with the waves. Finally she runs into the surf and so do I, we are celebrating this wild and wonderful place.

Another view of the beach.

Sunset

The next day the wind stopped and the fog rolled in. The harbor at Grand Marais.

Fogged in.

Gulls waiting for the storm.

Hurricane River joins with Lake Superior here.