Day 4

"Pictured" Perfect-Denise

The Munising Motel was the best mom and pop motel we have stayed at. Clean, pleasant and comfortable. After a great night’s sleep, a yummy peanut butter and jelly sandwich we headed off to the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore area for some exploring. We went to Miners Castle and walked around. It is right on the edge of Lake Superior. It was much cooler and less buggy than yesterday. After listening to Frank talk to the ranger about where would be a good place to take a hike I decided that Frank and the boys could go on the hike and I would stay back. The trail was narrow, high up and right on the edge. My choice was confirmed when we started down a mile hike to Castle Rock beach which became steep and I got scared. Water and heights are not my two favorite things. Put them together and my body decides not to cooperate. After a few tears on my part (fear, embarrassment and frustration) we headed in the car to Chapel Falls where the guys could take a great hike and I could wait comfortably for them. It was quite the drive getting to the start of the trail and I decided to stay and wait rather than drive back to town, which I think, would have taken about an hour. It is here that I have been writing my share of this blog and wishing that I were braver.

Frank's take on Day 4

We awoke to another pretty day in the U.P. Bright sunshine and warm temperatures, though a bit cooler than the previous days with highs in the mid 70's.

Nick and Alex took a morning run up to Munising Falls to start their day. Denise and I walked over to Glen's Market to gather a few food supplies for the day.

Denise's review of the motel is accurate but none us were so sure of that when we arrived yesterday. But with a good nights sleep we decided to add another day at the Munising Motel. The only catch was we had to change rooms. Denise took care of the details with the front desk lady. As Nick was showering we removed all of our bags to the new room. Nick was surprised to find neither the suitcases nor any of us when he finished his shower as we hid out in the new room! But Denise could not keep the joke going and went back down to the other room a couple doors down.

So off to Pictured Rocks where our first stop was at Miners Castle. Erosion over long periods of tine have formed the shape of a castle in the sandstone cliffs. At one time you were able to walk atop the castle but due to erosion you must now stay on the platform.

Pictured Rocks is America's first national lakeshore and gets its name from the sandstone rock cliffs that are exposed along the lakeshore. The cliffs run for miles and are most prominent along a 15 mile stretch between Sand Point and Little Beaver Lake along the Lake Superior shoreline. In some areas the cliffs rise over 200 feet above the lake. The name Pictured Rocks is due to the pictures that seem to appear on the rocks from the multicolored sandstone and mineral stains on the rock surface. The sandstone dates back about 500 million years. Stains are caused by water running down the cliffs filled with oxides of copper, manganese, iron and organic minerals. There is a trail that runs the length of the park along the shoreline.

The National Parks lady suggested that a most memorable view of the area is at the Chapel Loop trail. After a quick P&J sandwich we decided to take a walk about. Denise was concerned about the height of the trail and decided to hang out at the car at the trailhead and write her blog page while Alex, Nick and I took a walk through the woods to the waters edge at Mosquito Beach. It was a long walk through the wet wood trail, but once to the coast we walked on rocks and Nick kept wanting to climb over the edge and look into the caves dug out by the waves into the side of the cliffs.

We spent about 2 hours on the hike and then returned and met up with Denise.

We headed back into Munising and had famous U.P. pasties (Meat pies for those who are not in the know. For those who associate the word with another meaning, get your head out of the gutter and shame on you!) It was a good afternoon treat and got us prepared for our evening activity.

Perhaps the best way to see the depth and beauty of this area is to take a boat cruise. We chose the Sunset Cruise where the colors of the rocks are intensified in the warm glow of the evening sun. Mineral stains give color to the famous cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Seashore. Red and orange colors are iron, black is manganese, white is limonite and green is a trace of copper. the cruise lasts for 2 1/2 hours and returns as night sets in. Munising is a small town with few choices for a late night after cruise dinner. But we had scouted out the Munising Pizza place as our dinner plans. We took it back to the hotel and it tasted great as we were all hungry.

Day 3 - 7/11/11

Gold Coast or Mosquito Coast?- You make the choice.

Frank's version of day 3-

Day 3 started with Alex and Nick going for a run through Paradise, and as our experience in this town has proven again to be less than its name, they were turned back by torrential rains eerily similar to the rains felt by the crew of the Edmond Fitzgerald.

We decided to press on to Taquahmenon Falls as the rain would not abate. Once at the park we ate a quick peanut butter sandwich hoping better weather would prevail. But alas the rain continued and as no one had rain gear and each person had to make the decision on what to wear. Alex and Nick went with no protection. I took an umbrella and Denise choose to honor her Bag Lady roots and cut wholes in a plastic bag and use it as a way too tight poncho. An amusing site.

We walked our way down to find the beautiful brown and copper water surge of the 100 foot drop Upper Falls. Powerful. After a short stay for pictures the rain diminished and it was determined that we all wanted to attempt the 4 mile (each way) river trail walk. You know us, the sign said it would take 4 to 5 hours as the trail was slow and difficult- but phew...we know better, 4 miles would be a short and easy walk...we do it around Reeds Lake all the time. So after putting on bug spray, for the second time, off we went, happily unaware of the trek ahead.

The grey skies lightened, the clouds began to break apart and the first glimmer of blue helped us with start the hike to the Lower Falls a mere 4 miles along the river.

The hike started fairly well but soon the ease of the path turned more difficult. Tree roots everywhere you stepped slowing our progress. Up and down, over tree trunks, It was getting steamier as the days rains had left it humid and now the sun was heating up as well. And then the mosquitoes and flies decided to join our party. We reached a point as we descended to the river where the trail was covered in water. Alex and Denise questioned if we should go back...Nick and I said lets forge ahead. We walked on a bit. I swear we had walked what must be three miles...but that glee was turned back as we reached the first trail marking indicating that we had only traveled 1 mile and three more lay ahead. With Alex and Denise falling further behind and the flies and bugs taking their toll ...the party decided to break up. Denise and Alex returning for the car as they could no long tolerate the constant bombardment of the bugs. Nick and I decided to take the challenge ahead and pushed on.

For Nick and I the trail for the next 2 miles was very soggy as the trail leveled down near the rivers edge. Tall grasses and god knows what type of poisonous plants covered the water soaked trail. But we moved ahead. It continued slow and hot with my feet being soaked in water and mud.

But it was quiet and peaceful. While I could have done with out the mosquitoes and flies they did not overwhelm me. It took much energy climbing up and down the difficult trail and doing all I could to avoid the poisonous plants. It would be a miracle if our legs were not covered in itch that is poison oak, sumac and ivy.

We made our way to mile maker 3 indicating just one more mile. Our goal was to beat Denise and Alex to the Lower Falls. But the path had been slow. Then the trail eased a bit and Nick and I were able to move faster as we could see the rapids starting to develop in the river that lined our path. We knew we were getting close when we started to see a few more people venturing down the path up from the Lower Falls. We laughed as we thought they have no idea what lay ahead of them.

To our surprise we beat Denise and Alex to the Lower Falls and while the hike was difficult, it was a rewarding experience shared by Nick and myself, having overcome the bugs, heat, water and difficult terrain. I wonder how others felt about the day and will let them share their story.

Alex's Day 3-

Woke up to rain. Looked like it would make for a really nice run for Nick and myself. As we walked outside we learned that it was in fact a terrential downpour. We came back in and regrouped. Waiting out the hardest of the rain we headed to Taquahmenon Falls. We headed down and got a good look at the Upper Falls. After a brief viewing we headed out towards the trail to the Lower Falls.

It started as most hikes do. Some tougher spots to get through and a lot of mud. What I was not prepared for was the onslaught of mosquitos and flies. Now they say July is black fly season in the U.P. and I would say that does not paint the full picture of what these flies did. They were literally dive bombing into my hair. I would hit at them they would fly off then attack again. Along with the flies were the mosquitos constantly attacking my legs and neck. Mom and I stopped multiple times to spray bugspray, enough that we left the forest in a fog of deet. We came up on one spot and finally I had had enough. Lucky for me, mom was in the same boat, we took the keys to the car and hiked back out the mere mile and a half we had gone. It was sweet relief to get out of the forest and back to the car and a cool drink. The forest had won. All we could do was regain our composure and drive to the lower falls to pick up Dad and Nick.

Day 2: 7/10/11

Paradise is Hell

Alex here. Nick and I started the day off with a 3 mile run around Sault Ste. Marie. It was a decent run down by the locks and through town. Mom and Dad meanwhile went out and watched a ship come through the locks. We

returned home and showered then headed out to breakfast at Goetz's Family Restaurant. Nick enjoyed his blueberry pancakes, while Mom, Dad and I were not crazy about our "longboat specials". After breakfast we went out in search of more souvineres and to get a better feel for the town.

Sault Ste. Marie is one of the oldest settlements in the United States, but the town does not have a very "historic" feel. It is a bit dated and beat up. The main street is a mix of motels, gift shops and bars. The locks run at one edge of edge and the rest of town has an old industrial type feel to it. One major highlight was the courthouse. It was a beautiful old building with a statue of a crane and two children in front. The statue was in honor of an old Ojibwe tale of how fish came to the area. We rounded out our time in the Soo with another round of Mini-golf won again by Dad and Nick.

After golf we headed out towards Paradise, our stop for the night. We stopped along the way at Point Iroquois Lighthouse to stretch our legs and get some pictures. Mom and D

ad chatted up the lighthouse attendant Hannah for a while about things to do along the way to Paradise. She came up with the Dancing Crane Coffee Shop, which ended up being our next stop.

A quaint little shop built by the owners, the Dancing Crane Coffee Shop is a great

little spot along M-28. The shop has a small stage for performances and nice gifts throughout. They serve a variety of beverages as well as ice cream. The 20 below iced hot chocolate is a great pick along with the strawberry banana smoothie. They do have low carb items, but the trade off of flavor may not be worth the points towards your Weight Watchers.

Shortly after leaving the Dancing Crane we arrived in Paradise, MI. Paradise is a tiny town if you can even call it that. Not much to see and no reason to be there besides its location near Tequamenon Falls. Our lodging was the Paradise Inn, and it was far from Paradise. Creaky floors, not the cleanest rooms and an angry sounding air conditioner left much to be wanted. However, it was a bed and it gave us a place to rest up after day two.

Day Two- By Denise

Our choice of restaurant for breakfast had charm, but not great food. After breakfast I purchased a pair of moccasins, which I have not owned since I was a teenager and my feet spent the rest of the day in nostalgic heaven. A quick walk around town did not spark much interest so we headed for a couple of lighthouses that were beautifully restored and started our drive toward Paradise. On the way to Paradise we stopped at the Dancing Crane a local coffee spot. The shop was very cute and some of the drinks were really good, mine unfortunately was not (last time I go for the low carb version.)

We reached Paradise around 4 in the afternoon, checked into the Paradise Motel, which definitely was misnamed and drove around checking out the town. The thing you must know about Paradise is that not only is it not, but there is really nothing there. We headed towards Tahquamenon Falls to have dinner at the Tahquamenon Brewery. This was a newer, rustic restaurant with more stuffed animals, real and fake. The atmosphere was pleasant and we ordered a sampler of their beers. The raspberry ale was my favorite. After an okay dinner, we headed back to the motel for a few games of Skipbo and some sleep.

Day 1: 7/9/11

Gavern Family Summer Vacation 2011 -

Trip to the U.P.

First stop on the road trip was a stop in Mackinaw City where we shopped for fun gifts, fudge and caramel corn. It was also the first stop on the 2011 Gavern Family annual Miniature Golf Tour. Nick and Frank took day one of the tournament holding a 3 stroke lead on Alex and Denise. After dinner we ate dinner at a little Italian restaurant filled with mounted wildlife from the Great Lakes. It was an odd combination to be eating stromboli with the eyes of large Elk heads looking down at us.

Nick took us across the Mighty Mac Bridge into the U.P. where we traveled to find the secrets of the Mystery Spot. Our tour guide Carly demonstrated the oddities of the gravitational field around the Mystery Spot. We climbed on walls, stood at crazy angles and got a little nauseous.

After the Mystery Spot we continued up to Sault Ste. Marie where we checked into the Longship Motel right across from the Soo Locks. We settled in and prepared for day two of our U.P. Adventure.

Day 1: By Denise

After a beautiful drive to Mackinaw City we stopped to play fudgeyville visitors. We went in and out of most of the souvenir shops, bought a little fudge, caramel corn and a few trinkets. We then headed for our first miniature golf course to begin the annual Gavern tournament. It was a decent course and Nick and Frank beat Alex and I by 5 strokes. Not a great beginning, but considering that Alex and I usually start out ahead and have never won I thought this might be a good sign.

After the game we had dinner and left town to visit the Mystery Spot, which continues to be a mystery even after our visit. We had a personal tour, and though it was silly, it was still fun and I would recommend it to anyone who crosses the bridge. Much to my family’s disappointment I was not nervous crossing the bridge and I did not crawl onto the floor of the car as we crossed.

After the Mystery Spot we headed to Sault St. Marie and our first mom and pop motel. We thought staying at old-fashioned motels would give us a flavor of the U.P. and so we stayed the first night at the Longships Motel, which was directly across the street from the Soo Locks. Our accommodations included ship blasts a couple of times during the night as the ships came in which definitely added a taste of the city to our stay.