"Superior, WI and Duluth, MN...."

For our last full day "Up North", we decided to drive over to Superior, WI and Duluth, MN, since they are only about an hour from Bayfield. Neither of us had ever been to that area before, so figured we should take the opportunity to do so while up there.

Here is another ore dock. This one is outside of Superior. They are MASSIVE!


This is Fairlawn Mansion and Museum. It was the home of a wealthy lumber and mining baron, Martin Pattison. After his death, his wife donated it to Superior Children's Home and Refuge Association and it became an orphanage, which closed its doors in 1962. It was set to be demolished but was instead, sold to the City of Superior, who renovated it to it's current beauty and it has served as a museum/event facility ever since.


After driving through downtown Superior, we then drove over the bridge to Duluth where we visited the Great Lakes Aquarium, which sits on the shore of Lake Superior.


Don on an observation deck of the Aquarium.

A map of Lake Superior inside the Aquarium. Lake Superior is the largest/deepest of the Great Lakes. Bayfield is about where his backpack touches the water.



A view of Duluth in the background from the Aquariums parking lot. I was surprised that it was such a large city.


Next to the Aquarium was Bayfront Festival Park, where, as fate would have it, The Superior/Duluth Pride Festival was being held! Don had read in Bayfield's daily paper that it was Pride weekend, but we certainly had not expected it to be held right where we'd happened to turn off the highway to go into the Aquarium!


Colorful, eh? :)


It was fairly early in the day so the festival was pretty low key. The weather was gorgeous! We stayed for a bit, then got back into the car to explore Duluth.


Duluth is basically built on a hill.....a VERY steep hill! Don took this photo on our way "up". More of the local sandstone........


It might be hard to see it, but this was VERY steep.


A view from as far "up" as we could get. This was about all I could handle......we were stopped. :) I am afraid of heights so when we left here and drove along some "Parkway", all I could do was stare at the center of my lane as I drove. I had, as close as I want to get to the real thing, an "anxiety attack"! When I found a place to turn around, I did and took one of the first roads which allowed me to head "downhill". Thankfully, it was on an angle and when I had more LAND around me, I was fine. What a baby, eh? :) As I said....a beautiful view!

"The Old Iron Bridge......"

This bridge of which you are about to see photos, is right in town, although once in the ravine that it spans, you'd not think so. This ravine is one of the 3 ravines that brought havoc to the town during the 1942 flood, and which carried so much water in front of the library, that the street was washed away.


A view of the Old Iron Bridge.


We decided to hike the trail that goes under it and up into the ravine.


The trail was maintained very well "until" a little further back. Then a sign blocked the trail and basically called the trail to an end. We could see the trail continue, and yes, it wasn't as nicely maintained, but we took the chance and followed it further.


As I mentioned earlier, you'd never have known that you were in the middle of town. It was so quiet and we saw no other people while hiking the trail.


There is a small stream that flows through the ravine, too.


And yes, it is all up hill......


"Mr. Graceful" making my way across the stream to the "end" of the maintained part of the path, ready to follow Don deeper up into the ravine. ;)


After we emerged from the path, Don took this photo to try and show how deep the ravine was. From where we were, you could not see the bottom of the ravine.


Emerging at the top of the "path", which we climbed, literally using roots, trees, and rocks for handholds, we found this little number. Yes, it is a BEAR TRAP!!! A bear had been making a nuisance of itself in the town and so a trap was set. This trap was at the edge of the elementary school parking lot, perhaps 50 feet from the building. We knew then, we WERE "up north". :)


A view of the beginning of the trail from the Old Iron Bridge.


Also a view from the bridge, with part of Madeline Island in the distance.

Tomorrow.....Superior, WI and Duluth, MN.

"SUCCESS!!!"

Finally! Early afternoon and I'm able to post an entry for today. :)

This marine shop was on the corner near our house. My "salty dog" alongside this carved one......We had to pass it on our way to the Maritime Museum, which was part of this days adventures.


At the museum, the outdoor exhibits were open, so we naturally went inside the ones that were possible to go into. This is the pilot house of the "Viking", a railroad carferry.


The outside of the Viking's pilot house.


When we heard there was an exhibit at the Historical Museum about the flood of 1942, which we couldn't figure out how it could happen, unless Lake Superior had risen to extreme levels (we were sure we'd have heard about that before this!). The explanation was on this sign, plus seeing the museum's exhibit made everything clear. It had many photos of the disaster, newspaper articles, as well as some personal accounts. Parts of the town were buried in 4' of sand/mud.


This is the Bayfield Library, which was built before the flood. We saw photos of how the flood waters washed away the street in front of the library. Washed away in this sense, means a DEEP ravine was cut by the rushing downhill waters, which carried away the street, many sheds, garages, and boulders.


Another piece of architecture using locally cut sandstone. There had been several quarries located on a couple of the Apostle Islands. This church was right across the street from a renovated 3 story schoolhouse, which is now condos.


In this photo, you are able to see how steep the streets are in Bayfield, and also where the previous photo was taken (schoolhouse cupola and church steeple).


This photo was taken from in front of the schoolhouse condo building. Each condo in the building (there were only 6) had a lake view.


Tomorrow, our hike along the Iron Bridge Hiking Trail.

"Technical Problem......"

For some reason, blogger is finding fault with my photos this morning. I've tried numerous times to upload them but continue to get an error message. I will try again later today and see what happens......

"Madeline Island....."

We took the Madeline Ferry for a day visit to Madeline Island. Here is the ferry as it was being loaded. It was completely full with cars and people when we left.


Backpack in hand with flannel shirt and fleece inside "just in case" it was cooler on the water. I did put my flannel on, but halfway to the island took it off.


Another ferry heading back to Bayfield from La Pointe, the village on Madeline Island.


Our arrival at La Pointe. We chatted with a couple who brought their recumbents to tour the island, while we......


RENTED MOPEDS!!!!! I loved it! This was Don's first time riding a moped (except when trying out Jeanan's new one last year in the neighborhood). We had a good time cruising the island on them. Don was able to go much faster on his since he weighs MUCH less than I do, so even on the moped, he had to slow down and wait for me to catch up....just like he does when we bike ride, too.


The shoreline along the island was beautiful with many places that were "super steep" down to the lake.


Yep.....I was made to pose and smile.....same old, same old. :)


Another gorgeous view......


In many places, once one were to get down the steep slope to the lake, there were many flat areas to walk along from stone shelf to shelf......


The water of Lake Superior was crystal clear, too.


A cool, in my opinion, rock formation.......


A stone bench at one of the "look out" points.


A lake view on our return trip of the entire village of Bayfield. The house where we were staying is just about dead center along the waterfront in this photo.


Tomorrow, our walking tour around Bayfield......

"Getting to know the Bayfield area......."

Our 2nd full day in Bayfield was set aside to wander about town with plans for an afternoon show at "Big Top Chautauqua".

Another photo with Don on the deck of the house in which we stayed. We had the entire 2nd story.


One of the first sights to greet us upon arriving in town on Monday were these "Tourist Cottages".......no other name except those words on a small hand painted sign on the front lawn could be found. I found them to be EXTREMELY cute......


As you can "somewhat" see from this photo, they are situated up on the hill above the town of Bayfield and have a beautiful view of Lake Superior and The Apostle Islands.


After exploring Bayfield throughout the morning, we drove out to Mount Ashwabay, the local ski slope which plays host to "Big Top Chautauqua" in the summer months.


Notice the chair lift behind the sign?


We attended a Garrison Keillor show.......

After the show, we drove back into town, changed clothes (I put on long pants!!!!), and went out to dinner at The Old Rittenhouse Inn. This was also one of the places we checked into about staying for the week, but made the decision to stay closer to the water.


A view of the Inn.......a beautiful piece of local architecture, eh? :)


Our day trip to Madeline Island tomorrow......