Marquette, Michigan - Sat., Oct. 4, 2014

Before moving on from Houghton, Michigan, Bob and I want to tell you how much we liked the town. After being in the sparsely populated Keweenaw Peninsula with very few amenities, we felt like we returned to civilization. Not only that, but it's a great base for exploring the mining history of the area.

From the first day we pulled into Houghton on our way north to Copper Harbor, we have nothing but wonderful things to say about the town. We needed somewhere to have our 5th wheel and truck tires filled with air, saw a billboard that advertised a tire company behind the McDonalds. We pulled in to the tire company and were helped immediately. No problem to check and fill all the tires with air. The service man who helped us was so friendly. He and Bob chatted the whole time. The service man let us know our tires are in good shape.

On our way south from Copper Harbor, the City of Houghton RV Park fit the bill perfectly for our two-night stay. As an added bonus, it was on Portage Lake so the view out our back window was of water, fall colors, and the city of Hancock across the water. It felt like a scene out of New England. Just down the road from the RV park is Roy's Pasties and Bakery where we made ourselves right at home for a couple of meals. We enjoyed being in a town with all the major fast food chains, good grocery stores, and a Walmart. Houghton could very easily become a destination for us if we travel the Upper Peninsula of Michigan again. Who knows? We might come back in the springtime some year.

Before we checked out of the RV park at noon, we headed to Roy's for a pasty lunch and a side of cinnamon roll and Bismarck for the road. Then we were off a whopping 99 miles to Marquette, Michigan, my father's birthplace. I don't know how long he lived there, but I will ask my Aunt Flora when I see her.

Marquette is another town we both liked. Our plan, after we checked in to Marquette Tourist Park, was to do one of the two Volksmarches in Marquette.

Drive going into Marquette Tourist Park

Our 30 amp, electric-only site in Marquette Tourist Park

This is the time of year to travel if you don't want to make reservations for sold-out RV parks! Hardly anyone is around.

We drove to the Landmark Inn which is the start point for two different Volksmarches in Marquette. It was rainy, windy and cold. As Bob was parking the truck and I walked to the door of the Inn, I thought to myself, "What are you doing? You know you hate to walk in the rain. Do you really want to walk for two hours in frigid temperatures with rain blowing sideways?" Absolutely not when we could drive around town in the nice warm truck. Bob had just finished parallel parking The Beast when I came back. I hopped in the truck and off we went to see what Marquette has to offer.

Freighter filled with iron ore

Old sandstone church

The Ridge neighborhood

Marquette County Courthouse

Another beautiful church

City Hall

Marquette Harbor Ore Dock with pockets.

History of Marquette Harbor

Marquette Power Station

Presque Isle Ore Dock

Superior Dome at Northern Michigan University

Presque Isle Park view of Lake Superior

 Bob asked me to take the next two photos because he couldn't believe what he was seeing...a surfer on Lake Superior!

Catching the wave

and surfing!

Iron ore train on top of ore dock. Iron ore goes down chutes
to be loaded onto waiting ships.

James L. Kuber ship being loaded with iron ore.
Notice the tugboat right behind it.

We were tired of the cold and rain, so we retired to the 5th wheel for soup and chicken salad sandwiches. Ahhh!

Travel Bug out.