Munising in Alger County, Michigan - Sun., Oct. 5, Part 1

This morning in Marquette Bob started running about 6:30 a.m. to get in 12 miles. He was back in the 5th wheel in a relatively short time for such a long distance. He said he could only make it six miles.

The temperature was about 36 degrees outside with a 10-15 mph wind. His run was along the shore of Lake Superior so he was exposed to the elements. It wasn't raining, but you can imagine what the wind chill might be. I'm pretty sure he had hypothermia when he came in. When he got back he was shivering uncontrollably. He climbed in under the covers to warm up and then took a nice hot shower. After that he was okay.

Around noon, we checked out of Marquette Tourist Park for our "long" 43-mile drive to Munising. We arrived about 2:30 p.m. We decided to spend two nights so we could see waterfalls and take the Pictured Rocks Scenic Cruise along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. A full hook-up (E-W-S) site runs $37/night at this rather rustic RV park. But we are overlooking Lake Superior.

The cats made themselves right at home.

For over an hour, we checked the weather reports and tried to decide if we should go on the scenic cruise today or tomorrow. Since we're go for it kind of people, we thought, "Let's just go."

At the Pictured Rocks Cruises ticket window our decision was made for us. The agents selling tickets said all the cruises for today turned back about halfway out because of the 5-7' swells. It was not a good day to go out, but we could if we were only here for one day. Um, no thanks. We would be here another day.

Lighthouse bench outside Pictured
Rocks Cruises office

Monday's weather looked perfect. So, we bought two tickets for the 2 p.m. Spray Falls Cruise on Monday. That was at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Four hours of daylight left. Time to start waterfall chasing.

We drove 14 miles or so southwest from Munising. The first set of falls we found were Upper and Lower Au Train Falls. Pretty, but not the best we've ever seen.

Lower Au Train Falls

Upper Au Train Falls (notice big pipeline?)

Heading farther west toward the town of Rumley, we eventually came to the turn off for Laughing Whitefish Falls. Another scenic drive down a fall-color-lined country road ensued.

Yet another autumnal scene

How do you like this drinking fountain?

You can tell it's fall here! Bob fits right in.

At the top of Laughing Whitefish Falls

Wait!! There's more. But you have to go way down to see the whole thing.

Down and down

Then more down

At the bottom, you can see the whole of Laughing Whitefish Falls. How did it get its name, you might ask? Well, the Native American Indians liked to name geographic features after animals. At the mouth of the river where it enters Lake Superior is a rock that looks like a laughing whitefish; hence, the name of the falls.

Laughing Whitefish Falls

We loved this waterfall. And, no, there isn't snow in the photo. The white at the bottom of the photo is foam. Foam and the brown color in the water are from tannins leaching into the water from the northern hardwoods, such as hemlock.

Waterfalls for today...check, we're good.

Now I just want to go back to that weird place we passed on our way from Marquette to Munising. I was looking at maps or filing my nails in the car when Bob said, "Look up!" I swiveled my head back just in time to see this...

What on earth???

To be continued in Part 2...