Being at the Right Place at the Right Time

We are a family of freighter-lovers. If we hear that one will be coming through the Portage Canal, we try to get over there to catch it. We don’t always hear about them, though, and Boatnerd.com doesn’t always hint that a freighter is in the Portage.

But anytime we catch a bigger vessel going through the Portage is a treat!

We recently were driving down M-203 and caught a glimpse of a bigger vessel through the trees. We hurried to the closest viewing point of Lily Pond and made it just in time. I was in such a hurry I forgot to grab our camera and had to run back to get it. I managed to get a shot of a US Army Corps of Engineers barge and tug. Click picture for larger view.

We wondered where it was taking the load of rocks. If we had more time to spare, we would have followed it to see if it went all the way to the bridge. That would have been a treat to watch the bridge go up. Reminds me of when we caught the Ranger going under the bridge last summer (and the model our son made).

We were at the right place at the right time to catch that tug and barge :)

Where in the Copper Country #13

Last week, Shekinah got the answer. The picture I featured was from the Estivant Pines.

I think I may have a tougher one here. I wouldn’t have been able to guess it until now since this picture was taken during my first visit there. Just a note, Explorer took this pic so I can’t take credit for it.

If no one gets it after a little while, I’ll give a few clues.

Where in the Copper Country is this pic taken?

My Fashion Sense

I have a problem…I have a fear of anything with eight legs. The fear is made worse when the critter has eight legs and attaches to you and sucks blood. Yep, I’m talking about ticks.

Our son has a camera that he takes along on trips so he can take his own pictures. He always provides an interesting angle, like this one.

I don’t care how silly it may look to have my pants tucked into my socks (I think that went out of style in the 80s??). I wear those socks proudly since it helps to keep those critters out!

The dude with the tan pants is Mr. Explorer. He refuses to be as fashionable as me! :)

Enjoying the PastyFest 2009 Parade

For the first time in 12 years, I missed the annual Bridgefest parade. Other commitments prevented us from attending. So we had to make sure we made it to yesterday’s PastyFest parade - our first parade of the year.

The sky looked a little iffy as we walked to our parade viewing spot. It looked like it could start raining at any moment. Luckily, the rain held off for the 20-25 minute parade.

The parade wouldn’t be complete without a float about pasties! This one gave some info on how to make them. Click for larger view.

Then there was a cute float of women making pasties - complete with pasties made out of paper plates along the side of the float.

No parade is complete without some old cars to enjoy (wacky horns and all!).

Then there are the mascots. Toivo the walking, talking pasty was there but he snuck right up on us and startled me and my son when he came up with his hand extended for a handshake. He came out of no where.

But I did manage to snap pics of Elroy and Firepup:

Trucks from the three local fire departments (Calumet, Laurium and Calumet Township) were at the end of the parade. I was only able to get a decent pic of one of them.

It was a nice, small parade and the kids loved the candy. There were plenty of smiles!

Mother Nature’s Artwork

I’m not sure what else to say about the following photos…except that Mother Nature sure knows what she is doing…