Where in the Copper Country Wednesday - #6

dcclark came the closest with last week’s picture. It is indeed the Bammert Blacksmith Shop in Phoenix (for more information on this series, please see the beginning of this post).

This week’s picture is definitely taken in the Copper Country - although it has a “big city” feel to it.

Where in the Copper Country is this picture taken?

Visiting the Soo Locks at Night

I thought I’d go back to Copper Country pics today, but I had to share one last pic of another spot we enjoy in the UP - Sault Ste Marie. We often stay there as a halfway point to visit our relatives. My husband was born there and has fond memories of watching freighters at the Soo Locks with his Grandpa. He likes to share that experience with our son.

During our trip back to the UP, we were able to visit the Soo Locks at night. They are great to visit during the day, but at night it is completely different. We did catch one freighter in the locks, and try as I might I just couldn’t get a non-blurry pic. It would have helped if I remembered to bring the tripod with us LOL.

But my husband took some nice shots of the fountain in the park. At night, it is lit up and absolutely beautiful.

There are speakers around the fountain, but we haven’t been able to catch it when they were playing music along with the water display.

Tomorrow, I’ll be back to posting pics from the Copper Country :)

The Mackinaw Bridge

We have relatives in lower Michigan, so we have crossed the Mackinaw Bridge many, many times. Usually, on our way back home we cross the bridge as soon as possible to set foot back in the UP. This last trip, though, we decided to stop before we got on the bridge and check out the bridge view.

I’m glad we did. Yes, it took a little bit longer to get to the UP, but it sure was pretty. We arrived a little bit before sunset (click on picture for larger view).

We could have stayed a little bit longer to get some sunset pictures, but that was pushing it. Not long after this pic was taken we piled into the car and headed to the UP ;)

Copper Harbor 4th of July Fireworks

This year’s fireworks display at Copper Harbor was awesome. I mean, normally they are great. The fireworks have a great backdrop (Lake Superior), after all. But this year, they had so many fireworks. At one point, everyone thought the display was over and yells of approval echoed across the town. A few seconds later - there were more fireworks.

I grew up in a family that often was involved in fireworks displays. I know they are not cheap. It amazes me that Copper Harbor can raise so much money for this yearly display. It shows a lot about the people and the visitors.

We set up our viewing area near the water. The abundance of stones near the shore keeps our son occupied during the wait for dusk. In the meantime, I experimented with our camera to try to get the settings right to be able to capture the display.

Even after the sun sets, it takes a long time for the darkness to take over. The excitement builds as the first flare (I’m guessing it’s a flare) is lit on the island where they are shooting the fireworks from. Then another flare lights up, then another. In all, there were 15 flares lit this year’s show (at least that’s what I was able to count). That is the most I have ever counted…I knew right then and there it was going to be an awesome display.

And it was! Here are a few of the better pictures. Click on any of them for a larger view.

I can’t wait for next year!

Lake Linden-Hubbell-Tamarack 4th of July Parade - Part 3

My favorite part of the 4th of July parade is the end of the parade. No, not meaning that the parade is over. I love what comes at the end of the parade…

All of the fire trucks!

I love the flashing lights, the sirens and the honking. I had to take a picture of each truck, and here they are…after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry