2026 Michigan Trip, Day 4 - Ironwood to Kearsarge

 Day 4, Monday 14 September 2026 - Ironwood to Kearsarge

Not a lot of writing, just a lot of pictures, mostly focusing on water. Here’s a Lake Suprior shoreline:

After the traditional QI waffle, I headed out 0705 CDT, temperature 37 degrees cold. I’m driving eastward on US-2, fighting that big orange ball again, but only for 11 miles. Then it’s northward on Presque Isle Road. This road leads me to a portion of the Porcupine Mountains WildernessState Park. I have a nice chat with the lady at the entrance gate as she convinces me to part with $42 for an annual pass good at any state park, equivalent to the price of 3 daily passes.

I take a quick hike to the closest fall overlook, get a picture or twenty, then head for the next overlook.

This one requires a descent via a 100+ step stairway. I take a bunch more pictures, then ascend the same steps to return to my car.

Now I’m driving through woods (again) heading for the real attraction here – Lake of theClouds. A 30-mile drive & an easy walk are followed by some rock climbing then a nice boardwalk to multiple overlooks, each presenting a slightly different view and requiring more shots. The lake is a mile long but only 15 feet deep.

The last overlook presents a panorama of the mountains & forests to the southwest, forests showing very little color yet.

MI-64 follows Lake Superior’s shoreline. One gas station is charging $4.65/gallon. A motel sign reads, “Will Canada’s Geese Become Donald’s Ducks?” Ontonagon is the northern terminus of US-45; the other end is in Mobile, AL. I skip site-seeing here and take MI-28 to MI-26. MI-26 passes Boondocks Golf & Cabins and Twin Lakes State Park. Towns along this route include Toivola, Painesdale, Trimountain, and South Range. A sign painted on a barn: “Please don’t feed the mosquitos.”

I finally get to Houghton, largest city in the area, about 1300 EDT, and have lunch at … Culver’s. I’m now on US-41, crossing the drawbridge and stopping at Hancock to visit the Finnish-American Heritage Center, all that remains of defunct Suomi College/Finlandia University. I now the correct pronunciation of my Ammala & Juopperi ancestors’ names.

With time to kill, I took a side trip to F.J. McClain State Park, walk its beach looking for interesting rocks. A couple of Monarch butterflies didn’t make it to the migration; this one was on the beach.

The park also has a life-saving surf boat on display here.

I head back toward my cabin at Vic's; it’s tiny but well thought-out. I may decide to cook something (and then wash the dishes), but not tonight.

 Tomorrow: Up in the air, depending on weather. If clear, I may head to Copper Harbor; if not, I’ll visit some local memories (& maybe get tires rotated & oil change – my Rav4 just crossed 40,000 miles).

For the day: 174.9 miles, for the trip 1002.9