Copper Country
Campground: Hancock City Beach/Rv park. $20-22. Electric and cable Tv. Nice wooded setting. Some sites along Portage Lake.
I traveled the rest of the way to the Houghton/Hancock area in the U.P. and quickly set up my campsite with views of Portage Lake. My sister Ann (she’s the oldest), I being the youngest and always will be,
A day or two later I joined up with a friend of mine, Ron who’s working up here in one of the newest National Parks, Keweenaw NHP. I had planned an adventure to find the Trailer Park Taj Mahal in Zeba Michigan. It was listed as one of 7 Rv wonders of the World. Ron had heard of it and even had a picture of it, so with my internet description we headed out towards Baraga/L,anse in search of the MH park that was built on steel girders and was multi-levels in height. We stopped in the L,anse visitor center for directions, but no one had heard of it. I suggested that they really should bone up on the history and national landmarks in their area. Ron and I grabbed a local map to make sure we were headed in the right direction to Zeba and off we went.
Unfortunately, it does not exist |
Our next stop was the local library, thinking they surely would know the history of such a unique structure. As I eagerly got the to counter and asked the Library staff for some information, they looked at me like I was a nut. I showed them my computer print out of the directions and description and suggested they check it out on the Internet themselves. It quickly began to dawn on all of us that Ron and I had been Cyber Punked. Imagine. It was all a hoax. Well I never…. We had a good laugh over it, still a bit befuddled that I’d been punked.
Ron then suggested that we explore an Indian cemetery he had found a couple years ago. It had unique huts known as spirit houses built over some of the grave sites. It was supposed to be on Indian cemetery road, but we couldn’t find that road so we just went down a couple others and before you knew it, we’d found the cemetery. A historical sign described the Piney Indian Cemetery, part of the Chippewa Indian Reservation.
Days later, after enjoying the wonderful weather up here on the Keweenaw Peninsula, I met up with my 4 cousins at the Michigan House in Calumet. A perfect location to have lunch with relatives I never knew I had until Henry started doing our family genealogy and created the Palosaari/Luukkonen Family History.
What interesting conversations with my new found relatives and friends. We discussed everything from sightings of Moose, which they have been attempting to reintroduce into the area, to remedies for high cholesterol and high blood pressure. One being to soak chunks of eggplant in a bowl of water for a couple of days in the fridge, then drink the water. Donald tells me the water has almost no flavor, though it is quite purplish in color.
the old family home
So as you can see, I’m enjoying my visit to my home town of Houghton and the Copper Country. I have another week of exploring and visiting while here in the U.P. so if any other exciting things happen, I’ll be sure to let you know.
2 comments:
I spent several wonderful summers exploring the UP when I lived in Midland MI. Lots of fond memories of hiking old logging trails in the Keewanaw Penninsula and camping (like squatters) on 7-Up private land along the lake. (S.East edge of the Penninsula) My fave place was King Lake Forest Campgrounds -- down a gravel road off the main E/W highway just below the Penn. Only 6 campsites but the little lake had an island and a pair of bald eagles who returned every year to raise their babies. the perch was so thick we could just snag them with our hooks and pitch them in the canoe. (not a tall tale) I think I have Ginny convinced to try at least a year on the road to see if it's a fit for her, too. but that's a ways off...
Chris (Linn) Santa FE
Nice post, very helpful for us.I will come back here again & again...:)
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