Yooper Vacation Pics

Welcome to L'Anse, Michigan! What's missing from this picture is Simon. Someone-who-shall-not-be-named wouldn't let me hang him from the meatpole.

On our first day at the cottage, Superior was flexing her muscles a bit and the crashing waves (while soothing to adult ears) scared Simon a little bit.

He headed inland and gazed at the firepit for a little bit.

Then after he went to bed, we fired it up so Mrs. X would have something keep her warm at night.

I had never been to Bishop Baraga's Shrine, so I dragged the family there just to scratch #47, being overshadowed by the 6-story high snow priest, of my bucket list.

Simon also enjoyed skipping from tie to tie. There were so many of them, he just kept going and going, so I had to reel him in.

After a good day of seeing what L'Anse had to offer, Simon took his hat off and chilled in the coffee shop with a bottle of Aquafina.

The sun doesn't set until 10:30-ish, so to get good night pics, you have to wait pretty late. I think we took this around midnight. Very pretty.

The next day, Gitchie Gumie was calmer and Simon discovered his passion for throwing rocks in water.

Seriously, he really loves it!

And just because we were on vacation, didn't mean Simon forgot his old ways. Here he is dining on macaroni and cheese (or as he calls them "mackie cheese") after a hard day's work.

The next day, we took our bikes into town to see what the local trail scene had to offer. After snaking between the Exceed plants, we got on the Falls River Trail which got a little dicey after the pic below.

So we went back into town and cruised around the Marina.

And played on the train.

And went on the super big swing for the third time.

The next day we branched out a bit and hit the Upper Keewenaw region. We got some fudge in Calumet and hung out at the Houghton City Park with Chutes and Ladders which incorporates a humongous 3-story slide. Of course, Simon didn't fancy it too much, so we headed to the Pilgrim River to throw rocks in the water.

The we swung by Ben's alma mater and got Simon his first jersey at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

And since that was the 4th of July, Simon bought a flag from the K of C and proceed to run around the house.

The following day, we headed west to the Porcupine Mountains and our first stop was the Presque Isle and the bridge we affectionately call the Bridge To Monkey Island. There are no monkeys and it's not an island, but that didn't stop Simon from acting like a feral monkey.

We eventually hiked our way to Superior.

And Simon drank more Aquafina.

We crossed back over the Bridge to Monkey Island and found Daddy's favorite bubble bath whirlpool. I seriously want to try that just once.

And Simon enjoyed looking down on Manabezho Falls.

There were hundreds upon hundreds of stairs. And Simon did most of them himself (he slept for 14 hours that night). Here he is taking a break.

After the Presque Isle, we looped around to the 107th Engineer's highway and visited the Lake of the Clouds. Seen here are Deborah and a very sleeping Simon skirting the edge of the cliff.

Obligatory money shots...

The following day, we stayed local again. Took in some live Finlandian music courtesy of Kaivama and I took a 20-mile trek to Point Abbaye which was a great end to a great week.

And here's another picture of Simon which is why y'all read this, right?

Zing!! After his final swim class, he got a certificate and a sucker. He was more excited about one more than the other.

Later.