Super 8 Motel - Iron Mountain

Years ago Mom said that she would like to take her 3 daughters to Chile to visit Gloria, who had lived with the Fergusons in 1970/71. Two weeks ago we decided that now is the time to make this journey. Dec. 2 we will fly from Milwaukee to Atlanta, GA to Lima Peru. We will visit Machu Picchu. Then we will fly to Santiago Chile.

... about them. So far, my experience with them has been great. They even have a Facebook fan page so I can try and connect with other travelers.

After I'm done volunteering, my cousin is joining me for a few days to relax and explore Costa Rica's beauty. Between now and then, I have to brush up on my Spanish, especially "Costa Rican" Spanish.

I know these next few months will fly by, and that's ok with me!

Until next time,
Jamie

October 10 - 12 - The Push West!

October 10



Left Ottawa at 0530

Drove to Marquette, Michigan via Sudbury and Sault - St. Marie - a little over 1000 kms.

Stopped at Tim Hortons for breakfast

Quick stop in North Bay to p/u veggies/bread/cheese

Quick stop at park in Sudbury to go for short walk

Spectacular fall colors between Sudbury and Sault-St.-Marie

Marquette, Michigan, United States wendyandbrian

... than cattle -- I assume they have been shipped to feed-lots and our bellies. Second-hand stores here have a humungous number of jeans but nary a jean jacket. Gas was US$2.69 a US gallon -- obviously much cheaper than our over-taxed Canadian fuel which helps support our health-care. Lastly, this state had great coffee, especially from Montana Traders.

North Dakota was mainly rolling hills. Weird that Highway #2 across ...

... is the mother of them all: an average of about 400m deep it would easily accommodate the water of all the other 4-and-a-bit Great Lakes combined.



Door County consists of a string of villages along the lakeside perimeter of an elongated northward pointing granite outcrop steeped in Indian and subsequent Scandinavian heritage. It is bordered by the calmer Green Bay in the west and tempestuous Lake Michigan in the East. The countryside is a mix of ...

After picking up our cool little Toyota motor we headed up to Green Bay. The Wisconsin countryside is beautiful and made me and Adrian both think respectively of our home countries. I guess it was the farm landscapes. They are beautiful.

We had a nice quiet evening and the next day we went to the wildlife santuary where we saw cute little coyotes, bob cats, a cougar, otters ...

... for the night and an elderly man across the road pulled up and told Bob to have the kids walk down his little dirt road and he had a cottage on the lake. Well, as we couldn't go anywhere - I thought why not ? The kids and I hoofed in down this tiny, murky 1/4 mile drive to come upon the most delightful sparkling lake and shore with the cutest elderly couple ever ! Her name was Isabelle and I liked her immediately and ...

Got to check out the Iron Mountain mine today. Interesting, but nothing much different than other mines I've seen. One thing that was of interest, some of the old equipment on display still is operational! I also went to the Iron Museum of Michigan. Lot’s of history and good displays.

I hate to admit it, but the most interesting place of the day was "Da Yoopers" tourist trap. It’s quite unbelievable. I took lots of pictures.

This stop was creepy. I was driving and looking for a small town campground along the highway. I had seen numerous ones before deciding to stop. When I was ready, none were to be found. I drove for over an hour before seeing a sign. I pull in. The campground was deserted. Paid my $8.00. It was dark within an hour. Pitch black. The next morning I was still alone in the campground. I've posted a few pictures taken on the road to here during a rest stop.

December 17 six of us spent most of the day at Niagara Falls, playing in the snow, viewing the Falls from the American and Canadian sides and enjoying lunch at the restaurant overlooking the Horseshoe Falls. The mist arising from the volume of water over the Falls blows against the banks and forms wonderful natural ice sculptures, especially on the Canadian side. We met Barbara and ...