Since I had ordered way too much food the day before at Porkies, we split my Lumberjack burger and fries for our breakfast. It was really good even warmed up and I had more than enough to eat. Our plan for the day was to head up the Keweenaw to Houghton and Hancock in search of antique stores and whatever else we might find along the way. We were taking our skis along in hopes we would find some trails to ski as well. It was a great day with no set schedule. I love days like that.
The drive up to Houghton was very pretty and as we made our way north the snow continued to increase in depth. We stopped at a small store on the way up for a snack, yes, I was already hungry. If I remember right the real reason was to get a map but they had fresh hot pastries so how could we say no. The also had a white fur trappers hat that I thought would look super cute on Cindy so I got it for her. No map, but a new hat and tasty treats, all was good.
As we approached Houghton from the south we were on top of a large hill and as we neared the town the road started down the north side of it. In the distance we could see the channel that separated the north part of the Keweenaw from the south part. It is a natural waterway that actually makes the norh part its own island that they call Copper island. We could also see the hill on the north side of the channel and all of Hancock sitting on it. It was snow covered, with smoke coming out of chimneys and cars moving on snow covered streets. We both thought this must have been where Norman Rockwell got his inspiration. To the east side of Hancock there was a downhill ski slope with a lot of trails. That hill looked so step compared to what we are used to down in southern Indiana. Had we been there today I am sure we would have been on the slopes but we had not down hilled at that point and neither one of us felt like going down that hill for our first downhill ski in ten plus years. We were not chicken, just not stupid either LOL!
We made our way across the lifting bridge that separates the two towns and ventured into Hancock.
I just started to say that we did not get a picture of Hancock but I guess you can see it in the distance. To the right side of bridge is one of the downhill ski runs. Why is it pictures just do not do justice to what you are really seeing? It was really a very pretty bridge and hillside.
We drove around on their snow covered streets, I loved that part, before parking downtown and heading to a sporting goods/ gun shop to look around and ask about any antique stores. The shop was really nice and of course they carried everything one would need for any activity in that area. So that meant there were many items I was not used to seeing. A lot of items for ice fishing, something we don't get to do much of down here. The owner was very nice and friendly and he told us were to find the antique shops.
We followed the instructions and found a nice antique store with lots of neat items. Cindy shopped while I worked on getting my new phone programmed. Even in the largest town area on the peninsula cell coverage still was not that good. As I waited on my phone to do it's thing I strolled around and saw several neat things myself. There was a really neat miniature wood stove that I am guessing was for a ice shanty. They had a really nice all one kitchen set that would have been ideal for a small cabin. It had a stove, sink, refrigerator, and countertop with cabinets all in one unit. It was very nice and priced very reasonably. Cindy found several small items that she bought and then we were off to go back across the river in search of a jewelry store in hopes we could get Cindy's ring sized while we were in town for the day.
No dice on the ring sizing as it seems I am not the only guy who erred on the side of caution and got the engagement ring a bit big. While there we found several really nice shops and had to check them out. By now my phone was programmed and the task of figuring out a new phone had started. Since it had been four years since I had upgraded phones I had some catching up to do but I did figure out the camera!
This is the first pic I took of Cindy with my new phone. Who doesn't love a big stuffed moose wearing a Yooper shirt??? Gotta love the saying, "Yoopers party like there is SNOW tomorrow!" Cindy has the fur hat on we got on the way up to Houghton. Isn't she just the cutest in it? I thought so too.
Everyone was really nice and answered all our questions. We stopped in a outdoor supply store and asked about where we might be able to xc ski. Well turns out Michigan Tech University has a xc ski trail system with like 75 km of trails right on the south edge of town!!! They were getting ready to host a big xc ski competition so they said some of the trails might be closed. They suggested we got to Nara Nature center which is the access point for the far eastern edge of the trail system. They were pretty sure they would still be open. So after a quick snack, yes, hungry again, we headed off to find the trails.
We had no idea what to expect but were really impressed with the warming center and the trail maps. Then we actually got on the trails and holy smokes, were they nice! The trails were made with xc skiing in mind as the sole use so they were wide with large radius turns that could actually ski around instead of the trails we ski around here that are narrow and have tight 90 degree turns we have to stop and basically pick our skis up and step the turn. All the trails had classic ski tracks set in them and then they had a large area next to the classic tracks that was snow combed for skate skiing. We had no idea where we were going so the first loop we skied was really short but once we kinda got the feel for the place we decided we need to explore more of it. I miss read a trail sign and sent Cindy down a snow shoe trail. FYI, snow shoe trails there are not suited for skiing. Just ask Cindy, she will agree LOL! Back on the ski trail we made our way around the Nara loop and had a awesome ski. Cindy really enjoyed skiing the groom trails and our waxed Asnes skis where right at home on them as well. For the most part the trail we were on was pretty tame right up to the point that we hit the hill from hell. We stopped at the top to read the cautions. Seems there is a bridge you want to make sure you go over and not hit, it is steep, fast, and has a tight turn at the bottom. How hard can it be? Just to be safe I sent Cindy down it first LOL! All was looking good so I started down. Bad idea, as just when I started picking up speed I saw Cindy do a big face plant! I went down to keep from running over Cindy at the bottom. Then I went down again trying to get back up. By the time I made it down to where Cindy wiped out she was back up and dusting off. That hill was a bit of challenge, especially on xc skis. Had we been on downhill skis it would have been a piece of cake but not with our wooden tooth picks strapped to our feet!
We made another lap and when we got back to the hill from Hell I went down first this time. I started wide right, cut the curve tight left and used all the groomed area there was to make the turn. Once I was slowed and turned around I hollered back that I was good and waited, with the Go Pro running, on Cindy to come down. As you can see in the video below she was really humming down the hill and you can see her leaning on her skis trying her best to get them to turn. Just about the time I thought he had it made she ran out of room! Just before she shot off into a drifted over ditch you can see her pop up and prepare to meet her maker. Well, just watch the video and you will see what I mean!
I know laughing that hard at my new Fiancé's wipe out was probably not the wisest thing I had done but OMG it was so funny! The camera did not capture the wall of snow Cindy sent flying in front of her when she went in the ditch as I was too far away but it was a hoot. It was a very quite wipeout, with just the sound of the soft snow sucking her in. Sounded like a loud PUUUF! As you can tell I laughed so hard I got myself coughing. It was the best wipeout of the whole trip by far. The best part is that the snow was soft and other than getting snow in places I am sure Cindy would rather have not had snow she was fine and laughing herself by the time I got to her.
We finished our lap and then skied back to warming center before heading out. We really wished we would have had more time there as it was an awesome place to ski. We are hopeful that we will get to return with more time and explore more of their wonderful trails.
It was dark as we returned to Houghton as Cindy wanted to stop a get a pair of Ugg boots she had seen in one of the shops. It was so pretty looking across the hill side at Hancock as we drove out of town on our way back to Silver City.
If you have been reading all the post then you might remember me mentioning the town of Rockland and how we return there later? Well the lady who owned the Lake of the Clouds resort cabins told us about a place to eat there that had a big seafood buffet on Friday nights. Did someone mention seafood buffet??? We were down for that for sure!
With the GPS programmed, still no map, we headed south to Rockland for a place called Henry's Never Inn. We wound up coming down the same hill we came down on Monday night on our way up but again we were unable to get a good pic. We were surprised to not see any snow mobiles when we pulled up to park but we would later learn they all parked around back. Walking in, there was just barely room to shuffle step our way in through the door. Guess everyone else in the UP had heard about the buffet as well. The place was full of snowmobilers and locals who knew about the cold beer and buffet. Again, everyone was really friendly and we started talking to some people who were waiting for a seat as well. There was one man who was up snowmobiling all the way from Louisiana! He said he came up every year to ride with his friends and family. Seems they ate at Henry's every Friday night when they were up. They all said we would enjoy it and to make sure we had come hungry.
We finally landed two chairs at the bar and got beverages ordered. I guess the best way to describe this place was borderline chaos. Even the girls working behind the bar seemed to have a look on their face that even they were not sure what was really going on. We made our way to the food ad oh my, it was a fried seafood lovers nirvana There were 5 different kinds of fish, including a poor man's lobster which was cod steaks in butter sauce. Did I say butter? Cindy was on that nothing flat. There was just a ton of food and while it was not the best meal I had ever eaten, for 12 bucks a head it was pretty darn close! I am not sue how many trips back to the food was made but it as several. As we were leaving the people we had been talking to as we waited hollered for us to see if we had enjoyed dinner. We sure did and now it was time to waddle our way back to the car!
Returning to our Cabin at the Lake of the Clouds we made one more stop at the Americinn that we stayed at our first night. Off all the places we had shopped at they had the nicest shirts and sweatshirts and we both wanted to get a couple. They were just closing their gift shop when walked in but I remember our conversation with Julie Tuesday morning when we were checking out so I reminded her about being long lost sisters with Cindy. Seems they both put ice in their wine and beer, even when it is below zero outside. She said she would open back up for her Sister and new Fiancé. We made it her worth her while as we bought several shirts and sweatshirts. They had a really nice blanket made from a real heavy fleece material that I thought we needed as well.
Soon we were back at our little Ski cabin as snug in bed under our new blanket watching some TV as the wood stove got warmed up. It had been another wonderful day of exploring in the UP. I wish we had more time to go further up the Keweenaw as it looked just like what I had in my mind the UP should look like with snow three feet deep. I think the next winter trip we make to the UP we will head straight to the Keweenaw where the real snow is found. It was not long before we fell victim to our exhaustion and sleep overcame us in our snow covered little cabin...
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