the jampot | keweenaw penninsula

What do you get when you cross three monks with fruit spread? THE JAMPOT!

THE JAMPOT, is a little bitty shop run by three monks located next door to Jacob's Falls in a quiet corner of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula. I bought some incredibly rich and delicious ginger cookies to snack on in the car, planning to save the sweet potato and cranberry bran muffin for later ... um, it didn't happen. It was so warm and smelled so good I couldn't resist!! Deeeelicious!!! 

lake of the Clouds | porcupine mountain state Park | michigan!

After seven long, wonderful weeks, my time in Michigan has finally come to an end. My last stop on my Michigan odyssey was a trip over to Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountain State Park located in the southwest corner of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula.

Conscious of each breath, with seven bald eagles flying above us, I sat with Lu overlooking the awe-inspring lake for hours. Medicine for the soul. (By the way, not kidding about the eagles - I counted seven! I couldn't help but get choked up).

Lulu is absorbing the moment...

Lake of the Clouds is one mile long but only fifteen feet deep!

fall is here !

Leaves are already starting to change in Michigan's UP (upper peninsula)! 

my lake superior baptism

Copper Harbor/Ft. Wilkins was absolutely beautiful but I decided to cut my weekend short and only stay for one night. The 2-1/2 mile drive up Brockway Mountain for a cell signal was not going to cut it. I can live without the internet but for safety reasons I'm not comfortable without a cell. Granted there will be times where I'll have no choice, but for now I'll move on to seek more "connected" ground. 

I decided to take a scenic drive down M26 which hugs the northwestern side of the Keweenaw Peninsula/Lake Superior. The drive is a little over 100 miles but it took me 4 hours... that should give you an idea of how I travel. I like to stop, explore and absorb. 

I finally figured out how to plot a course on google maps and save it! Sounds easier said than done. The point on top is where I started and the point at the bottom is where I am now. The middle point is my favorite – Great Sand Bay. I was driving down 26 when I came across the most beautiful bluff overlooking Lake Superior. It was at that moment that my car just stopped. Bathing suit or not I had to go in. Lake Superior is the coldest of the Lakes, but I didn't care. Lake Superior was calling my name.

There were some folks on the beach, but by the time they figured out I was san clothes, I would already be in the water – and well, truth be told, I really didn't care. The beach was free of children, at least in my area, so no kids were harmed in the making of my naked jaunt in the water -- gotta keep this PG for the kiddies.

Anyway, diving into Lake Superior was the most invigorating moment I've ever had in my life. The water was freezing yet I didn't feel cold. I was frolicking around like a child. I even got out at one point, played ball with lulu, then went back in!! Lulu sat quiety under a tree just watching and wondering when I'd retrieve my mind gain and my clothtes. It was crazy how the water just drew me in. It's definitely a moment I will never forget. I don't remember what it was like to be baptized as a baby, but I gotta think this is the closest I'll ever get to finding out! I highly recommend this drive and a stop at Great Sand Bay– minus clothes if so inspired! 

ft. wilkins & copper harbor!

At the northernmost tip of the U.P., adjacent to Lake Superior, lies the beautiful little town of Copper Harbor. Just east of Copper Harbor sits Fort Wilkins. I stayed at the Ft. Wilkins campground, which is a tranquil little retreat right on the harbor. The water was a mere 10 yards from my teardrop, directly past a tiny brush covered trail. Lulu and I spent many hours sitting perched on that root (below), absorbing the breathtaking views and giving thanks for the amazing moment (as well as countless others). Me with my sauvignon blanc and lulu with her "flossie" bone.

I found a perfect shady spot close by our "perch" to do some morning yoga. My yoga usually draws some eyes, so I look for a discreet spot so I can quiet my mind (the voices can get kind of loud). Through the trees I noticed something moving. After my eyes had time to adjust I could make out that it was a woman crouching down trying not to be noticed. Um, lady, I have news for you... I can see you. After about 5 minutes, I looked over at her and said as loud as I could, "GOOD MORNING!" It was hilarious, she jumped from the trees and galloped over to me. Sue was chatty but sweet. It was quite funny when she said I inspired her to go get her mat and she couldn't believe I found a "flat" spot to practice. She said she's been coming up to Ft. Wilkins for years but could never find a good space on the grass so she practices "on" the picnic table! Talk about drawing eyes!! Haha I chuckled, A) at the thought of yoga on a picnic table and B) I couldn't help but notice all of the flat grass all around me! Oh, Sue!

We couldn't leave Ft. Wilkins without touring "The Fort". As the story goes, Fort Wilkins was built in 1844 as an army outpost to police and protect the coalminers that had moved into the area to work. Folks were concerned that the late night drunk and rowdy coalminers would need some policing. From what I was told, some like to drag the Native Americans into the story, but they were long gone from these parts by 1884. The soldiers were summoned a mere two years later to battle in the Mexican American war of 1846, leaving The Fort abandoned. The Fort was occupied again for a brief time in in the 1860's, but by 1923 it became an official state park. My brother Michael would LOVE this place!

Our little perch... 

pictured rocks national lakeshore!

The blustery wind kept the boat cruise docked another day but I finally made it out on Thursday. You can see some of the artful rock formations up close through the trail at Miner's castle, but truthfully, Pictured Rocks is best viewed from the water. The boat cruise is a "must do" you're first time to the area. If I ever make it back, which I hope to do, I'll definitely take a kayak!

The "Pictured Rocks" are 300-foot majestic sandstone bluffs. The red and yellow bluffs have been shaped by wind, waves, and ice into dramatic columns and watery caves, then variously stained into colored "pictures" by mineral rich water seeping between sandstone layers. The colors of the sandstone cliffs are subtle. Blues and greens are created by copper, the reddish hues by iron. 

The Pictured Rocks landscape is a spectacular geological marvel you need to see in person to truly appreciate. 

Here are a couple of photos although I missed some great shots b/c I didn't bring my really good camera... (knucklehead)

This formation is called "Indian Head" because it resembles the profile of an Indian!

good view of all of the various colored rock.

some of the many "caves"

keweenaw penninsula - the most northern tip of Michigan

Had to drive 2-1/2 miles up a mountain just to make a phone call, so figured I would attempt an update! That's a picture of our little car on the gps. Can't get any further north than that -- not by car anyway!! (Hopefully the picture comes through in the post. First official "mobile" attempt from blackberry!Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

good morning from marquette, mi

I finally left my beautiful campsite on the water in Munising, and I'm still trying to figure out why??? I know, I know, I need to keep moving so I don't get caught in a blizzard somewhere mid country (although that would be kinda cool).  I checked into my Marquette campsite last night and was awe-struck by their prices. It's still "dirt cheap" (literally, there's lots of dirt) so I'm not complaining, but my little oasis in Munising was a mere $20 a night! Here, in the most generic campsite on earth, it cost $27! I asked the lady at check-in if they had any sites with "water views" and she just glared at me with a completely flummoxed look on her face. I was only kidding, but she didn't think it was funny. I sure did. ;)

pasty meat pie !

Bet you're dying to know what's in the bag!!

IT'S A PASTY!  

What's a "pasty" you ask? I just ate one and I still don't know. No really, it's a cross between meat pie and shepherd's pie, minus the peas – sort of. It's a UP thing. People LOVE pasties. The girl at Muldoon's recommended the traditional "gravy" topper as well as her favorite, ketchup! I opted for the gravy. The bizarre little meat wrap actually had an "airy" lightness to it, which had me completely addled because it felt like I was holding a barbell!

They're certainly not organic, but I couldn't leave UP without trying one! I had organic apple & cinnamon oatmeal w/ a wallop of hemp for breakfast and an organic peanut butter sandwich for lunch, so I wasn't concerned about cheating. I cheat for worthy causes. :)

The "pasty" even has its own Wikipedia entry!

practicing inversions and backbends | lake superior

Yoga is my oasis. It's a transformative process that takes your mind and body on a journey of reflection and empowerment. At least that's how I feel, especially today, practicing in my little "camping" sanctuary along Lake Superior. 

The "sand" is also a great place to practice inversions... much softer landing!!! I landed on my butt - a lot!