Pure Michigan

It’s another just another summer morning in Duluth—39 degrees Fahrenheit — the wind seems to have calmed down a bit. But the saltie was still in the bay.

My first stop, as is often the case, was Positively Third Street Bakery where I got a Mexican inspired hand pie and a raspberry danish. They never disappoint. I also love that they are inclusive and supportive of native Americans, LGBTQIA, immigrants, etc.

Then it was off to Costco to get some cheap gas, and I suspect that I won’t see another Costco until I get to Vermont on Wednesday. I captured a shot of some of the beautiful lupines that grow in the ditches along the roads. There are by far not the most spectacular.

You can also see why I call Duluth the San Francisco of the Midwest. If you live here long enough, you ears stop popping, but for me, the view never ceased to intrigue me.

I should also mention my other companion besides Buddha. My dad comes with me in spirit. When he passed away in 2014, Mommhad is favorite shirts made into teddy bears. I always bring one to ride shotgun with me.

About 90 minutes into the drive, I neeses a coffee so I stopped in Ashland wi at the the Black cat coffee shop. I talked to some p folks who were in their way to protest No kings. It looked like they were going to have a good turnout.

I arrived at the property moments before the realtor. The camp shack turned out to be nicer than I thought and the view. And the sandy beach. Wow. Most of the average is on the other side of the road and some of it is swampy. I saw a mink, a deer, and some other unidentifiable creature cross the road on my way out. It is very remote. There is a possibility to have ate least three campsites that I could Air BNB when I am not there. It’s definitely a three season place unless I would build a house. I will need to ponder.

From there, I pretty much put the pedal to the metal to get to my motel. However, I did take a shot side trip into “downtown” Ishpeming. Like many former mining towns in this area, it has not reclaimed its glory days, but relics of them exist.

First, I pulled into the mining museum, which was closed. There were several plaques documenting how Italians and Swedes were enticed to immigrate here to work in the mines. There was also a mining disaster in 1926.

During a routine safety check, explosives detonated and Alamo y immediately all the water in a nearby swamp filled the mine. One man, Willie Wilfred, was able to climb 800 stairs fast enough to escape. I wonder how he dealt with survivor’s guilt as I wonder how the gentleman who survived the horrific Air India crash will?

I drove by the mine shaft and then into town. I do love old churches and stained glass, and there are many to be found in small Midwest towns. This one was an old Episcopalian church, and people were working the grounds. When one man saw me admiring the glass, I told him I’m a sucker for stained glass. He invited me inside to see it with the lights on.

This little church is a gem! It has the classic nave wooden ceiling to resemble the inside of Noah’s arc. Ombré trained glass windows trimmed the ceiling and then individually dedicated scenes rimmes the sanctuary at pew level. The altar was plain but did contain a pipe organ. .

The cream de la crème was the scene at the opposite end of the church. An angel descends to speak to shepherds, perhaps announcing Jesus’ birth? Cherubim float a over her in the clouds. The way the artist uses natural light to highlight the angel’s wings and the faces of the cherubim

Is genius.

In the movie Last Holiday, when Queen Latifah’s character checks into the opulent Hotel Pupp, she asks the desk clerkif the ceiling ever made her want to cry? This window made we want to cry. It was so beautiful and something magical about it. I thanked the man very much for the tour, and I hope I can find where to donate to their restoration work. I should have asked. duh.

I arrived in Munising around 18:15. It is a small town right on Lake Supieror, and its main industry is boats to Pictures Rocks and Kayaking expeditions. Of course there are restaurants and breweries to support tourism industry. So, after I walked, fed, and settled Buddha into our hotel, I drove back into town for dinner.

I chose a pizza place because it is easy to get a vegetarian pizza and the outdoor seating had a lake view. The pizza was not half bad, and I sat far away from all the families with small kids. They weren’t being obnoxious, but they were loud as kids are.

Then I decided to walk down the street by By George brewery to get a flight. Initially, I thought it might now work out well as the bartender was quite busy talking and didn’t notice me slip into the one last seat at the bar.

But it turned out to be a fun evening. I had a varied flight of five. A blueberry pancake Pilsner, a whit beer similar to a Blue moon, a dry stout, the hoppy Elephant Disco IPA, and pear cider. I know the blueberry beer sounds kinda weird, but it was actually much better than I expected. You could smell maple syrup (a local staple) and blueberry taste was not overpowering. I’d have to say the cider was my fave. Not too sweet and lots of pear flavor.

I was sorta eavesdropping on the two women next to me for awhile and then we started to chat. We covers a range of topics—family, politics, Michigan, birds, our dogs—you name it. When I told them I was looking at property, they wanted me to buy in Munising. They said I didn’t need lake shore. We exchanged numbers and I do believe they were genuine. Not the phony Minnesota nice that I’m used to.

And the recent shootings in Minnesota do expose the lack of nice. One thing many people don’t understand is that midwestern states have simmering racial tensions, immigrant hate, and political divisions as wide as other statea where you would expect or assume It exists. I hope the shooter is found soon and that the injured politician and his wife survive. The loss of the others cannot be undone and there are not enough thoughts and prayers to ease then pain for their relatives and friends. .