We've made our way to the U.P. once again, this time it's Isle Royale National Park or bust. But on the way to our IRNP, we stop in Munising to do something we've also never done before: visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore by boat. In order to do that, we stay in Munising. We also stop to view Grand Island from the mainland (all part of Grand Island National Recreation Area).
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| Dinner in Munising |
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| Grand Island National Recreation Area |
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| Sunrise over Lake Superior from our Munising Hotel |
The views of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore are splendid by boat. We enjoy the ride a great deal. And although it is cloudy at times, the rock colors come alive during the brief periods of sunshine.
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| About to board |
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| One of the many arches |
After disembarking, we drive another two and a half hours to Houghton, and it begins to rain. This is bad, because it looks like it will continue. For days.
The thing is, we received notice a week ago that our Isle Royale day trip by boat from Copper Harbor was canceled. I'd hurriedly tried to find other means to get to the island, but the other boats weren't going to work for us, either. Most were closing down for the season. Our only practical option was Isle Royale Seaplanes. I booked an expensive day trip with them.
We are now concerned about the bad weather, and possibly getting stranded if we make it there but can't get back. Of course, they themselves won't cancel until the last minute. From our Houghton hotel, we show up, only to learn that our trip is indeed canceled and we'll receive a refund. We're relieved to not have to further worry about the whole thing.
But now we have to come back next year or later. Maybe not so far off-season next time.
