Ontonagon to the Porky's

I paddled 18 miles or so this morning. It took 4 hours. I decided to camp at the Union Bay campground with so much day left as the afternoon was supposed to be a stormy one. It's supposed to be light variable winds the next couple days so I hope it holds accurate. It rained as I was setting up my tarp but was then showers off and on...though one strong storm just missed us potentially with 60 MPH winds!

Oh..here's the sunset last night.. Not only did I have the 'night light' but they were shooting off serious fireworks last night as well.

Several fishing boats were out in front of the Ontonagon River

The Porky's in the distance

This is an old wooden shipwreck . Note the Great Blue Heron

No beach below the campground so I used the boat ramp

View the other way .. More storminess

West Sleeping River to Ontonagon

I hustled to get going this morning as up to 20 knot winds west winds were forecast. I figured to camp where I'd hoped to get to last night were it not for the storm. The Township Campground a mile from town. It was an easy 17 mile day and potentially a similar shorter day to Union Bay at the start of the Porky's but maybe I'll see if there is a beach access back country site and go further? Supposed to rain tomorrow afternoon so the campground doesn't sound too bad. Anyway here was today.. I left at 7:30 and reached the campground at 11. Only $15 for tenters!

The sunrise becomes more visible all the time .. Note the sand blown into the recesses of my secured kayak.

Fourteen Mile Point .. The old light house property is for sale.. Century 21

Just a ways from Ontonagon

I'm here .. Just in time for lunch

4th of July

Well I left 'campsite' at McLain State Park on the 4th. I wanted to do another long day and get to Ontonagon.. Or at least try. Early in the afternoon the slight ENE wind seemed to be creating waves bigger than it would seem. I heard distant rumbles but never saw anything. Then as I was headed for Fourteen Mile Point the sky ahead did begin to look dark.. I decided I best head for the beach in the bay and pulled into the mouth of the West Sleeping River. I took a swim in the river and then turned on the VHF radio.. They had this special marine warning going on so I started to prepare. Plenty of time an I waited and watched until I figured I might as well go in the tent? As much as I've always wanted to see a waterspout I hoped that portion of the warning wouldn't develop..and it didn't..that I saw. Anyway..it felt much better to be prepared than that much worse stormy night I spent in a changing room with no pad or sleeping bag..wondering if my boat and tent would still be there in the morning...

Leaving the north canal breakwaters .. The shore along the way...

The river mouth .. Preparing m boat for waterspouts?

Tenting in the woods

A storms a coming!

On toward Marquette Micigan

It would have been nice to spend more time in Munising but at $22 a night it was time to move on and try for some free camping for a change.
I was pleased to have heard back from Frida. Dave and Amy had met them and stayed there back in 2006. They live just east of Marquette right on the beach. I figured two days to get here but having left the Munising Tourist Park Campground at 8:40 am I found myself at the place Carl said I could camp by 1:40 pm. I thought about going all the way to Frida's but my shoulder was hurting enough after the 22 miles. Clearly I need to slow down or take more breaks to put in longer days. It's a bummer to have this shoulder that feels good for the first 5 miles.. Not too bad for the next.. Then becomes bothersome for some certain amount of miles then not as bad... It's a huge distraction to the enjoyment of my trip. I especially have a painful time when fighting into a headwind. It sure has been a windy June.. I thought that was one of the calmer months?

Shortly after leaving the city campground. Heading toward Fivemile Point

Au Train Point .. Crossing Au Train Bay to Au Train Island .. Now to find a spot for lunch

Lunch on Au Train Island

On toward Laughing Fish Point

Laughing Fish Point

Approaching the mouth of Laughing Whitefish River

A small boat ramp located about a quarter mile up the flowage from Superior.

My campsite and sunset

Munising Michigan

I left Beaver Creek campsite in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore this morning at 6:30 AM. I'll be posting all the awesome photos next. I got to the Munising Tourist Park Campground just after noon. Not bad for about 24 miles with a gimp right shoulder.
I called Carl from Northern Waters who came and gave me a ride to town as soon as he had a free moment. I'm at the Falling Rock Cafe downtown now several miles from where the campground is. $22 bucks a night for just one tent..one person. Next to my site is a large Boy Scout group on 2 sites. The city campground charges the same price per site for multiple vehicles and about 5 tents on each site. Must be 16 or 18 of them all together?
Anyway I'll buy dinner somewhere and resupply my food a bit and get a ride back to the campground later. This seems like a nice town. Carl gave me a bit of a tour before dropping me off at Falling Rock Cafe.
I'll head out toward Marquette in the morning.

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