Hiawatha and the U.P.Jul 11, 2010
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Gorg - ous Trail today.
Carp River Gorge
Forest seen on Gorg - ous Trail
| As we were driving along M553 today, spellbound by unending trees, I decided this must be what makes the Upper Penninsula so unique ... tall timbers, speading evergreens, velvety floors beneath, and a soft, hushed world. Before our travels began in 2007, I bought a book called "The Most Scenic Drives in America." Essentially a coffee-table book, it points out things of interest when traveling certain routes across the USA. Today, reading the section on the Upper Penninsula, I was struck by the fact that this very area we are criss-crossing every day is the setting -- the 'unspoiled Eden' -- of Longfellow's, Song of Hiawatha! Traces of Longfellow's legacy can be found all around here. As a matter of fact, the owner of our campground (Gitchee Gumme) is so crazy about the Hiawatha story that he has chiseled pictures into boulders all over the park -- portraits of the main characters. Jeff is quite the artist! (Photos above) Just to see the highlights of the Upper Penninsula, east to west (or vice versa), would take you 400 miles. But you will have the privilege of seeing three of the Great Lakes, and as many white pines, oaks, aspens, cedars and hemlocks as you can count! Since this is our third trip to Michigan (second time in the U.P.), we will miss Mackinac Island this year. (If interested in notes and pictures of places visited in the U.P. last summer -- Mackinac, Sault Ste Marie, Pictured Rock, and Manistique -- you can click on the 2009 journal posted last year.) We are, however, planning an overnight trip to Tahquamenon Falls this week or next. Today Jim and I took a hiking map and searched for all the trail locations we could find. Since weather wasn't ideal, I mostly wanted to get my bearings. But we did take a short hike off M553 called "Gorg - ous Trail." Ha! A play on words, the trail dead-ends at a gorge on the Carp River. (Pictures included) All day it has looked like rain any minute, but just now (8:30), it has finally begun to pour in buckets! I feel kind of guilty about not going to the beach the last 2 days (especially sunny yesterday!!) but, hopefully, I will be able to go more often this week. |
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