Learning to talk like a Yooper

We crossed into the state of Michigan yesterday, and we continue our drive across the Upper Peninsula of this state today. We are surprised to see so many orange and red leaves as we learn more about this peninsula. For example, from now on we won't say "upper peninsula" but instead "U.P." like the locals. These locals also proudly call themselves "yoopers" and use phrases like "you-betcha" when they agree, and "uff da" when they don't. Instead of saying "y'all" like us southerners, they say "you's guys."

Just like yesterday, we're making a couple stops on the way to our next camping destination. That complicates a moving day, as it's usually not easy to find a parking place for a 52-foot vehicle like our motor home towing a car. But we snagged a long space at the Agate Falls parking lot and set off to see the falls. There is a view-point that gets a glimpse of the water, but for the best look we had to do some hiking on a rugged trail.

That brought us to the river, with good views of Apache Falls with the railroad trestle overhead. You's guys would have thought it was beautiful too.

Mark goes to great lengths to get the best angle for a picture. He'll crawl out on leaning tree branches . . .

and step out onto the rocks sticking out of the river to get his picture. He's a good picture-taker, you betcha!

We had an even harder time finding a parking place at the popular Canyon Falls. Uff da! Our hike here brought us to another of those root beer waterfalls.

The hike to the big falls was along the river, with a scattering of little falls along the way.

This area is called the Grand Canyon of the U.P. and we saw several Yoopers jumping off the canyon walls into the river below. We just thought to ourselves, "You's guys better be careful!"

Our camp site tonight is in the town of Baraga. That name sounds familiar to us, as it is the missionary priest who named the Cross River that we saw while on the north shore of Lake Superior. We see that he also had an impact here on the south shore. Besides naming the town for him, a 35-foot statue was erected high on the hill overlooking town. He is called "The Snowshoe Priest" because that was his only mode of transportation to get to his missions in the U.P. in the winter. The Native Americans loved and respected him because he learned to speak their language fluently.

The statue seems even bigger, since it is floating above the ground on a metal cloud. This much-loved priest has that heavenly glow about him with the sun right behind his head today.

Our new little home town is situated on the Keweenaw Bay of Lake Superior, so we took a walk down to the water. Just as Mark snapped the picture, a juvenile eagle soared overhead. That's neat--you betcha! 

Denisa can't help but take a picture of every lighthouse, even though this one has been allowed to fall into disrepair in Baraga. Uff da!

Just a short drive up the coast, we found this mature eagle hanging out in the branches next to the road. He was very patient as we took pictures.

Denisa happened to snap a picture just as he lost patience with us and leaped into the air.

A short drive up the Keweenaw Peninsula brought us to the local find of the day--a blueberry farm. This u-pick farm asks that you weigh your berries yourself, and leave the money in the locked box. We are experienced at picking wild blueberries, but they are usually found on bushes that hug the ground, and it is a back-breaking job. So picking domesticated blueberries on these tall bushes is easy--you betcha!

They are also much bigger and more plentiful than the wild berries, so it takes fewer berries to make something yummy. From doing some in-the-field research, however, we found that the best tasting were the smaller, less ripe berries.

There are many acres of blueberry bushes on this little farm, and we could have picked here for days!

They also have a grove of apple trees, that look like they are getting close to another harvest season. 

After our berry picking, we headed back to the shore for a walk along the Portage canal. We are loving the cool temperatures of the U.P., with highs in the 70s and cool breezes off the water. You betcha!

It looks like the day's catch has already been brought in, as those ugly fishing boats are already docked this afternoon. Uff da!

We finish our day at the little village of L'anse, where they are hosting a free concert at the waterfront park in town. We fit right in with the yoopers, as we enjoyed the fiddle-playing band.

By our standards, we are zipping across the U.P., as this is our second one-night stop in a row. Uff da! But we have a schedule to keep for an upcoming trip. So we are traveling faster than usual as we explore this beautiful part of the country that we now know as the U.P.--you betcha!