Today we headed East along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Stopped at a waterfall trail that continued on to Lake Superior where the waves were breaking like it was the ocean. The wind shifted from out of the South to blowing from the North overnight. I’m sure glad Beth researched the weather and booked us on a boat tour yesterday!

We pass lots of natural beauty, before we get to the story of the pickle barrel, so please be patient.

Three hundred foot sand cliffs marked the next section of shoreline. Another waterfall trail led to a former log slide where trees had been pushed over the edge for rapid delivery to waiting boats.  Expansive views included a lighthouse down the shoreline and a watery horizon falling off the northern edge of the world. 

Signage warned that it only takes a few minutes to go down the slide but can take an hour to climb back up through the sand.

Grand Marais offered the chance to do laundry at their town campground. A wash and dry cycle provided just the right amount of time to take a walking tour of this harbor of refuge. Volunteers staffed a lighthouse keepers museum, an old post office, and my favorite, the Pickle Barrel House. A comic strip artist for the Chicago Tribune and his wife lived in this very unique dwelling. Beth found some Michigan  rocks  including a petosky stone at the Gitchi Gumi Agate shop.

Moving on, with clean laundry, we made it to Tahquamonon Falls campground in time to make dinner. Michigan raises some of their Park funds by charging higher access fees to out of state visitors. We purchased a pass, good for the rest of 2017, for $32. This is in addition to the nightly camping fees. The campground is almost full, but we have a reserved spot. We were in bed before sunset after a good dinner and very welcome hot showers.