Heading West

We left Copper Harbor this morning to continue our trip west.  As we left town we came across this sign.

We are already a long way from home.  Today begins our third week on the road.  Where does the time go?
We took a photo near the end of US 41.  As you can see from the photo below it is quite a bit more peaceful than the US 41 we know back home.

This entire peninsula was known for its copper mines years ago.  It was America's first big mining rush.
The mountains around here still hold tons of copper but the mines have been closed for years.  We stopped at a rock and mineral shop along the highway.  The people who ran it told us all about the hay day of this area.  They had photos of huge chunks of copper pulled from the mine that filled an entire railroad car.

Old Mine Train

They said today rock hounds from all over the world come to dig through the tailings at some of the old mines in search of copper, minerals and old tools, some from miners and some from Indians before them.

Raw Copper As It Comes From The Mine

The miners of yesterday were not interested in small pieces like those pictured above.  They wanted the huge pieces and just threw the small stuff out with the tailings.  I asked them why, with the price of copper being so high now, the mines were not back in production.  She said the locals have been hoping for that for years.  There aren't many people living year around in these parts and work is even scarcer.  The mines would provide some good jobs.

My Copper From The Tailings

As we have been traveling across the UP (upper peninsula of Michigan)  we have seen many signs in front of homes and small business establishments advertising "Pasties - Made Fresh Daily".  What the heck is a pastie?  We decided to stop at one such establishment and get the the low down on pasties.

Note Pastie Sign On Corner Of Building

It turns out a pastie is a pastry stuffed with a hash like mixture of meat, potatoes, rutabagas and carrots.  When Darlie stopped in to inquire, the lady was just taking some hot ones out of the oven.  She said we stopped at the best place to try a pastie cause her's are the best.  I can't argue because I don't have anything to compare them too but let me tell you this.  They are delicious.  And the best part they were only $4.50 a piece.  

A Pastie

People on the UP call themselves Yoopers.  You see yooper this and yooper that.  I did manage to figure that out for myself though.  I am usually making a fool of myself by asking the obvious.

We came by this huge scale that shows how much snow these yoopers get up here each winter.  The top of this is the all time high of 390 inches.   Last year is marked by the arrow.

We found a nice little campground along Rt 2 in Minnesota tonight.  A big sign says campers welcome.  There are a dozen green sites for you to choose from.  No one is here to take money or anything.  You just pick a place and park.  Another couple also on their way to Alaska pulled in when we did.  We wonder if someone will come by later and collect or if we should just leave a donation in the morning.  I guess time will tell.

Our Campsite

Today I changed my jeans.  I put on a brand new pair I bought at the tractor supply and feed store.  Why would anyone buy jeans at a tractor supply?  The jeans they have in department stores are made for tight well shaped butts.  Even ones for potbellied old geezers are made that way.  They pinch and grab and are really uncomfortable to drive in.

I figured the only people buying jeans in a tractor supply store where old farmers who had spent their lives on a tractor seat.  The jeans here must be made to fit a tractor seat butt.  I thought it was worth a try.  After riding all day in these I can tell you now that I will be buying all my jeans at the tractor supply.  They fit just right.  Does that mean I have a butt shaped like a tractor seat?  It might just be.  But who's looking at an old butt like mine anyhow?