Iron Mountain, Michigan

     Another driving day and we didn't do anything that fits into a small story arc, so this is, yet again, a series of notes and observations:
     Just west of Blind River Ontario we passed 4 bald eagles perching on rocks in the middle of a river, while across the road and behind a livestock fence 3 white tailed deer were grazing in a small meadow.  This trip has suffered a noteable shortage of large animals, (with the bison-sized exception of Wind Cave N.P.) so the eagles especially were a treat. 
   In the same area someone welded a bunch of old bicycles together to use as a fence.  An interesting bit of semi folk art. 
   We have passed three pontoon boats shrink-wrapped in blue plastic.  The sine qua non of winterization.
   The residents of the Michigan Upper Peninsula have christened themselves "yoopers"  -- "We're in America by law, but we're Yoopers by choice."
    Finally:  We stopped at a service station in Seney, Michigan for biological necessity (aka -- take a whizz).
The service station, self called "The Party Place" also had the usual 7-11 type snack food, a closed deli, a large selection of knives (butcher, hunting, novelty, swords, bowie, etc) an equally large selection of ammo, and a selection of real pelts.  Including bear, fox (red and blue), skunk, otter, beaver and weasel ($22.50)
    A service station nonpareil in my life experience.  DA

Yeah, it was an uneventful day with a lot of driving.  The fall color was classic.  It was the sunny fall day of calendars and coffee table books.   Even the U.S. customs guy asked if the fall color was good up in Ontario and it was.  Plenty of tour buses in Algonquin Park for the holiday weekend.  Monday is Thanksgiving Day in Canada so plenty of people were traveling and enjoying the fall colors.  I've enjoyed seeing the foliage and am very glad for the sun after all the rain last week.  At least returning to Portland we should be going through weather systems instead of traveling with them.  I hope anyway.  Tomorrow the Concrete Park in Phillips, WI and visiting a friend in Bruce, WI.    dw