After staying the night in a suburb of Raleigh and relaxing from the day on the road the previous day I got the oil on the van changed... it was overdue.
After noon I headed to the Raleigh airport and the Southwest terminal.
I was anxious to see my wife, my son and my granddaughter arrive on time at the Southwest terminal.
We left the airport and drove to the same hotel that I had stayed at the night before.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Cross Country Trip, (Day 9), North Carolina
The drive through the rest of Lower Michigan was the worst part of the trip by far. This extended into and beyond Toledo, Ohio.
The reason for this was the rush hour and crazy Detroit drivers.
I grew up in Detroit from 1949 - 1964 and I was familiar with the layout of the city to some extent and I had also worked in Detroit for my company from time to time in the late 90's and 00's but this was quite different than my memories.
I decided that I would never drive through Detroit ever again and figured that I would never need to be in that city every again.
My next stop was Hickory North Carolina. We had lived there from 92 - 96 and loved the proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway. I also had a friend, a former coworker, that I planned to have breakfast with during my two day stay there.
I decided to stay in my former mother-in-law's house as it was in the process of selling and was still not occupied and I had a key. Mom B had died the year ago and it was sad to be there without her and other family members. This gave me an opportunity to take a break from the road and have a home base to wash the van that was covered in bugs and do laundry. I also wanted to take a probable last trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway... I doubted I would be back again as we no longer had family there.
The next morning I had made arrangements to meet up with my former coworker at the place we often had breakfast when we lived there the local Crackle Barrel. My friend Haven and I had the same job at the company we worked at in town and we got together when travel afforded it.
I had to be at the airport in Raleigh in the afternoon of the 16th so I had the day of the 15th to head up to Grandfather Mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway and then head east to Raleigh to stay overnight and be sure I wouldn't be late to pick them up.
Grandfather Mountain is now a state park. It was once a private tourist attraction but when the owner died it was handed over to the state to maintain.
The Mile High Swinging Bridge is probably the biggest attraction as well as the small zoo where kids can get a good view of all the animals.
These photos are from the park, bridge and zoo.
The reason for this was the rush hour and crazy Detroit drivers.
I grew up in Detroit from 1949 - 1964 and I was familiar with the layout of the city to some extent and I had also worked in Detroit for my company from time to time in the late 90's and 00's but this was quite different than my memories.
I decided that I would never drive through Detroit ever again and figured that I would never need to be in that city every again.
My next stop was Hickory North Carolina. We had lived there from 92 - 96 and loved the proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway. I also had a friend, a former coworker, that I planned to have breakfast with during my two day stay there.
I decided to stay in my former mother-in-law's house as it was in the process of selling and was still not occupied and I had a key. Mom B had died the year ago and it was sad to be there without her and other family members. This gave me an opportunity to take a break from the road and have a home base to wash the van that was covered in bugs and do laundry. I also wanted to take a probable last trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway... I doubted I would be back again as we no longer had family there.
The next morning I had made arrangements to meet up with my former coworker at the place we often had breakfast when we lived there the local Crackle Barrel. My friend Haven and I had the same job at the company we worked at in town and we got together when travel afforded it.
I had to be at the airport in Raleigh in the afternoon of the 16th so I had the day of the 15th to head up to Grandfather Mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway and then head east to Raleigh to stay overnight and be sure I wouldn't be late to pick them up.
Grandfather Mountain is now a state park. It was once a private tourist attraction but when the owner died it was handed over to the state to maintain.
The Mile High Swinging Bridge is probably the biggest attraction as well as the small zoo where kids can get a good view of all the animals.
These photos are from the park, bridge and zoo.
Cross Country Trip, (Day 6), Atlantic Mine, Houghton & Hancock
I wanted to drive by my grandmother's homes in Atlantic Mine a very small community just south of Houghton.
Many of these towns were created to house the local copper miners. Both Winona and Atlantic Mine are two of those. The entire region of the Keweenaw Peninsula is rich in copper that created many mines from White Pine to Copper Harbor.
I was born in Hancock across the Portage Canal from Houghton. The first house I lived in was my grandmother's farm house nearby the little town of Atlantic Mine.
My goal was to find that house if I could recall the exact location... it had been decades since I had been there.
I drove over to that area looking for it and eventually discovered Harma road, named after her second husband's family. I recorded a video of this search and discovery.
The farm itself was off Becker road in this location.
Later, my grandmother moved from the farm into Atlantic Mine so I wanted to find that house as well and eventually did after getting somewhat disoriented as the small town had many changes to the grown trees and new houses but I eventually did and also made a video of that discovery noting the obvious difference there now was with the current occupants.
I decided to cross the Portage Canal and drive into Hancock to see what might have changed. It had been about ten years since I was last there and recorded a video of my travels up and down the steep hill on that side of the canal.
On the way up the hill to see my aunt I decided to stop and take a photo of the Old Barn that my dad had turned into a video tape rental business in the 80's after his retirement. He did a lot of upgrades to the building with a new roof and other improvements.
It eventually was sold and used for a couple of other businesses.
I had planned to visit my aunt Eva while I was in town. She had lived in Winona most of her life and had moved to an assisted living apartment some years ago in Houghton. I finally was able to call her and had a nice visit with her and her step sister Peggy.
Many of these towns were created to house the local copper miners. Both Winona and Atlantic Mine are two of those. The entire region of the Keweenaw Peninsula is rich in copper that created many mines from White Pine to Copper Harbor.
I was born in Hancock across the Portage Canal from Houghton. The first house I lived in was my grandmother's farm house nearby the little town of Atlantic Mine.
My goal was to find that house if I could recall the exact location... it had been decades since I had been there.
I drove over to that area looking for it and eventually discovered Harma road, named after her second husband's family. I recorded a video of this search and discovery.
The farm itself was off Becker road in this location.
Later, my grandmother moved from the farm into Atlantic Mine so I wanted to find that house as well and eventually did after getting somewhat disoriented as the small town had many changes to the grown trees and new houses but I eventually did and also made a video of that discovery noting the obvious difference there now was with the current occupants.
I decided to cross the Portage Canal and drive into Hancock to see what might have changed. It had been about ten years since I was last there and recorded a video of my travels up and down the steep hill on that side of the canal.
On the way up the hill to see my aunt I decided to stop and take a photo of the Old Barn that my dad had turned into a video tape rental business in the 80's after his retirement. He did a lot of upgrades to the building with a new roof and other improvements.
It eventually was sold and used for a couple of other businesses.
I had planned to visit my aunt Eva while I was in town. She had lived in Winona most of her life and had moved to an assisted living apartment some years ago in Houghton. I finally was able to call her and had a nice visit with her and her step sister Peggy.
Aunt Eva and Peggy
Since my trip from Ashland Wisconsin to the Lake of the Clouds and then to Houghton and Hancock had taken up a good part of the day I needed to get started down the road if I was going to keep to my schedule of crossing the Mackinaw Bridge and making a video of that crossing. I felt that it could very well be the last time that I would be to the U.P. again, at least to cross the bridge.
I made it to Gaylord to stay for the night and head out early in the morning to drive through Detroit and Ohio.
Cross Country Trip, (Day 6), The U.P. Lake Of The Clouds & Winona
Leaving Ashland early in the morning... I never wait till 6-7am for the free hotel "breakfasts" as I rarely eat breakfasts anyway and in the summer I like to start early... 5am is typical.
I'm heading to the place of my birth in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
I plan to see just one person while there and then move on across the Big Mac bridge and to the mitten of Michigan.
But I also want to make a photography stop at the Lake of The Clouds near Lake Superior in the Porcupine Mountains.
I took some photos of the shore of Lake Superior but had to fend of the hordes of gnats that seem to be everywhere. During the summer bugs of all kinds take over the lakes and woods. And most of them bite or sting and can be a deterrent to staying outdoors. Such was the case then entire time I was in the U.P..
I'm heading to the place of my birth in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
I plan to see just one person while there and then move on across the Big Mac bridge and to the mitten of Michigan.
But I also want to make a photography stop at the Lake of The Clouds near Lake Superior in the Porcupine Mountains.
I took some photos of the shore of Lake Superior but had to fend of the hordes of gnats that seem to be everywhere. During the summer bugs of all kinds take over the lakes and woods. And most of them bite or sting and can be a deterrent to staying outdoors. Such was the case then entire time I was in the U.P..
Lake Superior
Lake Of The Clouds Overlook
One of the things I wanted to do was stop by my dad's grave in the small cemetery of Winona. I know that my mom and my aunt had not been there in quite some time to weed and take care of it and I wanted to see if I could clean it up a bit. But again, the gnats were so bad that I could only stay a minute or so while I walked around to find the grave. I had not been there since he had been buried back in 1995 and couldn't recall the exact location. I recorded a video while I searched for it.
Cross Country Trip (Day 5), Bemdji Minnesota
After an all day drive on the fourth day across Montana and half of North Dakota without taking photographs I stayed the night in Kenmare ND at the Quilt Inn. One of the nicest and least expensive hotels along the route east. There was a small resistant adjacent to the hotel called Dave's Place where I had a large meal.
While I didn't want to rush this trip, I also had to be in Raleigh SC to pick up my family at the airport when they arrived. I had driven this route a number of times before so I was going over familiar turf and felt no need to stop for long.
One of my former coworkers here in Oregon had moved home to Bemdji some years ago and had taken a photo of a Humpty Dumpty funny creation on the corner of Beltrami and 3rd in town so as I was traveling through town I wanted to take a selfie with this crazy piece of art.
There were other interesting sculptures on all of the corners as well.
I was finally time to fins a place to bunk after driving through Duluth and Superior Wisconsin and ended up at the Super 8 in Ashland.
And for some reason I decided to photograph this scene:
While I didn't want to rush this trip, I also had to be in Raleigh SC to pick up my family at the airport when they arrived. I had driven this route a number of times before so I was going over familiar turf and felt no need to stop for long.
One of my former coworkers here in Oregon had moved home to Bemdji some years ago and had taken a photo of a Humpty Dumpty funny creation on the corner of Beltrami and 3rd in town so as I was traveling through town I wanted to take a selfie with this crazy piece of art.
There were other interesting sculptures on all of the corners as well.
I was finally time to fins a place to bunk after driving through Duluth and Superior Wisconsin and ended up at the Super 8 in Ashland.
And for some reason I decided to photograph this scene:
Cross Country Trip (Day 3), Part 3 East Glacier N.P.
Since an avalanche had shut down the Going To The Sun road, a trip to East Glacier N.P. meant that I had to head back down to the west park entrance and pick up US Highway 2 and drive east.
It's a drive I had made a few times before and new what to expect... it winds around The Middle Fork of the Flathead River and along the railroad track that I traveled on in 2013 riding Amtrak from St. Paul, Minnesota.
On my first trip though in 2004 I photographed a freight train moving along that stretch of the track.
It's a drive I had made a few times before and new what to expect... it winds around The Middle Fork of the Flathead River and along the railroad track that I traveled on in 2013 riding Amtrak from St. Paul, Minnesota.
On my first trip though in 2004 I photographed a freight train moving along that stretch of the track.
Railroad Freighter along Highway 2 in 2004
The East Entrance to the park is much smaller and the services are limited there as well but the roads are winding and rough in places as you head north to the lakes area.
On our Amtrak trip through the East Glacier station, we got out and while stretching our legs I recorded this short video.
East Glacier National Park is east of the Continental Divide. All rivers flow to the Gulf of Mexico eventually from this point.
East Glacier is also very different from West Glacier. Not as wooded is the main difference. Very open and more wildflowers on the open slopes. There are more roads beyond highway 49 but they are rough and narrow. Highway 49 eventually connects to highway 89 which is in much better condition than 49.
There are more small streams and creeks as well. There are more than six large lakes that afford a lot of water craft and fishing. Highway 89 will take you north to St. Mary's Visitor Center and the lodge and cabins there.
The vistas are very broad and open as well and I captured some nice photographs all around the area.
While traveling 89 I was pulled over taking photos and another person drove up and we talked for a while and he offered to take a photo of me and I took him up on that offer. This is one of the few photos of me during this solo stretch of the drive east.
The lakes are very reflective of the sky and blue much of the time. I took a short video from an over look on St. Mary Lake looking toward Wild Goose Island. It was so windy that what I was saying on the video didn't get recorded well enough to understand.
The end of the long third finally arrived and I bunked up at the closest hotel near the west park entrance at the Holiday Inn Express in Browning, MT.
It was here that I observed one of the most beautiful sunsets of the entire trip.
On our Amtrak trip through the East Glacier station, we got out and while stretching our legs I recorded this short video.
East Glacier National Park is east of the Continental Divide. All rivers flow to the Gulf of Mexico eventually from this point.
East Glacier is also very different from West Glacier. Not as wooded is the main difference. Very open and more wildflowers on the open slopes. There are more roads beyond highway 49 but they are rough and narrow. Highway 49 eventually connects to highway 89 which is in much better condition than 49.
There are more small streams and creeks as well. There are more than six large lakes that afford a lot of water craft and fishing. Highway 89 will take you north to St. Mary's Visitor Center and the lodge and cabins there.
The vistas are very broad and open as well and I captured some nice photographs all around the area.
While traveling 89 I was pulled over taking photos and another person drove up and we talked for a while and he offered to take a photo of me and I took him up on that offer. This is one of the few photos of me during this solo stretch of the drive east.
The lakes are very reflective of the sky and blue much of the time. I took a short video from an over look on St. Mary Lake looking toward Wild Goose Island. It was so windy that what I was saying on the video didn't get recorded well enough to understand.
The end of the long third finally arrived and I bunked up at the closest hotel near the west park entrance at the Holiday Inn Express in Browning, MT.
It was here that I observed one of the most beautiful sunsets of the entire trip.
Cross Country Trip (Day 3), Part 2 The Avalanche Trail
Driving north on the Going To The Sun road approaching the Avalanche Creek Picnic and Campground it was obvious that something was not quite right.
Cars were starting to slow down and turn around.
People were out of their cars and walking around and there was really no typical traffic coming from the high road.
I decided to park and check things out.
The road was blocked off across the Avalanche Creek Bridge. Why? You guessed it, an avalanche had closed down the road for some days and maybe weeks to come. Bummer. Again my goal was not met.
So now that happy accident thing.
Since I had most of the day left I made the decision to hike a bit on the Avalanche Trail Loop and take some photos. I had brought my old Nikon F4 35mm film camera with a 300mm zoom lens and my Sony NEX-6 with the standard kit zoom lens that I've taken thousands of photographs with.
At the time I started the hike I had no idea that this would be one of those physically stressful ones.
But after gathering my gear... and I didn't think to bring water as I expected to be back in half an hour, I started toward the trail head.
Then I noticed something interesting in the bushes. These little guys getting ready to escape their nest to start their lives.
I figured that these sort of creepy caterpillars would be something my grand kids might find interesting to see later on in these photos.
And the first wetland crossing along the trail was easy enough and indicated it was ADA compliant and would mean that I'd be back to the van soon.
Hiking further down the trail, things started to get more and more natural without the need for boardwalks but still pretty level and wheelchair accessible but the forest was getting more dense and more interesting along the way and I took photos of things that I found interesting along the trail and creekside too.
Then arriving at the last boardwalk I discover that happy accident that I had not expected. A beautiful active slot canyon where Avalanche Creek was roaring through. It was a beautiful site. I set up my tripod and NEX-6 and started to shoot long exposures.
This trail information sign was at the beginning of the climb and the continuation off of the easy hike of the loop system back to the parking lot. And this was the start of my physically stressful hike, that hike that I didn't plan to take and didn't bring water for...
If you read the legend, it is a two mile hike while gaining 500' in elevation and this doesn't seem like much to start with at the beginning but toward the end on the return trip I was really dehydrated and my ankle was a bit sore from climbing over rocks and roots most of the way. There was nothing on the flat so to speak. It was up and down and then up again all the way to the lake.
There were some folks that had obviously planned well for the hike just ahead of me at the trailhead and I took a few photos for them.
And the two mile hike eventually ended at the lake and it was truly worth the climb. The color of the water was perfect and it was obvious that many had started the hike earlier in the morning.
There was a lone fisherman there and I wasn't sure what he was fishing for in that glacier fed very cold lake.
A mentioned that I brought my Nikon F4 with a long zoom lens and I used it to capture some distant very high waterfalls. I was shooting ISO 400 film that day as I did for my entire trip. Here are some of the photos taken with that rig.
The hike back down was less stressful but much harder on my ankles and feet in general and I took more photos on the trail itself. I was not alone on the hike back as a deer also decided to make the trip just yards away for about a quarter mile or so and I snapped some shots of him.
Cars were starting to slow down and turn around.
People were out of their cars and walking around and there was really no typical traffic coming from the high road.
I decided to park and check things out.
The road was blocked off across the Avalanche Creek Bridge. Why? You guessed it, an avalanche had closed down the road for some days and maybe weeks to come. Bummer. Again my goal was not met.
So now that happy accident thing.
Since I had most of the day left I made the decision to hike a bit on the Avalanche Trail Loop and take some photos. I had brought my old Nikon F4 35mm film camera with a 300mm zoom lens and my Sony NEX-6 with the standard kit zoom lens that I've taken thousands of photographs with.
At the time I started the hike I had no idea that this would be one of those physically stressful ones.
But after gathering my gear... and I didn't think to bring water as I expected to be back in half an hour, I started toward the trail head.
Then I noticed something interesting in the bushes. These little guys getting ready to escape their nest to start their lives.
I figured that these sort of creepy caterpillars would be something my grand kids might find interesting to see later on in these photos.
And the first wetland crossing along the trail was easy enough and indicated it was ADA compliant and would mean that I'd be back to the van soon.
Hiking further down the trail, things started to get more and more natural without the need for boardwalks but still pretty level and wheelchair accessible but the forest was getting more dense and more interesting along the way and I took photos of things that I found interesting along the trail and creekside too.
Then arriving at the last boardwalk I discover that happy accident that I had not expected. A beautiful active slot canyon where Avalanche Creek was roaring through. It was a beautiful site. I set up my tripod and NEX-6 and started to shoot long exposures.
This trail information sign was at the beginning of the climb and the continuation off of the easy hike of the loop system back to the parking lot. And this was the start of my physically stressful hike, that hike that I didn't plan to take and didn't bring water for...
If you read the legend, it is a two mile hike while gaining 500' in elevation and this doesn't seem like much to start with at the beginning but toward the end on the return trip I was really dehydrated and my ankle was a bit sore from climbing over rocks and roots most of the way. There was nothing on the flat so to speak. It was up and down and then up again all the way to the lake.
There were some folks that had obviously planned well for the hike just ahead of me at the trailhead and I took a few photos for them.
And the two mile hike eventually ended at the lake and it was truly worth the climb. The color of the water was perfect and it was obvious that many had started the hike earlier in the morning.
There was a lone fisherman there and I wasn't sure what he was fishing for in that glacier fed very cold lake.
A mentioned that I brought my Nikon F4 with a long zoom lens and I used it to capture some distant very high waterfalls. I was shooting ISO 400 film that day as I did for my entire trip. Here are some of the photos taken with that rig.
The hike back down was less stressful but much harder on my ankles and feet in general and I took more photos on the trail itself. I was not alone on the hike back as a deer also decided to make the trip just yards away for about a quarter mile or so and I snapped some shots of him.
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