May 23, 2016. Jampot and Ashland, WI.

May 23, 2016.  Jampot and Ashland, WI.  As we left Copper Harbor this morning, I drove to an overlook with Annie imploring me to stay off the steep, bumpy road.  This time, I ignored her and we were treated to a majestic view of the harbor and Lake Fannie Hooe.  The lake was named for the sister-in-law of the first commander of Fort Wilkins.  Evidently, the soldiers were taken by her beauty and memorialized her by naming the lake in her honor.  Our campsite last night was forty steps from the lake. 


We revisited the Holy Transfiguration Skete and the Jampot, an outlet for the sale of its jams and breads.  A  Skete is a monastic community in the Eastern Catholic tradition that allows relative isolation for monks but also allows for interaction with other worshipers.  We stopped here 3-4 years ago and sampled the lemon-rum cake.  This stop resulted in the purchase of thimbleberry jam and a slice of ginger-walnut cake.  Both are good, if slightly overpriced.  We counted the overage as a donation to the church.  The monk who took our money was a pleasant, talkative man in his mid-50s.  He said he had spent more than half his life at the monastery.  He wore a splendid, white beard and had an engaging smile.   I did not ask his name nor the proper way to address a monk.  He did say he was raised on the Upper Peninsula near Marquette.  I also didn't ask what drew him to a monastic life.  He may have considered that too personal.  At least, I thought it was too personal to ask.


I missed a turn today which resulted in a 16-mile detour.  In fact, we ended up at the terminus of an eight-mile dead end.  Annie was pleasant enough about the mistake.  Oh, she did make some offhand remark about my lack of "mental acuity" but I'm pretty sure she was just kidding.  I later drove off without closing the door on the fuel tank.  After a garbage truck flagged me down to tell me, Annie was very understanding.  She opined that it was pretty amazing that a guy like me could find the bathroom in Harvey.  I don't know what she meant.  Harvey is one room with a steering wheel in the front and the bathroom in the back.  What do you think she meant?


Tonight, we are in Ashland, WI, just below the peninsula that approaches the Apostle Islands. Our campsite backs up to Lake Superior.  The next-to-last picture is the view from our campsite.  The campground is owned and operated by the city of Ashland.  It is well maintained and the price is very competitive.  When we leave here in the morning, I would like to drive around the peninsula even if we don't visit an island.  That will slow our arrival in Duluth, but what else do we have to do? 


Chances are that we will make it to Duluth tomorrow.  Once there, we'll decide whether to continue north to the Canadian border.  I'll let you know when I know. 


Goodnight.