Northwoods Day 7 B - Iron Mountain Michigan. Rest Day

Northwoods Day 7 B - Iron Mountain Michigan

Oct 1

Miles 6??

Surprise surprise surprise. 

Woke up to sunshine and mostly blue skies, at least while they lasted. 

It is a balmy 43 degrees out there at 9AM, with a get your attention steady breeze out of the north. Glad I am not riding today (though I COULD have if needed! ;-), as I am not feeling very energetic. I didn't make it to Lake Fumee Park and it's bike trails, farther than I thought at 3 miles there. I will explore some of mining history instead.

There are ruins right next to my hotel for an experimental iron ore process prototype, the Ardis. Plus aging fruit trees which I pick up a few more apples and a couple of green pears.

It is at times sunny, and at times serious sprinkling, and at times both! I thought that only happened out West. 

On my history tour, I ride over to the Cornish Pump, which has a huge 40' diameter flywheel, powered by steam which could pump 200 tons of water a minute out of the mines. Unfortunately, the exhibit was Covid closed.

I do ride by an enormous smoke stack standing by itself on this side of history.

So I ride over to check out the library, could've been a place to hang between hotel checkout time and my brothers arrival. I'm sorry, that is also covid closed for general use. 

So I ride up to the Millie Hill Park to check out the bat cave (millie mine actually) no bats, but nice overlook of town.

The Millie Hill Park also has several mtb trails, and I ride a couple of Michigan trails. finally. Got me yet another MTB state to add to my list. I ride through groves of sumac, if only their leaves had not yet fallen. Did a berm trail off the top

Ride back through histic downtown to get some groceries. The grocery store is attached to a small mall, so I may have a indoor place to hang to tomorrow when it is in the 30s.

The sign says no loitering ( or bikes, or skateboarding), guess i will have to window shopp for a couple hours

can you find Toto?

And finally, a "sign" the rise above political speech; thank goodness, literally!