We decided to go west to Marquette, visit the college city and wait out a forecasted rain storm and high winds We scooted across Lake Superior in absolutely calm seas and saw no one on our 40 nm trip. Sea depth ranged from 20 ft to 360 ft. I’m glad we were able to experience Lake Superior at her calm. The water color is tremendously and mysteriously blue.

Marquette is the largest city in the U. P. with a population of about 21,000. Historically its claim to fame was that of a trading post and then an iron ore shipping port. Today it’s home to Northern Michigan University as well as an iron ore port. I’ve learned the U. P. comprises about one third the land mass of the State of MI yet its population is only 300,000 people. There are several national forests and many state parks throughout the U. P.

We’re in the Cinder Pool Marina very near an abandoned ore shipping building. I am told rail cars loaded with iron ore pellets travel down from the surrounding mountains to the port building where the rail cars unload into awaiting ships. The railroad engines lacked sufficient horsepower so railroads were designed to use gravity to help propel them to the lake side. When empty the rail cars would be returned to the mines under their own power. Meanwhile, lake freighters could transport greater loads more efficiently than rail.

Marquette boasts an active and vibrant downtown area filled with retail shops and restaurants all within walking distance from the marina. We availed ourselves to a wonderful dinner at Elizabeth’s Chop House and enjoyed a view overlooking the harbor.

Our weather window continues to present present a mixed bag of sunny and warm days together with a rain and storm front. Due to the much colder water temps relative to the air temp, fog is a constant threat depending on wind direction. This is compounded by smoke from reported forest fires burning in Ontario. Stay tuned for our departure plans.