Moving day again - this reminded us of our early days full-timing - moving every few days. We had become pretty comfortable with longer stays. Two weeks to a month was our norm for a long time, but this whirlwind tour of Michigan was extremely enjoyable with the variety of sights and activities.
Today's journey covered 94.7 miles (87,432.5 total) on secondary roads that were a pleasure to drive. Our next six nights were booked in Bay Furnace campground, part of the Hiawatha National Forest in Christmas, MI, just one mile west of Munising, MI. It was just a few miles from the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and we only paid $10 a night, half of the usual fee, using our America the Beautiful Park Pass.
Bay Furnace had no amenities. OK, there were a couple of outhouses and a tap where you could get fresh water in a bucket. That probably explained the distinct lack of people. I believe there were 6 sites occupied out of 23 when I walked Sam around.
What we did not realize, and will have to remember for our next visit, is that there was another Kewadin Casino (in Christmas, MI) directly across the highway from the park where we could have parked for free. They had two RV spaces with 50 amp power and 4 with 30 amp power, first come first served, free for up to four days.
In Bay Furnace, the Lake Superior shoreline was only a few steps away and we found what appeared to be obsidian (although I did not remember any volcanoes in Michigan) mixed with the sand and rocks everywhere. A very short walk down the beach made it all clear. There we found the remnants of the "Bay Furnace" where folks smelted ore into iron in the mid-19th century. After the iron cooled in the sand, the slag was piled along the shoreline. So, it's not naturally occurring obsidian, but it certainly was colorful!
Let me tell you, that water is COLD. Typically, in June, it is mid to high 40's
Bay Furnace is all that remains of
Onota, an iron-making settlement destroyed by fire in 1877.
Between 1858 and 1940, at least 29 Blast Furnaces flourished in Upper Michigan. Only the ruins here at Bay Furnace and ruins at Fayette State Park are intact and accessible to the public.
The intense heat (2,600 – 3,000
degrees) gradually destroyed the brick and stone furnace lining. At
least once a year the furnace would have to be shut down and masons
could enter these arches and rebuild the furnace core.
After a quick walk over to the water's edge, we were treated to a colorful sunset that perfectly capped another great day in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
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