O-Kun-De-Kun

Last month when I drove up to a new section of the Upper Peninsula I was greeted by roadsides lined with lupine in bloom.

I mean, who wouldn't love that?  I might not have heard any loons, but you can't have it all.

Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula have been experiencing a wetter than normal summer, to put it mildly.  It has made my vow to get hiking again a little difficult. I've done more road walking than I ever have in my life out of necessity.

I didn't want to be deterred when I stayed overnight at Lake Gogebic State Park not far from Ironwood, and I wasn't.  I was chased by mosquitoes and in spots have to jump from one less-muddy spot to another, but I got a 2 mile hike in the woods accomplished before retiring to my tent.

Umm, after a shower first.

I thought about just jumping into the lake with the birds but they ran away from me.

I found a moose who didn't run away from me.  Of course he wasn't real, but still fun to see.

And a sign on highway 45 pointing to the parking lot for O-Kun-De-Kun Falls and the North Country Trail had me doing a U-Turn to go for a mid-day walk in between appointments.

I won't bore you with more muddy pictures, but be assured that the trail was sloppy.

Apparently there is a suspension bridge nearby over the Baltimore River but since this was just a lucky find I did not get to see it and will have to try to find it next time I go through.

It was nice to rinse off the sweat and enjoy the mosquito free river before heading back to the lot for a roundtrip of about 3 miles.  It's beautiful country up there from Ironwood to Houghton, I can't wait to see it in the fall!

I bought a state park sticker on my trip, but truthfully I would recommend the county park campgrounds up there, they look just as nice for less!