Day 5 started off with breakfast at the hotel. I am not fussy about breakfast and eggs,Oatmeal, sausage or bacon and coffee over and over suits me fine. Maybe some cold cereal now and then. Easily satisified
Anyhow, left out for Copper Harbor.
stopped for a couple waterfalls
Nice view of Lake Superior
Went up 41 to a road called 5 mile point road. Ran out along the lake front. Great road. Seems they really keep up the roads well here.
This road hooks up to rt 26 which runs all along the lake front to Copper Harbor.
There is an exit on this road that goes up to Brockway Mountain for some great views.
Next was Copper Harbor
Not a very big town at all but tons of Mom and Pop places to stay. Very biker friendly.
On the edge of town is Ft Wilkins.
Copper Harbor is located at the northern tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, bordering Lake Superior. It is one of the best natural harbors in Keweenaw County and was a quick focus of attention after copper was discovered on the peninsula in the 1830s. In the early 1840s, a copper rush took place that saw a flood of fortune-seekers moving to the peninsula. The U.S. government was concerned about possible disorder and violence, and lake shipping interests asked the government to build an aid to navigation so that essential supplies could be shipped in and the copper moved out. In 1844, Fort Wilkins was established at the direction of Secretary of War William Wilkins.
he U.S. Army occupied Fort Wilkins, located east of Copper Harbor, Michigan on the strait of land between Copper Harbor and northern shore of Lake Fanny Hooe, in 1844. The troops stationed there were intended to help with local law enforcement and to keep the peace between miners and the local Ojibwas;[5] some Chippewa opposed the Treaty of La Pointe that had ceded the area to the United States in 1842-1843.
However, the fort proved to be unnecessary. The Chippewa largely accepted the influx, and the miners were law-abiding. The Army built 27 structures, including a guardhouse, powder magazine, 7 officer's quarters, two barracks, two mess halls, hospital, storehouse, sutler's store, quartermaster's store, bakery, blacksmith's shop, carpenter's shop, icehouse, four quarters for married enlisted men, stables, and a slaughter house, to house the operations of two full-strength infantry companies. Several of these structures still survive. Others have been rebuilt following archaeological excavations.
When it was first garrisoned in 1844, two companies (A and B of the 5th infantry) were stationed there. When war was declared with Mexico, Companies A and B were sent to Texas and were replaced by Company K. When Company K was also sent to the Mexican front in 1846,[5] the fort was left in the hands of a single caretaker, Sgt. William Wright, the only man to remain behind.[6]
With the passing of Wright in 1855, the fort was leased to Dr. John S. Livermore, who hoped to open a health resort "for invalids and others during the hot months."[4] This plan fell through after his death in 1861.[7]
After the American Civil War, the U.S. army reoccupied Fort Wilkins for three years in 1867-1870. The U.S. Army needed a place for men to serve out the rest of their enlistments from the war. Company E, Forty-third Infantry, was stationed there from 1867 until May 1869, when they were replaced by Company K, First Infantry. The army permanently abandoned the facility at the end of August 1870.
There are folks who dress in the time and act out the time on the premisis
Lighthouse at the point.
Finished the day off with some fine Mexican food and fried Ice cream. Been a great trip so far with zero rain and 80 degrees. Tomorrow head out to Manitowoc WI. See you tomorrow.
