Last week I took my annual trip to the Gull Rock Lighthouse in Lake Superior, Michigan.
A little background here.
Gull Rock is a half acre rock 2.5 miles east off the Keweenaw peninsula in Michigan's upper peninsula...eh.
For some details and recent happenings on the Rock, check out this article.
For the first time in over 100 years, we we're able to get a newspaper and TV reporter out to the rock during the first phase of the restoration. The last time Pete tried to get the media out to the rock, the weather got rough and he had to cancel the trip.
I've been going up to this lighthouse since 2004 when my good friend, Peter Annin, suggested a fishing trip and surprised me with a tour of the deteriorated lighthouse during that trip. It was then that he told me of his plan to create a nonprofit organization and completely restore Gull Rock Lighthouse to it's original condition. "I'm in" I told him.
The past few years we've been patching holes in the roof and delivering some lumber for other basic repairs...and doing a little fishing. One of these days, I plan to swim the 2.5 miles from the mainland to the rock. Pete has told me that the best time of year to do this would be late August when the water is the warmest...55 degrees. Timing for good weather is the other factor that has to be dealt with. The wind, waves and currents have taken a few boats, ships, and people over the years and I don't want to make that list.
added safety note to recent comments: I would have Pete in his Zodiak boat as escort and safety support...and blankets, hot buttered rum, and warm pasties at the swim exit.
I've known Pete, and his younger brother and sister, since high school swim team and it's been a non-stop series of adventures ever since. We've been hunting, camping, fishing, swimming, SCUBA diving, backpacking, and having the occasional drink for the past 29 years. He's always got my back and I do the same for him and his family.
This trip was a great 3 day break from Ironman training and I'm now fresh and ready for the next 3 weeks before taper starts.
4 comments:
As always, the pictures are STUNNING. I was going to ask you if you swam out there, but from what you say about the currents, I'm glad you haven't yet. Promise you'll take a kayak with you when you finally do it, okay?
Oh, and by the way, rock on about preserving a rickety old building for posterity. When you finish the project will you organize the Pete and Benson Save the Rock swim to Gull Rock complete with beers and blankets at the finish? You can count on me to be there... as long as there are lots of kayaks...
Fantastic pics! Awesome about the restoration. Also like the pics from bike commuting.
gorgeous spot- and how great to be involved in such a worhtwhile conservation project :) think hard about that swim, eh? It'd be extremely cool, but a Kayak sounds good idea!
I went to the UP including Keweenaw for the first time last summer with my family. Did you know that in years past, they had a triathlon in Copper Harbor? It was at Fort Wilkins State Park (where we camped), but I can't find any evidence that they are doing it this year. (They had it on August 4th, 2007 the weekend before I was there.)
Bummer, I wanted to go up there to do the tri for the fun of it.
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