Day 6 - Rock Harbor to Copper Harbor - Going

On day 6, we had only the morning before it was time to catch the ferry. We chose to make our way to Scoville Point again, walking in the reverse way from the hike yesterday. It was as beautiful as the day before. We came back to our shelter and decided to clear our camp to allow others coming in to have shelter.

Our shelter’s graffiti told the story of when the Queen Mary hit a rock on the way in, and the individual had to wait three additional days before it was his turn. Knowing the stories of Lake Superior, we hoped for an on-time departure for the ferry.

We gathered our gear for the last time on the trip, and moved to some picnic benches. We visited a small art exhibit curated by the rangers. One of the interesting installations was an artist that found debris on the island and painted en plein air the location where she found the debris on the debris. She painted a canoe paddle on the shore where she found it. It was fascinating - and discouraging - to see what has been found on the remote island and made us reflect on how far away events can still impact isolated places.

We had one additional meal sitting on the picnic tables as backpackers began to gather in the vicinity. We looked out on the bay and then a large blue and white boat appeared. Our way off the island had come around the bend.

After our lunch, our actions went in slow motion. We took our bags, walked around the bay, gave our backpacks to the shipmates, and boarded the gangplank. We stood at the stern of the boat and watched the Eden vanish. We spent six days on the island. I still think about the challenges, the hardships, and the beauty. Having grown up in the Midwest, I’d never seen such an interesting land here. I realized how few old growth forests there are and how regulated our water system and drainage are, and how that reduces biodiversity and biology for the majority of the places I’ve visited. It was wild there, and I hope it still is.

The 1 p.m departure made it so that we rode back on a blue mirror. No fog to hide the reality of being the only boat within eyesight. I became nervous walking around the boat knowing below me was 800 feet of water and that the nearest life was likely fish. We continued on the journey for four hours. Nothing like four hours sitting still in your own filth makes one long for a shower. Before long, we saw green mountains with black rocks. As our ship slowed, bells rang, people waved, the waitresses at the Harbour Haus danced. We had come from an incredibly remote part of Michigan, to one still quite remote. The fatigue started to set in.

The moments dragged on for a little while longer as we docked, got our bags, and made our way to our car. Our journey had ended. We looked at each other and thought well… now what? Like any new journey, life seemed a little duller now that we had returned.

Summary

• From: Rock Harbor
• To: Copper Harbor
• Miles: 4.9