Leaving Whitefish Point we retraced our path back south along Whitefish Bay then hugged the bay driving east. Several turn-offs along the way with close access to the shore. Hard to believe we were still gazing at Lake Superior. No wind, no waves. Slushy ice with ducks slowly searching for spots of open water. Silence, but for the birds.
The bay many ships tried to reach to escape the storms. The bay the Edmund Fitzgerald failed to reach.
“Those who have never seen Superior get an inadequate, even inaccurate idea, by hearing it spoken as a ‘lake’, and to those who have sailed over its vast extent the words sounds positively ludicrous. Though its waters are fresh and crystal, Superior is a sea. It breeds storms, and rain and fogs, like the sea. It is cold in mid-summer as the Atlantic. It is wild, masterful, and dreaded as the Black Sea.” — Rev George M Grant, 1873
The Point Iroquois Light Station proved to be a worthy destination. Beautiful lighthouse surrounded by expansive, peaceful grounds. A place for pleasant walks, and quiet contemplation on the benches placed among the paths. Light and foghorn warning ships of the narrow channel with dangerous shallow sandbars and rocky reefs.
Plenty of history here too. Point Iroquois was not a stronghold of the Iroquois tribe. Quite the opposite. The Battle of Iroquois Point, was the first defeat of the fierce Iroquois at the hands of the Ojibwe (Chippewa). In 1662, it stopped the Iroquois westward expansion. Although outnumbered two to one, the victory was achieved with the assistance of heavy fog, rain and a surprise attack just before dawn. This became know as the Place of the Iroquois Bones. One hundred dead warriors killed on the shore, with their bones and skulls still visible a century later.
We lingered here. Walked the paths, enjoyed the peaceful views. The lighthouse and grounds. Marveled at the quiet mixture of ice, clear water and colorful rocks beneath th surface.
