Waves Crashing against the Shore...

 At the end of every summer season, I get a much better sense of what economic forces are at play in the lives of middle class mid-westerners.  There have been years in which people were afraid that their office desk would be occupied by a new occupant when they returned from more than a few days vacation - taking a week vacation was too long.  There have been summers, pre-2008, when everyone wanted to come and everyone felt economically solid.

Last summer, people were feeling a sense of job/economic confidence, for the first time since the recession.  Interpreted through cabin rentals and conversation. The winter season was about as expected.

CNN and other noteworthy newsies were spreading the word this spring that Jan/Feb/March spending was down.  My gut feeling was that the news was overly pessimistic - that all was well and good and coming back, albeit slowly, in America.

Mid summer reflections are that after a few years of steps forward, America is taking a step back in economic strength again.  One customer summed it up for me.  "When I took my job two years ago, I didn't realize that I was agreeing to no future wage increase.  My performance reviews have been perfect.  Nonetheless, no pay increase nor bonus."  In the neighborhood, a friend's husband was laid off December 2011 - he has worked in the three-season contractual construction positions since; last year he spent most of the year in central Wisconsin, traveling home on the weekends when he could.  As June rolled around the union jobs were still unavailable.  He took a non-union job in the local area for 1/2 the wage and no benefits.  Another friend's job is being phased out by technology this fall.

Potential guests are very price conscious.  The demand for weekly cabin rental (Saturday-Saturday as is traditional in historic lodges), is low.  Weekend, mid-week, two-night, one-night requests are up.  People are concerned about spending money.  Two recent guests balked at paying sales tax.  (Excuse me?  The governor gets his due, just like in a hotel.  I wish there were exceptions).

I will keep my finger on this pulse in weeks and months to come.  I would be interested in hearing your stories about your level of economic confidence - positive or negative.  Be part of the mosaic of information gathered from individuals so that we can gain a better understanding of what the public is experiencing.

Marilyn

Ice Caves, Cornucopia/Bayfield WI - February 2014

 ICE CAVE Adventure:

A friend and I ventured out to the ice caves this week.  This the story:

Knowing that parking is the biggest adventure in the quest to see the Ice Caves just outside of Cornucopia - Meyer's Beach, we arrived early in the morning.  It was a weekday - by 9:30ish the lot was beginning to fill.  (Weekends the parking lot is filled much earlier! - plan ahead if you are going.)

We embraced the -2 degree air, trekking the mile or so out to the beginning of the ice formations.  Plod, squeak, tramp, tramp, tramp noises amid an occasional "hello", nod or grunt.  Serious photographers with heavy equipment were heading back to the parking lot after catching some morning quiet time with the ice caves.

On my first trip, years ago with my kids, as I was taking this photo, some guy behind me quipped "This is what Tommy  looked like before the ice accident." 

Years ago the kids were all over the caves and ice formations.  This particular series of cubby holes were a favorite - several kids huddled in, talking and laughing.

Famous Sea Arch - everyone who has kayaked the area has kayaked through this "cave."

Ice Cave Buddy

Ice Boulders - Did some giant ice formation break/drop?

Being there was kind of like being inside of a Jan Brett storybook. 

Elfish folk seemed to be lurking, waiting for an opportunity to reveal themselves.

Formation in center was blueish.

Unable to capture the island on camera.

The lake looked like an Antarctic tundra with snow swirls making distant shoreline seem "foggy". 

In the distance an island, less than a mile away, was barely visible.

Vibrant Aqua 

 

 

At the end of our trek, we were being blown by the wind.  Filled with ice eye-candy, we were sated.

Facing the wind on the return to the "beach", this leg of the trip seemed like work (to be honest - a LOT of work).  The exit was marked by the absence of human form in the distance - we were heading where the line of people ended.  I began to count my footsteps....when I made it to 100, I began again - evidence of progress.

A good day followed by a good lunch at "Coco's" in Washburn.  "Hot tea please!"  and "Coco!"  Phew, we were pooped!

Pipe Organ

Elfin Magic

 

 

 

Lake Superior continues to dazzle in the winter as well as it does in the summer.  This winter it has been cold enough to set up ice formations along the shoreline, including in and among the sea caves, which are visited in the summer and fall in kayaks.

The Smithsonian magazine has an article about the caves and pictures of the ice formations.  Enjoy!

Smithsonian article and photos:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/frozen-lake-reveals-secluded-ice-caves-180949470/