Copper Falls State Park, Mellen, Wisconsin

 6/20/2023 to 6/27/2023


        There are lots of great things about this park - spacious wooded campsites, a variety of well marked and well kept trails, a lake, friendly neighbors, gorgeous waterfalls and beautiful views.  But the thing we will remember most is that hoards of mosquitos bombarded us every time we got anywhere near the woods. They were also pretty bad right outside our door. Three or four would get inside the RV everytime we went in and out. The only time we spent outside was either in the screen house or geared up with DEET spray and mosquito netting. Apparently there was a very warm March in northern Wisconsin (thank you climate change), which gave the mosquitos and ticks a head start. The local people say they've never seen anything like this before. Here's hoping the Upper Peninsula of Michigan didn't have the same very warm spring. 

       




        The hiking trails were well marked and very beautiful. Here are views of the Bad River, Copper Falls, and Brownstone Falls. 








Additional things to remember from this week:
  • We spent time with Don and Pam, full-timers from Houston, Texas. Pam has had open heart surgery and Don had a stroke at a campsite in Idaho, so they made us feel like we are in great shape for RVing. But I still need to get my knees replaced sooner than later.
  • I went to Ashland, Wi, about 30 minutes away, to do laundry and shop at WalMart. Also got to see Lake Superior. 
  • We got ideas about different types of screen houses we might want if we continue to run into mosquitos. Almost all campers had screen houses. 
  • I finished piecing the top for a quilt for Ryan. Not sure how I'm going to baste it for quilting. I may have to wait to get to Young State Park and our visit with Sam/Kara & kids at Kara's parents lake house - both for a place to lay the quilt out, and also for help with the basting. 
  • We found a car repair place in Mellon, WI. Dustin worked on the CRV brakes, which still need more work. He also came out to the RV and fixed our truck air conditioning. 
  • Wisconsin has a car/RV sticker system for campers - and someone to check them at the office each time you come and go. First time for something like this since the Texas state parks. 
    

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