Posted on 10/05/2013 6:54:22 AM PDT by cripplecreek
Our vacation was planned for months. The time was planned to coincide with the maximum autumn colors, and the best weather possible.
The planning took place, a vehicle was rented, rooms were reserved, and the weather forecasts were all scanned and showed great autumn forecasts.
Congress was the unknown factor.
For hundreds of vacationers to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the shutdown of government facilities was something that did not fit into the advanced planning.
Dotted with state and federal parks and attractions, the Upper Peninsula has peak fall color in early October. It seemed like the perfect time for us to visit the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Unless they are closed due to a government shutdown.
At the Pictured Rocks, east of nearby Munising, the barricades went up on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Alger County Road H-11, leading to Miner's Castle, a popular overlook at the western end of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, was blocked with three plastic barrels and yellow caution tape.
Numerous times, the tape was ripped off and vehicles continued on to the site. Some drivers were warned and even ticketed for trespassing, according to local residents who did not want their names published due to fear of government reprisals.
One local business that appeared to benefit from the closures was the Pictured Rocks Boat Tours, who suddenly found reservations jumping and full shiploads of visitors. The boats travel east along the 14-mile-long Pictured Rocks, offering great viewing of the unique and ever-changing rock cliffs, waterfalls, and beaches.
We also found the roads closed to the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. The visitor's center darkened and locked.
The attractions offered by the State of Michigan, including Kith-iti-kipi spring at Palm Books State Park, numerous Alger County waterfalls, and a drive to Tahquamenon Falls were all crowded, as disgruntled visitors explored ways to fill the gap caused by the unavailable federal parks and lakeshores.
Especially their second amendment freedoms when dealing with a tyrannical government ......
Pick the right judge...
“Congress was the unknown factor.”
The author is trying to place the blame on the tea partiers in the house, in effect he is trying to blame US! When the fact of the matter is that his very complaint PROVES our point. The federal government is much too intrusive into our every day lives. There is no way that his trip would have been effected by a constitutional federal government!
“A VACATION RUINED HERE AND THER, OH MY!!! While people continue to loose jobs, get their hours cut back and are gobsmacked by their new health insurance premiums...”
Yep, and the same people that find it “terrible” that the monuments and parks are targeted don’t even follow that with the thought of what happens when we have future budget arguments and that same government can cause life and death by closing hospitals and denying surgeries!
The author doesn’t even realize that he is making Congress’ point about the feds being too intrusive and that means we need to stop future intrusions! Instead, he complains about not being able to “see the sights” while his children will be denied medical care in the next budget fight in 10-15 years.
Just curious - did you make it up to the Keweenaw Peninsula? I'm a Michigan Tech grad, and I miss the area dearly....
It is surprising how fast all these so called public employees could get organized to close off/shut down so many national and some state ares. It makes me think/believe there was much more to all the ammo being bought than meets the public knowledge. It also makes me wonder where our congresspersons are as to looking out for the general public’s future. It also makes me wonder as to how the USA could develop so many societal scabs. How many of these scabs are ex military. I’m sure many are double dipping no gooders.
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