Pictured Rocks Formations

So, now, let's check out why these are called the Pictured Rocks.
Here is what is known as the Castle Rock, called as such due to the fact that it resembles a castle.

This rock formation is known as the Indian Head. Look at the profile and see whether you think it is aptly named.

I was amazed by every rock formation that we saw. In fact, during the entire 5-day trip, I took almost 400 photos (382, to be exact). Images such as this were just breathtaking.

Our tour guide gave us good explanations as to why the rocks have these various colors. Yeah....I can't remember those explanations off the top of my head. I guess that's what I get for waiting for so long to post these photos. All I kept thinking was ... PRETTY!

Pretty, no?

I have tons more photos, but I'll end it here. I definitely recommend seeing the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and I hope to get back there to spend a bit more time. If you want to find out more info, here's the National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm.

Cruise to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

After going to the Keweenaw Peninsula, Mike and I then headed toward Munising to take a boat cruise to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, on Lake Superior. Here's a map of Michigan's Upper Peninsula so you can follow along.

Here we are, all slathered up with sunscreen, eager and ready to embark on our 2-1/2 hour cruise. During our entire trip, the weather was great -- sunny and in the 80s, which is unusual for the UP over the Labor Day weekend. We couldn't have asked for better weather.

Here I am, on the dock where we set off for our cruise.

And here's Mike at the same spot.

Lake Superior Evening Cruise

Here are some photos from the Keweenaw cruise we took over Labor Day weekend (see earlier posts for some more description of our trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula).

Here's a lighthouse just at the end of the Portage River, when it opens out to Lake Superior.

Here are some houses along the lakeshore.

Sunsets are gorgeous, no matter which body of water, no?

I just kept taking more and more photos, since I thought the scenery was so beautiful!

Sometimes Mike doesn't like his photo taken, and this one didn't seem to bother him.

Now we've returned to Houghton, after our wonderful 2-1/2 hour cruise. I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of it!

Keweenaw Cruise

We also took a river cruise along the Portage River out to Lake Superior. Here is a photo of the ship, the Keweenaw Star.

Here's a house on the Hancock side of the Portage River.

And here's a church on the Houghton side of the river.

This is the bridge connecting Houghton and Hancock.

Quincy Mining Company

So, this is the name of the company that owned the mine we visited. Here are photos of the shaft and the mechanical units that moved the materials up from the ground. It was all pretty spectacular, considering that this technology was late 19th and early 20th century. Of course, I don't recall all the information that I learned that day; I think Mike the mechanical engineer would have to help me out.

Keweenaw Mines

Mike and I traveled to the Keweenaw Peninsula, which juts out in Lake Superior. We stayed in Houghton for two nights, and one of the highlights of our stay was exploring an old copper mine. Hancock, Houghton's sister city across the Portage River, was home to a copper mining industry that saw its heyday in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In fact, mining companies recruited foreigners, including many Finns, to work in the mines. Considering that the Keweenaw Peninsula has similar weather to that of Finland, the Finns probably more easily adjusted to their new homes than other immigrants not used to such harsh winter conditions.

So, here are Mike and I, all ready to go into the deep, dark depths of the mine. We had to wear jackets, as the mine was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and hardhats to protect our heads.






After taking a vehicle on a track down the hill, we then took another tractor-driven vehicle inside the mine. This was not the way the workers entered it, but it was still cool to go down there.

Here's Mike in the mine. It was really cold there, and the guide even gave us a bit of a demonstration about what it was like to work in this kind of mine during the 19th century, when the only light available came from a candle. Of course, electricity changed everything, but it was still really harsh work.

Mackinac Bridge

Finally! I have a couple of moments to post some photos of Mike's and my trip to the UP over the Labor Day weekend. I'll start from the beginning....with the Mackinac Bridge, which connects the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan. What many do not know is that this bridge is actually longer than the more famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. In fact, it is the third longest suspension bridge in the world. At 26,732 feet, it far surpasses the Golden Gate, which is 8,981 feet.

The Mackinac Bridge was opened in 1957 after three years of construction and forms a significant piece of Michigana. In fact, a photo of it is on our Michigan driver's licenses.

Here's where I got my information. First, you can visit the Mackinac Bridge website at http://www.mackinacbridge.org/ and the Golden Gate Bridge website at http://goldengatebridge.org.