Moving on to Michigan — Streaming Sunsets

(Originally posted by Sandra on Facebook on September 17, 2026)

The ninth state on this trip.

We stayed at McLain State Park on Lake Superior. Because of its location, this was our best chance to view northern lights. Unfortunately, clouds did not cooperate. The following morning, an incredible north wind crossed the lake. It was amazing how the quiet lake of yesterday looked and sounded more like a beach.

We transferred south of the Yooper Loop to Houghton City Park. The Yooper Loop is the only way to access the peninsula from the western section of the UP, making it a very busy intersection. From the city park, we traveled back and forth over the lift bridge to visit the historic towns and scenic overlooks of the Keweenaw Peninsula of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Belle’s awning beside a wooden picnic shelter at Houghton City Park, the waterway glassy in low evening light with the far shore and its houses mirrored in the water — Home base at Houghton City Park, right on the water

The yellow Houghton–Hancock lift bridge lit by low evening sun, a lone windsurfer with a pink and yellow sail crossing the blue waterway in front of it — The lift bridge between Houghton and Hancock — we crossed it a lot

The first place Tom wanted to visit in Houghton was the Seaman Mineral Museum, located on the Michigan Tech University campus. The museum displays an amazing collection of Michigan minerals. Just outside the museum sits the Copper Pavilion, home to a massive 19-ton chunk of copper pulled from the bottom of Lake Superior. The Guinness Book of World Records has rated it the largest piece of native copper on display — and it’s original to the region. Did I tell you there are a LOT of rocks in this museum?

A large branching specimen of native silver and copper mounted on a blue museum backing, its crystals spreading like a piece of coral, labeled Silver, Copper — White Pine Mine, Ontonagon Co, Michigan — Native silver and copper grown together, from the White Pine Mine

There is also an impressive collection of fluorescent minerals located in a black light room. I had no idea that what looks like a simple rock could be something so magnificent.

The next morning, we started out early to tour the largest copper mine in the area, known as “Old Reliable.” We donned our construction hats, then proceeded to the cog railway (the second of our trip). The railway took us to the entrance of the historic Quincy Mine. We talked about the miners, the process of how they mined the copper, and the incredibly difficult lives they led. We also discussed how the copper in this mine led to the electrical revolution of America. Because of the success of this mine, electricity was accessible to many homes by the 1930s.

Looking up the steep cog railway incline from beside the red tram car, the single track running straight up a grassy cut between green trees under a blue sky — The cog railway down to the mine entrance — the second of our trip

The enormous cable drum of the Quincy Mine hoist filling a tall concrete engine house, braced by orange steel frames with arched windows on either side — The Nordberg hoist that raised and lowered everything in the shaft

Tom and Sandra in yellow hard hats standing together inside the rough lit rock tunnel of the Quincy Mine — Construction hats on, inside Old Reliable

A rusted rock drill mounted on timbers in a mine drift, wire mesh pinned to the ceiling overhead and a guide in a white hard hat demonstrating alongside — A drill left standing where the miners worked

We continued driving through the historic town of Calumet to the Brockway Scenic Overlook. The overlook provided 360-degree views from the peninsula. We could see a very faint view of Isle Royale National Park (only accessible by seaplane this time of year). We had amazing views of Copper Harbor, a thriving port town during the height of the mining era. We drove through the tiny tourist town (pop. 140; 2010) and Fort Wilkins Historic State Park before returning to our home base, Belle.

Sandra and Tom smiling in front of a wooden sign reading West Bluff Scenic View, 726 ft above lake level and 1328 ft above sea level, with a map of Keweenaw County above it and Lake Superior stretching out behind — West Bluff at Brockway — 726 feet above the lake

The view from Brockway Mountain down over the forested point and rooftops of Copper Harbor, the deep blue of Lake Superior wrapping around the headland on both sides — Copper Harbor from the overlook

After six full weeks of travel, we continued onward to join the Ores, Shores, Waters and Lights Caravan.