Houghton, MI

This past week, Justin and I had the fortune of traveling to Houghton, MI in the UP (for all you non-yoopers, that's Upper Peninsula).  Justin attended college in Houghton and was returning for a recruiting trip for work.  My parents, God love them, offered to care for Kale while we traveled.  My mom said, "I would feel bad for Kale having to ride in a car that long."  I decided that was reason enough for me to have a "mommy-cation."

If you've never been to the UP in the fall, it's a must.  The colors are amazing.  And there are so many "covered roads" where the trees just seem to envelope your car with reds, oranges, and yellows.  It is breathtaking.  Every inch of road was basically a postcard.  One particular scene that sticks in my mind was that of a field with big haybales and hills behind covered in colors.  I so wanted to stop the car for a photo opp on that one and am kicking myself now that I did not!

Our first full day in town, Justin was on campus recruiting.  So, I had a free day!  So many things to do, so little time...I got in a run, worked on bible study homework, got a haircut and style, went shopping, drove around gawking at the leaves and taking way too many pictures, free reading...essentially soaking up all the "me time" possible.

That night, we met up with Justin's college basketball coach, his wife and daughter for dinner.  Fun to hear old stories and see the excitement in Justin's eyes remembering the "gold old days."  Friday was a free day for both of us.  We spent time in Copper Harbor doing a little hiking.  We weren't really appropriately dressed for the chilly weather so we kept it short.  Lake Superior had pretty violent waves coming into shore with the high winds.  Wanting to catch the "perfect picture", I went as far onto the shore as I saw dry land.

Just as I snapped the above picture, a wave came in and got me.  I was screaming and laughing and clobbered Justin as he was trying to help me out of the way of the wave.  Thankfully, I brought another pair of socks and shoes in the car!  Note the wet pants below...

Afterward we headed through a few shops.  We ended up parking ourselves by a fireplace in one of the stores enjoying some hot cocoa and Copper Harbor fudge!

Later we toured an old army fort and coal mine.  The coal mining industry is still so interesting to me.  Especially when it first began and how those men put their lives in such danger.  If I'd been married to a miner back in the day, I think I would have felt unsettled each time he left for work in the morning.  After we finished the tour, all I could think was "God bless miners!"

Not only did I wear one coat, but I took another to put over my legs for the tour of the mine.  BRRRRR, friends.

The cart above on the right held 30 miners and took them into the mine and back out again at the end of the shift.  We watched a video of the men getting on and off of this cart.  Again, it would have given me a sinking feeling every day to get on this cart and be lowered thousands of miles into the earth.

We ended our day with dinner at Charlie and Diane's, friends of Justin's from the church he attended in college.  They had an amazing dinner for us topped off with homemade apple pie.  What a day in the UP!

So long, Houghton!  Hold on to fall as long as you can before you are submerged in snow!