Des Moines, Iowa to Duluth, Minnesota to Houghton, Michigan to Marquette, Michigan (Miles 9,214 - 10,039)

21 - 23 September 2014

So north we go.  As soon as we headed north on I-35 the headwind was awful.  400 miles to Duluth with a headwind was quite taxing, but knowing that we got a hotel downtown that is walking distance to 2 breweries kept our spirits up.  We made it to Duluth around 4 PM, checked into our hotel, and headed out for our brewery tour of Duluth, Minnesota:

Canal Park Brewing Company, Duluth, Minnesota

FItger Brewing Company, Duluth, Minnesota

The next day was exciting.  We are headed to Houghton, Michigan where I went to school at Michigan Tech.  I couldn't wait to show Tim around the town that I spent 5 years in.

According to Tim's speedometer we hit 10,000 miles somewhere south of Houghton so we pulled off onto the side of the road and got this celebratory shot:

We made it to Houghton around 1PM giving us plenty of time to walk from downtown to campus.  Although the campus has changed a lot, it still felt familiar.  After walking around the Michigan Tech campus we headed back to downtown to hit some of my old stomping grounds.  Here are some pictures of the beautiful downtown Houghton:

A view across Portage Lake of Mount Ripley.

Lift bridge

The old ice arena.

Downtown Houghton.

Quincy Mineshaft

And the bars I used to hang out in.  Of course I had to get the pickled eggs...I just love them!

The Douglass House (Dog House).

The B&B.

The next morning we headed out to do a tour of the Keweenaw Peninsula, but first a stop for some pasties and planning the rest of the day:

So onward we went into the beauty that is the Keweenaw Peninsula:

The Jam Pot. Best jam and brownies made by monks.

Here is a pretty cool video I made while riding North on US-41 towards the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula.  One more week and the colors would have been incredible.

After going as far north as the road will allow up we headed south, back into Houghton.  We planned on stopping in Calumet to see the site of the "Italian Hall" disaster of 1913 where over 70 people died after a false cry of "fire" at a Christmas party.  We actually heard about this story while watching a documentary about copper mining in Michigan U.P.

While riding around Calumet looking for the site we came across a brewery!

Red Jacket Brewing Company, Calumet, Michigan

Alright...it is time to start heading to Marquette to meet up with Lisa and Mark Balko who I knew from college.  I haven't seen them for 9 years and am really looking forward to it.  We continued heading south and passed through Houghton and rode past Michigan Tech one last time and continued heading east for 100 miles.  We got to our campground in Marquette just in time for sunset:

View of Dead River at Tourist Park Campground, Marquette, Michigan

And finally...Lisa and Mark:

We all went out for dinner and caught up on the last 9 years...plus, this is the first time Tim has met Mark and Lisa.  And, it just so happens that Mark loves microbreweries as well...and, it just so happens that there are 3 breweries here in Marquette...so...off we go!

Marquette Harbor Brewery, Marquette, Michigan

Ore Dock Brewing Company, Marquette, Michigan

Black Rocks Brewery, Marquette, Michigan

After a great night and we went back to the campground for a great night sleep in the tent.  Tomorrow we head south and go as far as we can towards Tim's mom's house in Collins, Ohio.

Numbers Games
Total States Visited: 21 (New ones: NONE)
Total Breweries Visited: 66 (New ones: Canal Park, Fitger, Red Jacket, Marquett Harbor, Ore Dock, Black Rocks)
Total Miles Ridden: 10,039