Catch up time........

Can't believe it's been so long since we've put a post on here. We've been busy that is for sure and I guess that has kept us from updating.........so let's get caught up:

August Mystery Tour
Our tour left Minnesota and headed for the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Our destination was Houghton, MI where we settled infor 3 nights. We traveled to Copper Harbor on day 2 and spent time viewing the beauty of this area. The area is important for a number of reasons the main being copper and tourism. We visited a copper mine where some of our travelers walked down 100 steps into a mine and then 1/4 of a mile into the mine to see how it was done in the mining days. Then it was on to Copper Harbor and a trip across the harbor in a boat to view the light house. It was a beautiful day, but a bit windy so we got a little wet on the way back to the dock, but a great time was had. Then it was up to Brockway Mountain for a wonderful view of the mountains, trees and of course Lake Superior. It was a great stop. Day 3 was a trip to Calumet a town that boomed in the copper mining days and is now working on bringing back some of the old through restoration. We toured the Calumet theatre, an old church which is now a history center, spent some time shopping and eating before we headed to another mine for a tour. It was a 1/4 mile ride down a steep hill on a cog train before we drove 1/2 mile into the mine on what would have been the 7th level. The mine was 9000 feet deep when used last and is now filled with water up to the 7th level. It was a very interesting tour of what it would have been like to work deep within the earth. After a great meal we took a cruise on the harbor to end our evening. It was a great tour with a great bunch of R&J travelers.

Perry drives the Chicago Tour
Another great tour to Chicago starting with a train ride from St. Paul. I headed for Chicago and picked Linda(tour director) and the group up at union station. We ate Chicago style pizza that first night and settled into our hotel. Day 2 was filled with touring of Chicago and spending time at the Science Museum. Day 3 an architectural tour on the river followed by time at the aquarium or the Field museum and then an evening performance at the Drury Theatre. Again...another great trip.

For me, this trip was even more special because I got to take my grandson Dylan along. Dylan is 8 years old and an amazing guy. Of course i'm not biased in anyway! We got to travel to the top of the Hancock building for a great view...only to top that by going to the top of the Sears tower for an even better view. It was great to listen to him as we looked out from 100 stories in the air over chicago--it was even better to watch him snap picture after picture of our trip(thank God for digital). We also got to go to the Science Museum and the Field Museum. We saw space capsules, dinosaurs, a German Submarine and mummy's. We also got to watch a movie at the I-max about dinosaurs---could it get any better for an 8 year old? It was a fun time, I'm glad he could go along.

Canyonlands tour begins!
Now we are in Phoenix. We picked our travelers up today at the airport and spent sometime in Phoenix in 107 degree weather---but remember, it's "a dry heat". OK, so 107 is 107, it's still hot! Tonight we get a great nights rest before we head to the Grand Canyon tomorrow. I'll write somemore in a couple of days when I get a connection again.