Luís I Bridge over the Douro River in Porto, Portugal
We wanted to visit Porto first and foremost because it is world renowned as the home of Port wine. The south side of the Douro river, and the town of Gaia, is where all of the Port wineries are located. And of course every restaurant in town serves a nice selection of local wines.
I took this photo of the Luís I Bridge over the Douro on the night of our arrival. The bridge was designed by Teófilo Seyrig, who was a partner of some guy named Eiffel who designed something famous in Paris. 😉 Many sources credit Eiffel for the design, but locally everyone is quick to point out the real story!
Our second stop en route to Porto was Nazare (NAZ a ray). Because we had extra time in Obidos, Nazare was a quick stop to see the views and visit the cathedral. I only took a few photos there, but this view was pretty nice.
Summer time is a very busy time with vacationers visiting the beaches. Later in the winter, Nazare will host some of the largest waves in the world, and surfers will come from all over to try their luck. The town was pretty quiet on this early winter day.
We disembarked our cruise ship in Lisbon, Portugal this past Wednesday and had arranged transportation to Porto with stops in Obidos and Nazare along the way. Obidos (OH bee dose) is a cute little place with a main street full of shops, the requisite churches, a fort and – of course – cobblestones. It even has the remains of an ancient Roman aqueduct.
Obidos is also known for producing ‘Ginja de Obidos,’ a sweet and sour cherry liquor that is served in little chocolate cups about the size of a shot glass. And of course we bought a bottle as a souvenir! 😉
Natural Park of Los Volcanes, on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands
After Tenerife we stopped on the island of Lanzarote, another of the Canary Islands. A tour took us to many highlights, one of which is the Natural Park of Los Volcanes. This view of one of the many craters is representative of the interesting landscape.
Well, Kathy & I are on another cruise. This cruise is a transatlantic cruise from Port Canaveral, FL to Lisbon, Portugal. Along the way we stopped at Tenerife in the Canary Islands. This was the view of the port of Santa Cruz as we approached the island after 7 days at sea.
We love sea days, but 7 days was a long time, even for us. Today we are sailing toward Lisbon, where we will disembark for 18 days in Portugal and Spain while the ship goes to drydock. We’ll re-board the same ship in Barcelona to return home.
Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky
Why not, indeed.
On our way back from Michigan we stopped by Georgetown, Kentucky to visit our friends (and travel agents) Brent & Jo Anne. Brent arranged for us to visit and tour the Woodford Reserve Distillery in nearby Versailles (verSALES).
Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KentuckyWoodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KentuckyWoodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky
We’d been before, but love visiting there because the facility is beautiful and the bourbon is very good. Visiting with friends always makes it more fun, and we had a good time with Brent & Jo Anne before heading back toward home.
Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KentuckyWoodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KentuckyWoodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KentuckyWoodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KentuckyWoodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KentuckyWoodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KentuckyWoodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KentuckyWoodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KentuckyWoodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky
By the time you read this, Kathy & I will be sailing across the Atlantic on our latest adventure. Replied to comments may be a little more delayed than usual, but stay tuned for Postcards!
Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky
On our way south from Michigan we stopped in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin to visit our friends Jeff & Mary Pat. We needed to kill some time one afternoon when we remembered that we had previously tried to visit the Yerkes Observatory in nearby Williams Bay.
Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinYerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin
We tried to visit the observatory in October 2019 (Blog Post) but discovered that it had been closed and was not permitting visitors. We talked at length with the caretaker, who had been outside mowing the lawn. He explained that the observatory was in the process of being transferred to a private foundation and the goal was to re-open to the public sometime in the coming years.
Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinYerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinYerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinYerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin
We were pleased to discover that the observatory in now in the hands of The Yerkes Future Foundation. It remains a working observatory, and the only way to visit is by booking a tour, so that’s what we did.
The Yerkes 40-inch refracting-type telescope was the largest in the world when it was dedicated in 1897. Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinThe Yerkes 40-inch refracting-type telescope was the largest in the world when it was dedicated in 1897. Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinThe Yerkes 40-inch refracting-type telescope was the largest in the world when it was dedicated in 1897. Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin
Yerkes Observatory has a long history of discovery and has been visited by famous scientists and astronomers over the years, including Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble, Nancy Grace Roman, Gerard Kuiper, Mary Calvert, E.E. Barnard, Richard Kron, Carl Sagan and many more. The Yerkes 40-inch Great Refractor Telescope was the largest refracting-type telescope in the world when it was dedicated in 1897 (40 inches refers to the size of the main lens element). The telescope is 63 feet long, weighs 12,000 pounds and is so delicately balanced that it can be moved by hand.
Storage room at Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinStorage room at Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinStorage room at Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinYerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinDarkroom at the Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin
The library/storage area contains hundreds of books on astronomy and astrophysics, along with an interesting array of old equipment, including cameras and enlargers. We even got to see some old slides that were made before digital imaging became the standard.
Astronomy book that had been checked out by Carl Sagan in 1956. Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, WisconsinAstronomy book that had been checked out by Carl Sagan in 1956. Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin
The foundation has done a beautiful job restoring the facility and does a nice tour. We even got to see the dome rotated and the floor raised, which is one of the way to access the eyepiece of the telescope!
Remains of the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mill #1 near Calumet, Michigan
The Keweenaw Peninsula was once a thriving copper mining location, and abandoned mines and mining equipment dot the countryside. One of the things I wanted to see was the remains of Quincy Dredge Number Two. It’s not easy (or probably legal) to get close to the dredge, so I made do with a few photos from the road.
Remains of the Quincy Dredge Number Two near Calumet, Michigan
But across the road from where the dredge lies is the remains of the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mill #1. It looked interesting so we pulled into the parking area to take a look around.
Remains of the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mill #1 near Calumet, MichiganRemains of the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mill #1 near Calumet, Michigan
The building is a bit creepy and probably (mostly?) quite safe, but I didn’t venture more than a few feet in. The graffiti and trash made for an interesting scene, reminiscent of some of the abandoned building we saw across Route 66 a few years ago.
It was late and we had a dinner reservation at a nice restaurant, so duty called and I only got a few representative photos.
Remains of the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mill #1 near Calumet, MichiganRemains of the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mill #1 near Calumet, MichiganRemains of the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mill #1 near Calumet, MichiganRemains of the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mill #1 near Calumet, MichiganRemains of the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mill #1 near Calumet, MichiganRemains of the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mill #1 near Calumet, Michigan
Sightseeing cruise on the Portage Canal, aboard the Ranger III from the National Park Service Visitor Center in Houghton, Michigan
Even though we’ve never owned a boat nor had the desire for one, Kathy & I rarely pass up an opportunity for a cruise. We took a harbor/river cruise in Port Huron, and technically took a ferry cruise to Mackinac Island, so why not one more?
Former Quincy Smelting Works on the Portage Canal near Houghton, MichiganLift bridge over the Portage Canal in Houghton, Michigan
When we first started making plans for our Keweenaw Peninsula trip we intended to try and do a day trip to Isle Royale National Park. As the name suggests, the park sits on an island in Lake Superior, actually closer to Canada than the US, but it is readily accessible from both sides of the lake.
Sightseeing cruise on the Portage Canal, aboard the Ranger III from the National Park Service Visitor Center in Houghton, MichiganSightseeing cruise on the Portage Canal, aboard the Ranger III from the National Park Service Visitor Center in Houghton, MichiganEveryone waves at Ranger IIISightseeing cruise on the Portage Canal, aboard the Ranger III from the National Park Service Visitor Center in Houghton, MichiganSightseeing cruise on the Portage Canal, aboard the Ranger III from the National Park Service Visitor Center in Houghton, Michigan
Unfortunately we waited too long to make arrangements for a day trip to the island. There is only one ferry service that offers the chance of a day trip and it was already full. Alternatives would have required an overnight stay, but that’s not what we were looking for. It’s also possible to take a float plane out and back, but that is quite costly, especially just for a few hours.
Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entry Light. Seen during our sightseeing cruise aboard the Ranger III from Houghton, MichiganPortage River Lighthouse in Jacobsville, Michigan. Seen during our sightseeing cruise aboard the Ranger III from the National Park Service Visitor Center in Houghton, MichiganKeweenaw Waterway Lower Entry Light. Seen during our sightseeing cruise aboard the Ranger III from Houghton, Michigan
The National Park Service operates a visitor center in Houghton, where we were staying. From the visitor center the NPS operates the Ranger III boat, carrying passengers and their gear to Isle Royale and back several days a week. In summer, they also offer cruises on the Portage Canal, the “river” that runs between Lake Superior and Keweenaw Bay. So we booked a cruise on the Ranger III and enjoyed a little more time on the water, learning about the history of the region and the role that the canal has played in the local economy over the years.
(Almost) everyone waves at Ranger IIIEveryone waves at Ranger IIISightseeing cruise on the Portage Canal, aboard the Ranger III from the National Park Service Visitor Center in Houghton, MichiganEveryone waves at Ranger IIISightseeing cruise on the Portage Canal, aboard the Ranger III from the National Park Service Visitor Center in Houghton, MichiganSightseeing cruise on the Portage Canal, aboard the Ranger III from the National Park Service Visitor Center in Houghton, MichiganEveryone waves at Ranger III
Sunset along the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Kathy & I had talked for several years about getting to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to see the Soo Locks. We finally had a chance to visit in July on our swing through Michigan.
Sunset along the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganSunset along the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
There is a really nice visitor center along the canal with a two story observation platform to watch the ship traffic – everything from small pleasure boats to huge freighters. The highlight of our visit was a boat cruise on the St. Mary’s River which took us through the locks and back.
Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganScenery along the St. Marys River on our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganTransiting the Soo Locks during our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganTransiting the Soo Locks during our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganTransiting the Soo Locks during our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganTransiting the Soo Locks during our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganTransiting the Soo Locks during our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganTransiting the Soo Locks during our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganTransiting the Soo Locks during our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
The Canadian side of the river on the west side of the locks is home to a number of industrial plants that process various ores used in the production of steel. It was interesting to see the contrast with the cityscape on the east side.
Scenery along the St. Marys River on our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganScenery along the St. Marys River on our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganScenery along the St. Marys River on our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganPiles of Taconite, a form of iron ore pellets used in the production of steel. Seen at the Algoma Steel Company plant located on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario CanadaPiles of Taconite, a form of iron ore pellets used in the production of steel. Seen at the Algoma Steel Company plant located on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada
There wasn’t a lot to see in the city itself, but we stayed in a little motel right across the street from the canal. There was a decent little restaurant for breakfast and dinner, so we had everything we needed within walking distance. It was a nice visit and we’re glad we took the time to go!
Scenery along the St. Marys River on our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganFreighter entering the Soo LocksHanging On. Feather stuck on the side of one of the locks. Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.Scenery along the St. Marys River on our cruise with Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganI offered to take Kathy to visit but for some reason she declined. 🙂Sault Ste. Marie, MichiganSault Ste. Marie, MichiganOld sign at the Lockview Motel in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
