Two days On The City Dock At Houghton Michigan

September 9 - 11, 2016

Our first visit to the Upper Peninsular was in the late 90's. We drove there to snowboard at a newly opened extreme wilderness mountain called Mt. Bohemia, located outside of Houghton, Michigan. Houghton is home of Michigan Tech University, a renowned Engineering School with more young men than women. Mt. Bohemia boasted a special rate for women to ski and snowboard. It was FREE! Our family could spend the day on the mountain 2 for 1, the girls cost nothing. We had a great time, although two of us came away with sprained ankles on that trip; young David and I. Houghton also has a ski mountain called Mt. Ripley. You can see it clearly from the waterway docks in downtown.

Mt. Ripley Houghton, MI

We passed through the Keewanaw waterway when we brought Mystic back from Escanaba, Michigan in 2013. We loved this college town with a free city dock, close to downtown and the Keewanaw Brewing Company with $2 pints of microbrew! We found the price had risen to $2.75 since then, but still a great deal! We were excited to get under the Keewanaw bridge and tie up. I was at the helm and decided it was time for my first ever docking of Mystic. It was a huge step for me to take on this task which I'd been mulling over for the last couple years. Even though it was an easy dockage, with no other boats in my way on the face wall, I was giddy with excitement at my accomplishment. Once all the lines were set and we were standing on the dock, I asked Dave if he could hear the applause! 

Upper Keewanaw Waterway Barn

My view docking Mystic

Going under the Houghton Liftbridge

Houghton has public bathrooms with showers along the waterway path. We walked about a quarter of a mile for our first shower since Red Cliff. They are coin operated, twenty-five cents for 2 minutes. We'd forgot about this, but Dave found five quarters buried in his bag. My hero gave me three of the five so I got a six minute shower, he took only four. Turns out four would have been enough but it sure felt good just soaking under the warm water for that extra two minutes.

View on our way to the shower

Super Shit Spices at the local Surplus Store - Houghton

We've met some really nice people along the way. At Houghton, we met Jukka Jumppanen, a Finnish sailor who told us great stories about trying to buy a cruising boat and all the trials he faced which have led to him not owning a boat at this time. He and his wife RV but have a home in Lake Worth, Florida. They are leaving Houghton this week to head home. We hope to connect with them again.

Jukka with Beth at Houghton dock

Mystic docked in Houghton

Breakwater to Bridge Kayak Festival

Quincy Mine and Hoist view at night in Houghton

Mystic in Houghton, docked at night

Our view of Houghton Liftbridge at night

Abandoned light at Lower Keewanaw waterway

Lower Keewanaw Entry Light

We stayed in Houghton for two days due to heavy rain. The pubic library was close by so we walked there to use the wifi. I walked to the laundry mat and washed clothes while Dave worked on projects. Once the weather cleared we walked over the Houghton Liftbridge to Hancock to explore the old Copper Mine visible from the waterway. It was barren.

Mystic in the rain, view from the Public Library

Quincy Smelting Works - Slag pile