MEA road trip continued....

After Itasca we drove across the State to the iron range cities of Hibbing and Chisholm. Behind Gabe and I in the picture is the Hull-Rust Mine, the largest open pit iron mine in the world. It is one of the few still in use in Minnesota. As you drive across the range, you can see many that have been abandoned for years and years. We ended the trip in Duluth before heading home. It was a great family road trip, creating many fun memories.

a quick road trip over MEA weekend...

The four of us took a road trip to parts of northern Minnesota over the short break from school for the teacher's convention. We stopped first at Itasca State Park, the headwaters of the Mississippi River. You can see Abby and gabe in the second photo acting it up on the log bridge across the mighty river. Itasca also has a record white pine, which is quite impressive, as well as a red pine that was a national record holder until the big storm a few years ago broke the top off. The fire tower there is 100 feet tall and it was chilly, drizzly and windy. Abby and Krista had no problem with it but I stayed at the top less than one minute....and I went back down with Gabe.

Rock climbing at REI

Today I went climbing with some friends from church. I did ok. It was scary at first as it seems high once you start up. I climbed the easiest one and made it to the top, then trusted the rope and the REI employee to get me down by just sitting back and repelling down. I tried a harder route twice but got worn out both times just before the top. I might try it again someday as we are talking of repeating this outing.

We had a lot of fun in two hours.