Overlook from the Gunflint Trail, out of Grand Marais, MN. The trail goes up to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. You drive up to the end of the trail, launch your canoe (no motors allowed), and enter a HUGE wilderness. Tons of lakes and islands. No facilities. It's for people who want true wilderness. Extends into Canada. You dig your own latrine, build fires, pitch (or don't) your tent, etc. I've only looked out at it, never wanted to actually experience it. This shot is from the beginning of the trail, it climbs up a bit so the overlook of Lake Superior is wonderful.

They are everywhere, much to the consternation of Tony.

My maternal Grandparents supported their family of 11 working the deep coal mine that was on the land they owned and where their home was built. Of course all the kids as they got old enough worked in the mine. It was wholly owned and operated by the family. That would have been in the early 1900's to about 1940. My Dad died suddenly at age 49, just 3 days before the letter came accepting his application for State Mine Inspector in PA. Heart Disease complicated by black lung took him. He had spent all his working life in the mines mostly as a general foreman and actually teaching night classes in mining in our town for Penn State University.

Castle in Ireland, now a tourist attraction. The next photo shows the narrow staircase, which I, being afraid of heights, did not ascend. The guide explained that the narrow design of the staircase was in part for defensive reasons. In case of enemy approach, the castle residents would go to a higher level in the structure and intruders would find it very difficult to broach an assault while ascending the high and narrow staircase. Then the castle residents would be in a position of advantage to attack the intruders.