Postcards From The Road: Tech Tour Photos Days 1-4

Posted on November 2, 2014 by

One of the things I love about Tech Tours is the chance to play tourist in my home state.

No matter what, I never get tired of Munising Falls. Or the Mackinac Bridge. Or just about the entire Keweenaw Peninsula. We forget just how gorgeous a place Michigan is when we live here every day — we can get to take it for granted.

And I get to meet some brilliant people on these tours, too. Just amazing research, and amazing efforts to fill the future talent pipeline with sharp, hard-working graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

So here’s a little of all of it, in pictures — the people and the places that make Tech Tours special.

The first really scenic view on the trip north -- the I-75 scenic overlook at Burt Lake. — The first really scenic view on the trip north — the I-75 scenic overlook at Burt Lake.

A journey across the Mackinac Bridge, one of the real engineering wonders of the world

Westbound through the Seney Swamp on M-28. Magnificent and desolate.

The whimsically named Lake Plumbago at Alberta, a former Ford Motor Co. industrial village now owned by Michigan Technological University.

Michigan Tech's Mo Rasttaar with a partially torn down version of his prosthetic artificial ankle. — Michigan Tech’s Mo Rasttaar with a partially torn down version of his prosthetic artificial ankle.

Here's the turntable Rastgaar and his associates built to test their multi-axis-moving prosthetic ankle. — Here’s the turntable Rastgaar and his associates built to test their multi-axis-moving prosthetic ankle.

Michigan Tech's Feng Zhao (left) and a graduate student in the lab. — Michigan Tech’s Feng Zhao (left) and a graduate student in the lab.

One of the odd things about buildings built into the side of steep hills, like in Houghton, is that what seems to be the first floor (from the campus side on the left) is actually the sixth floor when you walk to the end of the building on the right. Here's a view down into the building. — One of the odd things about buildings built into the side of steep hills, like in Houghton, is that what seems to be the first floor (from the campus side on the left) is actually the sixth floor when you walk to the end of the building on the right. Here’s a view down into the building.

Michigan Tech's amazing chemical engineering pilot plant. — Michigan Tech’s amazing chemical engineering pilot plant.

Caryn Heldt (left), assistant professor of chemical engineering, and John Sandell (center) and Tony Rogers, associate professors of chemical engineering, in the pilot plant.

Shijan Hu demonstrating another problem of smart homes -- a $50 light bulb. But you can control it with your smartphone! — Shijan Hu demonstrating another problem of smart homes — a $50 light bulb. But you can control it with your smartphone!

The newest addition to Tech's main campus walkway -- a bronze version of the school mascot, Blizzard T. Husky. — The newest addition to Tech’s main campus walkway — a bronze version of the school mascot, Blizzard T. Husky.

Professor Nina Mahmoudian (center) flanked by students Donna Fowd, Erick Wilkening, Jake Bailey and Barzin Moridian in the Michigan Tech Nonllinear and Autonomous Systems Laboratory.

Sunrise over the Michigan Tech campus from the overlook in Hancock.

The whimsically named Lake Plumbago in the former Ford Motor Co. industrial village of Alberta, now owned by Michigan Tech. — A much more placid early morning Lake Plumbago on the return trip.

The Sturgeon River near Alberta.

Yes, it snowed! On M-28/US-41 between L'Anse and Marquette. — Yes, it snowed! On M-28/US-41 between L’Anse and Marquette.

Marquette and Lake Superior from the Michigan Department of Transportation information center near Marquette.

Grand Island and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from a state scenic overlook on M-28 just west of Munising.

Munising Falls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

A tree grows out of a sandstone cliff near Munising Falls.

The upper path around Munising Falls.

A map of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising Falls.

Alger Falls on M-28 near Munising.

Wagner Falls on M-94 near Munising.

The Seney Swamp stretch of M-28. Basically nothing but cedar trees for about 25 miles.

Lake Michigan from the Cut River Bridge on US-2 about an hour west of the Mackinac Bridge.

The old Cut River Bridge was once described as "a million dollar bridge over a ten-cent river." — The old Cut River Bridge was once described as “a million dollar bridge over a ten-cent river.”

I'm betting the replacement bridge cost more than one million. — I’m betting the replacement bridge cost more than one million.

Under the Cut River Bridge. What's a bridge without a troll? — Under the Cut River Bridge. What’s a bridge without a troll?

The mighty Mac from the state bridge view park.

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