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The Outdoor Adventures of Sam & Tim, Lapeer, MI (2025)

01/22/2025

It might be -4°, but the sunrise is beautiful at least. 🌅 🤩

01/22/2025

Within the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, deep in the mountains ⛰️ scattered with trees 🌲, you probably wouldn’t guess you would stumble upon an iron furnace. But, that’s exactly where this one is located.

The 📍Wharton Iron Furnace is one of only two restored iron furnaces in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. It was constructed by Congressman Andrew Stewart in 1837.

Operating between the years of 1839 and 1872, this is one of the many furnaces in the Allegheny Mountains that produced pig iron. It was reopened during the Civil War to produce cannonballs. It is 33 feet wide, 31 feet deep, and 31 feet tall.

📍Wharton Iron Furnace
883 Sr2003
Farmington, Pennsylvania 15437

01/21/2025

We were so excited to be able to explore the historic town of 📍Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. After the snowfall, this town looked as if it was from an old Christmas card.

Our first stop was the train station 🚂, which was easy to access since that is where we parked the car. As soon as we got out and walked towards the tracks, the familiar “choo choo” loomed in the distance. We were SO excited to be able to see a train come through the tunnel in the mountain, over the Potomac River and within mere feet of where we were standing.

We rushed to the stairs that led under the tracks and to the other side to get a different vantage point. What a neat experience that was!

Some quick facts about this train station:

🚞 The Amtrak station in Harpers Ferry consists of a platform with shelter adjacent to the historic wood-frame depot, which was designed in 1894 by architect E. Francis Baldwin.
💺 The depot was relocated from its original location overlooking the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers to the current location sitting on top of the old Armory foundation.
🛤️ The original station had two waiting rooms, for when it was appropriate to separate men and women. The women were in the room with the fire place, while the men were on the other side with the ticket office
🚂 In 1999, the station was on the top 10 list of stations that were endangered in America. When the National Park Service obtained it in 2001, they began restoration. $2.2 million was spent on the stations renovation. 🙏🏼

Watch our short reel exploring Harpers Ferry below! ⬇️

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/CYHEhgN9i7HkCZR7/?mibextid=UalRPS

📍Harpers Ferry
Jefferson County, West Virginia
Coordinates: 39.32644° N, 77.74485° W

Photos taken January, 2024. 📸

01/20/2025

This is going to be kind of a different post— coming from me, Sam. Hi, hello! 👋🏻

We really enjoy rock climbing, I’ve been doing it for about 2.5 years now, and I think Tim has been doing it for almost 5. 🧗🏼🧗🏻‍♀️ We are both afraid of heights, which is funny when you think about it— because you know, rock climbing is all about heights.

I have been battling trying to improve my rock climbing skills, which has been slow moving. I tore my MCL, then sprained my ankle at the climbing gym, and now finally am feeling more confident in the gym, at least with top roping. 🪢

This sport is truly for anyone and everyone. From newbies who never even thought about climbing, to even climbers who are amputees. It’s fun, and challenging both physically and mentally. 🧠

For myself, sometimes I am the one holding myself back from reaching the top. Why? Fear. I’m scared. 😬 For what reason? I have no idea. I am attached to a rope and Tim is belaying me, but sometimes the fear of falling (even if I’m not going anywhere) takes ahold of me.

Which brings us to this day! I asked one of my close friends and her husband to come rock climbing with us (this was only their second time coming) and we all faced our fears today. I climbed a route that I’ve done in the last— but scared me. My friend and her husband both conquered some amazing routes.

And Tim, who hates doing chimneys was able to top out. I am so proud of him— he wanted to be let down, and I did what he does to me… praised him, gave him a confidence boost… as well as saying I wasn’t letting him down till he finished 😅 (because I know he could do it).

So! Here’s to trying new and scary things— and to progressing on things you (and me) and been working on. My goal for the year is to be able to send a 5.10 (which is how they rate climbs) clean. 💪🏼

📸 Photos taken January 2025
iPhone 14 Pro Max

01/19/2025

Exploring the downtown area of 📍Knoxville, Tennessee was a dream— especially because we were luckily enough that the fall colors were still hanging on. 🍂🍁

Nestled behind these stunning trees and set against a brilliant blue sky, the Old Knox County Courthouse stands proudly, guarded by historic canons.

There were two historical markers about this place, here is what they had to say. ⏬

The third courthouse of Knox County was across Main Ave. to the north from 1842-1886. There twelve Union raiders who were charged with train stealing in the 1862 Great Locomotive Chase in Georgia, were tried in 1863. One was convicted. The trial was then adjourned, and the prisoners were sent to Atlanta because of increasing Union raids in East Tennessee. The courthouse was used as a hospital for the wounded of both armies in the fall of 1863.

250 yards east, near the mouth of First Creek, William Blount, Governor of the Territory South of the River Ohio, on July 2, 1791, signed a treaty with 48 chiefs of the Cherokee. It ceded a tract of land east of Clinch River extending approximately from Greeneville, 80 miles southwest and included the present Knox County.

📸 Photos taken November 2024
Nikon Zf, Tamron 24-70

01/18/2025

While visiting 📍Knoxville, Tennessee, we took a quick trip downtown to visit the Old Gray Cemetery. 🪦

It opened its gates in 1850 and was dedicated in 1852 when its first 40 lots were sold at audition.

Old Gray Cemetery is named after Thomas Gray (1716-1771), the renowned English poet famous for his work "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard." While many names were proposed that ended with "vale," "dale," or "wood," or started with "mount," it was Mrs. Henrietta Brown Reese, the wife 🥀 of Judge William B. Reese, the cemetery board's first president, who suggested the name Gray.

📸 Photos taken November 2024
Nikon Zf, Tamron 24-70

01/18/2025

While visiting 📍Knoxville, Tennessee, we took a quick trip downtown to visit the Old Gray Cemetery. 🪦

The following information was gathered from its official website. ⏬

It opened its gates in 1850 and was dedicated in 1852 when its first 40 lots were sold at audition.

Old Gray Cemetery is named after Thomas Gray (1716-1771), the renowned English poet famous for his work "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard." While many names were proposed that ended with "vale," "dale," or "wood," or started with "mount," it was Mrs. Henrietta Brown Reese, the wife 🥀 of Judge William B. Reese, the cemetery board's first president, who suggested the name Gray.

Here is what the historical marker located onsite had to say about this cemetery. ⏬

Old Gray Cemetery, incorporated in 1850, is the resting place of William G. Brownlow, Tennessee Governor and U.S. Senator, as well as two other U.S. Senators, eight U.S. Congressmen, 26 mayors of Knoxville, and numerous ambassadors, judges, editors, artists, authors, educators, military leaders, physicians, and industrialists.

📸 Photos taken November 2024
Nikon Zf, Tamron 24-70

01/17/2025

Here's some B&W photos of an old, abandoned train depot we stumbled upon in 📍 Owosso, Michigan, 🚂

We parked nearby and approached as closely as we could, keeping our distance due to the no trespassing signs posted on the building.

If anyone has more information about this place, we’d love to hear from you!

📸 Photos taken September 2024
Nikon Zf, Tamron 24-70

01/17/2025

While driving through 📍Owosso, Michigan, we came across an old, abandoned train depot. 🚂

We parked nearby and approached as closely as we could, keeping our distance due to the no trespassing signs posted on the building.

On one side, we noticed a sign that read “Owosso Elks Lodge.” After doing some research, we discovered that this once was a thriving Elks Lodge that operated for nearly 120 years before closing its doors.

Sadly, that’s about all we found out, aside from a few vintage 🎞️ photos showing what it looked like when it was still an active train depot.

If anyone has more information about this place, we’d love to hear from you!

📸 Photos taken September 2024
Nikon Zf, Tamron 24-70

01/16/2025

Driving through the countryside of Uxbridge, Ontario 🇨🇦 we weren’t sure exactly how a memorial was going to be situated within all these farming areas.

Then there it was, the 📍Thomas Foster Memorial. Beautiful trees, lush grasses and a gorgeous gate surrounding the property. It almost looked out of place within the area. Upon reading about who exactly Thomas Foster was, this turned out to be just the perfect area for his final resting place.

He was the Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1925 to 1927.

In the 1930s Thomas approached the architect firm in Toronto, Craig and Madill, with plans for the memorial. Heidi proposed $100,000, but the memorial building ended up costing twice that amount.

He died a millionaire in 1945 at the age of 93. In his will he provided many philanthropic gifts.

Some of these included:
* $500 for the Salvation Army to maintain and repair their instruments.
* $600,000 for Cancer Research at the University of Toronto.
* $5000 to feed wild birds around the city during the winter months.
* $15,000 will go toward the conservation of wild animals and game fish.
* $100,000 to plant trees to beautify the approaches to the City of Toronto.
* $10,000 for a fund to provide motor drives, motion picture machines, radios and other entertainment for patients at the Toronto Hospital for Incurables.

And many, many more.

📍Thomas Foster Memorial
9449 Durham Regional Road 1
Uxbridge ON L9P 1N6
Canada

01/15/2025

Knights of the Round Table, Merlin, King Arthur and Guinevere—all of those characters come to mind as you approach the enormous stone structure ahead and a massive doorway welcomes you while the battlements tower over you.

This is 📍Casa Loma, located in 🇨🇦 Toronto.

Sir Henry Pellatt was a business visionary and the creator of this castle. He was a founder of the Toronto Electric Light Company 💡 in 1883. He was also the chairman of 22 Canadian companies with interests in mining, insurance, land and electricity. In 1911 he ✍🏼 drew up plans with architect E.J. Lennox to create his dream home, a castle within Toronto. 🍁

Casa Loma took three years to build and $3.5 million dollars. It had soaring battlements, secret passages, vaults, and completely hidden rooms, reminding those who entered of the medieval times. ⚔️

As we entered the 🏰 castle, we were blown away by the sheer beauty and… massiveness of all of the rooms. Intricate ceilings, chandeliers decorated with beautiful lights, huge doorways, bedrooms with elegant furniture, and much much more. We were able to take a self guided tour that was given by an interactive app you could listen to through your earbuds that provided the history of the castle. 🤩

When we visited, the secret passageways were decorated for Christmas! 🎄 The decor emanated such a fun holiday vibe, for adults and kids alike. Today, they host escape rooms of various themes within the towers. Walking through these, they spared no expense with all of the details!

You might also recognize Casa Loma in movies! 🍿🎬 Here’s a few movies Toronto’s famous castle appeared in:

🦹🏼 X-Men
💃🏻 Chicago
🦸🏻 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
🧙🏻‍♀️ Twitches & Twitches 2
🍼 The Pacifier

Many more movies, TV shows and even music videos were filmed here.

📸 Photos taken November 2023
iPhone 14 Pro Max

01/14/2025

Here's the B&W photos of the Thomas Edison Depot Museum! We love the way they turned out. Which ones are your favorites?

If you love trains, history, or just something to do— check out the 📍Thomas Edison Depot Museum, located in Port Huron, Michigan. A $3 donation is appreciated. 🙏🏼

The following information was gathered from Port Huron Museum’s official website. ⏬

The Thomas Edison Depot Museum opened in 2001 inside the charming Fort Gratiot train depot— the very same building where a teenage Thomas Edison worked as a young news reporter back in the 1850s and early 1860s! This historic depot, built by the Grand Trunk Railway in 1858, was once a bustling hub where trains would come and go, carrying folks and freight between Port Huron, Detroit, and even across the border to Canadian cities like Sarnia.

A vintage baggage car, carefully restored, sits on a railroad siding near the depot. Stepping inside, visitors find themselves in a fascinating recreation— young Thomas Edison's traveling chemistry laboratory and print shop.

📸 Photos taken September 2024
Nikon Zf, Tamron 24-70

01/14/2025

If you love trains, history, or just something to do— check out the 📍Thomas Edison Depot Museum, located in Port Huron, Michigan.

We visited this for the first time in 2024, and were blown away on how interesting this museum is. There are hands on exhibits, a movie experience, and even an old restored train car. Along with two other museums in Port Huron, this is free to visit— but a $3 donation is appreciated. 🙏🏼

The following information was gathered from Port Huron Museum’s official website. ⏬

The Thomas Edison Depot Museum opened in 2001 inside the charming Fort Gratiot train depot— the very same building where a teenage Thomas Edison worked as a young news reporter back in the 1850s and early 1860s! This historic depot, built by the Grand Trunk Railway in 1858, was once a bustling hub where trains would come and go, carrying folks and freight between Port Huron, Detroit, and even across the border to Canadian cities like Sarnia.

A vintage baggage car, carefully restored, sits on a railroad siding near the depot. Stepping inside, visitors find themselves in a fascinating recreation— young Thomas Edison's traveling chemistry laboratory and print shop.

📸 Photos taken September 2024
Nikon Zf, Tamron 24-70

01/13/2025

Can you guess what today is?!? Today is the day we celebrate the birth of the one who puts the 'S' in TOAST! Without her, the acronym for the page would be TOAT and that's just weird! 🤪

Here's dozens of photos of my better half; the beautiful, thoughtful, caring, kind, sweet, funny, quirky, nerdy, adventurous, spontaneous, coffee loving, weird (just like me), and amazing Sam! 😍

Let's all wish her a happy birthday! 🎉🎂🎊🎈🎁

01/13/2025

Remember those Durand Union Station posts from earlier today? Well, here's another fun one!

Found within the Durand Union Station is a quite large, model train display that's very detailed and fully functional, we definitely recommend checking it out if you're ever in the area! 🚂

📸 Photos taken September 2024
Nikon Zf, Tamron 24-70

01/12/2025

Here's the B&W photos of 🚂 Durand Union Station, located in the heart of 📍Durand, Michigan.

Built in 1903, the station has some amazing survival stories too. In 1905, a huge fire 🔥 tore through downtown Durand, but somehow the station made it through unscathed. And in the 1970s, when they were thinking about tearing it down, the local community stepped up to save it.

More information and photos can be found in our post from earlier today!

📸 Photos taken September 2024
Nikon Zf, Tamron 24-70

01/12/2025

Picture this 🖼️— a beautiful old train station that looks like something out of a storybook, with its gorgeous slate roof and spires reaching into the sky. Well, that’s where you’ll find 🚂 Durand Union Station, located in the heart of 📍Durand, Michigan.

Built back in 1903, it was basically the Grand Central of Michigan railroading 🛤️ back in the day, where two major railroad lines came together.

This station is still very much alive, and can board the Amtrak line here. 🚄 There’s even a museum located inside, as well as a miniature railroad next door— it’s really neat and a must visit.

The station has some amazing survival stories too. In 1905, a huge fire 🔥 tore through downtown Durand, but somehow the station made it through unscathed. And in the 1970s, when they were thinking about tearing it down, the local community stepped up to save it.

If you're ever in the area, you should definitely stop by. Whether you're a train enthusiast, history buff, or just someone who appreciates beautiful architecture, there's something really special about walking through a building that's been connecting people and places for well over a century!

📸 Photos taken September 2024
Nikon Zf, Tamron 24-70

01/12/2025

Here's the B&W photos of the trestle bridge, located over the Mill Creek near Avoca, MI,

The Mill Creek Trestle was built in the late 1800s, it spans 640’ and is 60’ high, making it the longest train trestle in the state of Michigan!

Coordinates: 43.04303° N, 82.67141° W

For more information and photos check out our post from this morning 📸

The Outdoor Adventures of Sam & Tim

01/22/2025

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