This is Kakabeka Falls near Thunder Bay.  Oh, the noise!  It is wonderful!

Here I am adorning a very large chunk of amethyst.  Behind me is the open pit mine where they very carefully extract the purple gemstone for jewelry.  Whatever is not jewelry quality is used for other items.  And then what is leftover gets thrown into a pile for people like us to pick up and take home for $3 a pound.  The experience was worth it.  There are many mines like this north of Thunder Bay.  This one is the best.  This is my second visit to this mine AND it won't be my last.

I wore my Packers sweatshirt the entire trip.  It was definitely a conversation starter with strangers.