When the alarm went off at 6:45, we both agreed we were so
glad to be already across the border and only blocks away from our boat and the 8:00 departure.
The trip was done on a boat by The Soo Locks Company. Our boat had only about 30 passengers on it, although
it could have held 3 times that.
We got breakfast as we left the dock and entered the
American Lock. This is the only one used
by the big ships so our boat looked quite small in the 800 foot lock. Once out of the lock, we sailed up the St.
Mary’s River for the next hour, to the edge of Lake Superior.
We really did get the chance to see much more of what a
highly important industrial travel area this was, where Lake Superior connected
into Lake Huron. As someone explained, a
lock is like a water elevator for ships. Lake Superior is naturally about 22
feet higher than lake Huron so there used to be a really difficult rapids. They would have to take the ships out of the
water and carry them on logs for 30 days in order to go around this area. The locks were a very important improvement
over 120 ears ago. We learned a lot
about shipping on the Great Lakes.
There were many families and couples on this trip and we got
to chat with many of them. We also just enjoyed staring out at the water. It went on and on, especially once we were at
the edge of Lake Superior.
It was a perfect day for it, sunny and lovely…but for part
of the time up on the top deck it was freezing cold, especially as we got nearer
to the cold waters of Lake Superior.
Patti finally had to go below to the eating area where there was
heat. A couple of smart, cold young
women had brought blankets along. Patti could have used one, although at one
pint she counted and was wearing 7 layers of shirts and jackets on her top part
of her body. Still cold!
As we approached the lake, we heard stories from a gentleman
who lived in one of the Lighthouse Keeper’s homes and provided interpretation
to visitors. He had lived in the area
for most of his life and added a richness to our tour.
We did get some good looks at several lighthouses. The best
one was the Iroquois Point Lighthouse.
It is located at the very beginning of the shipping channel in the bay
where the St. Mary’s River begins in Lake Superior. It looked great in the
bright sunlight. We will have to visit
it some time since tours are available. This opening is about ten miles wide
with another light protruding from the water to warn the boats away from
shallow rocks. Previously there had a
been a light ship stationed here but they built this permanent structure that
was manned for many years before being automated. It is so interesting to see them from the
water rather than from the land.
Then back across the boarder to Canada again. We had seen that there was a Bushplane Museum
dedicated to bush planes and firefighting with planes. Both are interests that we have, so we were
off. Time for another museum before we had to get further down the road. The museum was filled with amazing planes
most of which had the pontoons on the bottoms.
We were both interested in seeing and learning more about many of these
planes, plus we watched a couple of well-done movies.
In addition to the float planes, the museum also presented
the efforts of Canadian firefighters to control wild fires in the extensive
forests of this country. This included a
plane, the CL-215, that was designed to quickly fill with water, while flying over a lake,
and then dump it precisely on fires.
This certainly is an important support to the firefighters on the
ground. Glad we were able to make this stop.
We were amused as they were putting finishing touches on the place as
the site of a wedding later in the afternoon .
What an interesting place for a wedding and reception. I hope they love planes.
Our last stop in Sault Ste. Marie ON was down by the canal
park overlooking the locks where, from our lock tour boat, we had seen two more
of the Red Chairs, from the Canadian National Parks special project. We had to
stop and take our pictures. Love these
chairs.
Then we drove on (actually Dick continues to do the lion’s
share of the driving, with Patti giving him breaks as he needs it). It was another 4 hours until we reached Sudbury
ON for another night’s rest. More great
driving and lovely looks. Now we have
moved into driving along the shores of Lake Huron, the next Great Lake.
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