Sault Ste Marie, MI

When we were in Ishpeming and several places going across the upper peninsula we saw trucks that were wheels front to back on the trailers.  We didn't get pictures but I found some on the internet that shows some of them.  The trucks from Duluth, MN and across to Ishpeming I think were carrying iron ore, something very heavy for sure.  I am not sure how the trailers respond to turns.

We are Aune-Osborn RV Park which is a city operated park.  The sites are well spaced and deep enough for almost any rig.  Hookups are just electric and water but they have a double dump station so there is rarely a wait.  The campground is convenient to most things you may want to do in Sault Ste Marie.

Our site.

We are just a few steps past the park road to the edge of St. Mary's River with ships coming from or going to the Soo Locks.  You need advance reservations most places to get the premium and or waterfront sites.  We made reservations for the entire trip with the ability to cancel or reschedule if necessary.

View to the north from our site.

View to the south from our site.

While sitting out on the bench by the river I saw what I believe are immigrants from Canada that didn't go through security checks and show passports at the border crossing.

On Wednesday evening we went to the Soo Locks visitor center  and caught a ship passing through one of the several lock channels.  The locks connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron via the St. Mary's River.  There is just one level of locks.                                                                                                                            

I asked in the visitor center if they used mules (like in the Panama Canal) or the ships traveled through under their own power.  They travel under their own power but have a crewman at each end of the ship telling the captain how much clearance there is on each side.  The ships are equipped with thrusters that allow them to move the ship sideways.

View of some of the multiple lock channels.  They vary in length and possibly width.

Lock closing.

Soo Locks Tour boat being lifted to go into the Lake Superior side of the locks.

When the water level is equal the lock gates are opened for the ship, or in this case, the tour boat to go through.

We returned to our campsite to watch another ship proceed north to the locks.

There are a number of benches along the shore for park guest to watch the ships come and go.  You can always find a conversation like I did this morning.

Throughout the day we saw a lot of ships passing by.

When we went to the Soo Locks we passed this stone building and wondered what it was.  I soon realized it was a hydro-electric plant.  Water is diverted into a channel up stream and fed to the powerhouse.
See: http://www.saultstemarie.com/cloverland-electric-cooperative-hydroelectric-plant-june-26,-2015-280/ for more details about the historic plant.

The water from the diversion channel is fed by gates into the turbines.

A closer look at the gates.

Tomorrow we will go into Canada and visit  friends in Parry Sound, ONT.  Phone and especially data rates for us in Canada are quite expensive.  So we will go dark until Monday or so.

ST Ignace, Mackinac Island (cont)

Several people told us how nice the buffet lunch at the Grand Hotel was and while  here we should try it. Tuesday turned out to be a beautiful day so back to the island we went.  This time we took Shepler's ferry as it runs almost every half hour vs. every hour for the others and sometimes it is 2 hours between returning ferries.  Theirs are smaller boats and much faster, twice as fast which is nice.

We started down the boardwalk on the south end of town where many of the large homes are along the lakefront.  There were a number that had some painting in progress and I expect that is an ongoing and expensive maintenance cost.

I'll hold the ladder, you go up and paint.

Many were very ornate with well manicured yards.

I especially liked the detail on this house with the wood siding, white trim and the green steps

Most had large porches.

Many had gorgeous flowers around the yard.

 Begonias ringed each tree.

I just couldn't capture the beauty of the flowers around this home.

We called this the purple and pink garden as the colors really popped.

As we got farther from town the number and size of the homes diminished so we turned around and walked to the hotel for lunch.

The Grand Hotel,

One of the hotel's carriages for guests.

After lunch at the Grand Hotel we spent some time on the porch which they claim is the longest porch in the U.S.

Great views of the lake from the porch.

Linda enjoying some time on the porch.

I spent some time there also.



Again, flowers everywhere.

Some of the homes south and above the Grand Hotel.

Grand Hotel grounds.

If you would like to see more about the Grand Hotel go to: http://www.grandhotel.com/the-hotel

It was a pricey lunch with the additional charge for the ferry but I doubt we will be back here so...... It was well worth it!

St. Ignace, Mackinac Island

Our ferry arrived on Mackinac Island right at 10am.  The first thing you run into is the bicycle rental places and then the horse drawn carriages.

Several people recommended taking the carriage ride if it is the first time on the island as it gives you views and some history of the island. So, being brave, we got on the first carriage available and we were off on our adventure.

Our view from the front seat in the carriage.  Yes, the horses do what horses do and I haven't gotten the smell out of my nose yet.

After passing a number of historic buildings we started up the hill past the Grand Hotel.

Our first stop was the Butterfly Conservatory which had a wide range of beautiful butterflies.

Some of the many different butterflies we saw.

The wings of this one when folded closed were a brown pattern with a circle like an eye.

At the stop at the top of the hill where the Butterfly Conservatory is located we changed to a three horse carriage with several more rows of seats. This time we sat in the third row back and the top was higher providing a much better view of everything.

This took us into the Mackinac Island State Park.

Another stop was Arch Rock.

We passed a Catholic Cemetery, a Protestant Cemetery and then to this Military Cemetery.  There are about 100 soldiers buried here and only 30 have been identified.  The flag is continually flown at half mast for this reason and this is only one of 5 military cemeteries that do this.

Next we passed Fort Mackinac that offers tours but because we were short of time and the tour fairly lengthy we opted for lunch and then to see other things not yet seen.

The fort is impressive.

Linda can't resist taking pictures of flowers but this garden and all the flowers around the island were outstanding.

Back downtown it is horse drawn carriages, taxis, freight wagons and bicycles everywhere.

There are all kinds of bicycles for rent in various sizes.  Bicycles built for two, a riding trailer with pedals, kids bikes, three wheel trikes for older folds that aren't too stable, etc.  We watched one woman try several bicycles before they had her try a tricycle with a basket on the back. She was able to handle that and off she rode.

One minute there is nothing but bicycles going in every direction in the street and then empty for a few minutes.  Likewise at times it is a madhouse of horses with carriages or wagons and bicycles everywhere.

I'm not sure why there is a Harley shop as cars and motorcycles aren't allowed on the island.  I guess they will take every opportunity to sell their logo items to all the wannabe motorcyclists.

I know more than a few that this is more their speed.  It is the only legal Harley on the island.

Everything is moved by horse drawn vehicles or on bicycles.  They do use snowmobiles in the winter but there are still horse drawn taxis that run.  One side of the street is plowed for the horses and the other is left for the snowmobiles.  The ferries quit running in the winter and until the lake freezes over enough to support traffic the only access is via air.  Once the lake is solid, holes are drilled and rows of Christmas trees are placed to mark the route across the lake to St. Ignace.  That is for snowmobile traffic only.

Waiting to board the return ferry.

The summer mansion for use by the sitting Michigan Governor.

Some of the other large homes on the hills overlooking town.

The Grand Hotel from Lake Huron.

Round Island Lighthouse on a spit offshore.

The Mackinac Bridge over the straights that connect Lake Huron and Lake Michigan,

A Star Line ferry with its rooster tail.

Yes, we did buy fudge.  So I guess we are what the Yoopers call Fudgies.  Fudgies are people that come up and go to Mackinac Island and buy fudge.  We only bought four slices, the fifth was free with the purchase of four.  We got Chocolate Cherry, Butter Pecan, Chocolate Mint, Plain Chocolate, and another Chocolate Cherry.  It can't be more than 2-2 1/2 lbs of fudge.