So what really inspired this full trip. Both David and I love to watch big boats…like great lake shipping boats. We often watch the live web cam from the Soo Locks. So when we knew we would be going to Milwaukee, I proposed a longer trip to include the Soo Locks!!
After we left Oconto, we headed towards Munising, MI, where I found we could take a Painted Rocks Boat Tour. So we decided to stay there 2 nights and had reservations for the boat. Unfortunately, the boat got cancelled because the waves and swells on Lake Superior were too much. So instead we went to a couple of parks to see some on the “Painted Rocks” and the waterfalls in that area.
Oh but first…Oh My Goodness…Jackie ran her first 10K while we were galivanting around WI and MI!! It was part of the Twin Cities Marathon and was a fantastic achievement that she has been training for in the last 6-8 months! And of course she had to get a picture with the Kemps Cow. She did ask who was in the costume….but that is a secret!!
So back to the Painted Rocks….we found some hike friendly places to see the sights and could really understand how the view from the boat would have been even better. We did try to get on the boat the next day also, but the winds were still too much on Superior.
The pictures do not even begin to do it justice, but the Fall colors were fantastic!!
Next on to Sault Saint Marie ON/MI….
Since it was too early to check in to our hotel, we went right to the Soo Locks and were lucky to get there just before a boat was to enter the locks. While watching it this little rain storm came through and an rainbow appeared over the boat!!
This was the first of a number of locking ships while we were there. I follow a woman on Facebook that lives on the ON side and always posts great pictures and views from both the locks and along the St. Mary’s River. After we watched the locking process, we went down river to see the boats continue on. This is right across from Sugar Island.
We also went to that park, Rotary Park, a few times to get a closer look at the boats. We went over to the Canadian side where our hotel was located, the Delta hotel. When we made our reservations we talked directly to the hotel and asked for a room that would have a good view of the boat traffic. It was amazing both during the day and at night to look out the window.
There is a lot of construction activity at the locks since they are adding a 3rd lock. Currently there are 2 locks but only one can hold the long 1000 footers that travel through there. So the new lock will be long to accommodate the longer ships and not close down the traffic when maintenance needs to be done on a lock.
Before we left Carefree, we talked to one of our neighbors, Jennifer and Ray, and found out they were also going to be up by the Soo Locks area at the same time as we were. So we decided to join up for lunch and either a train ride or boat ride. The train ride was full so they could not get tickets so we decided to go on one of the Soo Locks Boat Tours. It was really pretty chilly that day, so we had to layer up! LOL We left and first went through the Canadian lock, which is really small, run by volunteers and only really used for pleasure boats. Then we went around Algona Steel and then through the US lock.
Us in the boat…yes it was chilly so almost everyone stayed down in the enclosed area.
We definitely go up close and personal with the BIG BOATS!!
This is the International Bridge between the US and Canada. The toll is $4.50 to go across so we tried to limit our trips a little. Had to show our enhanced DL each time and were questioned by the border person each time…why are you here…how long will you be here, etc. The first time we entered Canada, the guy asked if we had any cannabis since that cannot be brought in to Canada. Well we didn’t have that but did have CBD gummies (non-THC) which he said he was supposed to confiscate that from us since Canada considers even a very small amount of THC illegal. He let us go through and we just made sure to leave the gummies in the hotel room so we did not have to get asked that question again. Gummies can be very expensive so throwing them all away would have been a shame. (Gummies can do wonders for pain. 🙂 )
The sunsets were amazing from our hotel room!
This also shows all the cranes working on the new lock.
Next was on to Mackinaw City, over the bridge, and then on to Duluth!! More to come!
Safe sailing, good sunsets and enjoy the leaves while you can!
Dandy Ventures 