Thursday, August 25, 2011

Day 54 Summer 2011 Road Trip


We have a busy day planned for today, so we started off with an early breakfast at our hotel, then drove to the waterfront to see about getting tickets for the Soo Locks Boat Tour

This is the boat we will be on as soon as the people onboard get off.
4932 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - East Portage Avenue - Soo Locks Boat Tours Dock No. 2 4937 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours Dock No. 2 - Hiawatha

A float plane flies overhead.

4939 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks Boat Tours Dock No. 2 - float plane 4940 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks Boat Tours Dock No. 2 - float plane

Our tour starts by going upbound into the MacArthur Lock.  We wait for the lock gate to open.  Of the 4 locks only the MacArthur and the Poe are operational, the other 2, the Davis and the Sabin are shut down and are awaiting demolition so that the Army Corps of Engineers can begin the construction of a “super” lock.

4954 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours 4956 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - MacArthur Lock, lock gates and safety boom opening

We enter the lock.  As you look up the wall of the lock you can see the lock viewing platform is full of people waving at us.

4961 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - inside MacArthur Lock 4962 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - inside MacArthur Lock with viewing platform above 4963 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - inside MacArthur Lock looking up at people on viewing platform

The lock fills with water from Lake Superior to raise us 21 feet.

4967 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - inside MacArthur Lock 4969 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - inside MacArthur Lock 4981 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - MacArthur Lock, lock gates opened

In the Poe Lock next to us the Canadian Freighter “Birchglen” is just entering the lock travelling downbound from Lake Superior into Lake Huron.

4978 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - inside MacArthur Lock with the Canadian freighter Birchglen entering the Poe Lock 4985 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Canadian freighter Birchglen in Poe Lock as we exit the MacArthur Lock 4986 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Canadian freighter Birchglen in Poe Lock as we exit the MacArthur Lock

We leave the MacArthur lock behind us and head out underneath the International Bridge that connects Sault Ste. Marie Michigan to Sault Ste. Marie Ontario.  There is also a lift bridge that carries the rail line be the two cities across the river.

4989 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - International Bridge 4991 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - International Bridge 4992 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - passing under International Bridge and International Railroad Bridge

We headed over to the Canadian side to get a close up view of the Algoma Steel Company.

4994 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Algoma Steel Company, Sault Sainte Marie Canada 5003 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Algoma Steel Company, Sault Sainte Marie Canada 5009 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Algoma Steel Company, Sault Sainte Marie Canada

We watched as the freight Michipicoten unloaded its cargo of coal.

5014 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours -  the lake freighter Michipicoten at Algoma Steel Company, Sault Sainte Marie Canada 5016 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours -  the lake freighter Michipicoten at Algoma Steel Company, Sault Sainte Marie Canada 5013 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Algoma Steel Company, Sault Sainte Marie Canada and the lake freighter Michipicoten

We then headed into the Canadian Lock.  Known as the Sault Ste. Marie Canal.  The original lock was built in 1798 but was destroyed in 1814 by US Forces during the war of 1812.  The lock was then re-built and completed in 1895.  However on June 9 1909 the lock was seriously damaged when a ship crashed into the lock gate.  The lock was repaired 12 days later and operated until 1987 when the lock was damaged by ice.  The wall shifted 18 inches.  A new, smaller lock was then built inside the existing damaged lock and re-opened in 1998.  The lock is now only used for pleasure craft and tour boat traffic.

5035 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - International Bridge, a railroad bridge and Emergency Swing Dam Bridge (red) 5041 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Canadian recreational Lock 5057 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - inside the Canadian recreational Lock

The Canadian Flag is at half mast because of the death of Canadian Politician Jack Layton.

5046 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Administration Building (completed in 1895-1896) at the Canadian recreational Lock 5052 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Canadian flag at half mast due to NDP Leader Jack Layton's death

We will be lowered back down 21 feet and then we will proceed past the Sault Ste. Marie waterfront.

5059 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - inside the Canadian recreational Lock 5062 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - wood carved bull moose on Canadian side 5063 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - shoreline on Canadian side

The tenants in these waterfront apartments sure have a great view of the ships coming and going through the lock system.

5071 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - shoreline on Canadian side 5075 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - shoreline on Canadian side, the Reliance, the Avenger IV & the Yankcanuck 5079 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - shoreline on Canadian side, the Bushplane Museum

The Canadian freighter Birchglen has exited the Poe Lock and is on its way down the St. Marys River on its way to Lake Huron and beyond.

5084 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Canadian freighter Birchglen 5085 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Canadian freighter Birchglen 5088 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - Canadian freighter Birchglen

Back over on the US side of the river, we pass by some dry docks where ships are being repaired and inspected.  There is also a small RV Park at the waters edge, another great viewing spot for seeing the Lake Freighters.

5090 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours -boat in dry dock on U.S. side to have hull inspected by Coast Guards 5092 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - U.S. side Soo Locks Campground 5091 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI -  St Marys River - Soo Locks Boat Tours - U.S. side Soo Locks Campground

Back at the dock we walked across the parking lot and visited the Museum Ship “Valley Camp”  The Valley Camp is an actual Great Lakes Freighter that you can explore and tour.

5182 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp 5103 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp

There are numerous displays and artefacts onboard.  Here are a couple of oil paintings of the Valley Camp.

5107 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - picture of 1917 Valley Camp freighter 5108  Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - picture of 1917 Valley Camp freighter

There is also an oil painting of the David Dows,  the largest sailing ship ever on the Great Lakes.

5116 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - picture of David Dows 5117 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - info on David Dows

We thought of our friends Carol and Darrell when we saw this snow mobile..I bet they wish they had this sweet ride.

5149 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - 1961 Polaris Sno-Traveler 5150 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - info on 1961 Polaris Sno-Traveler 5152 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - 1961 Polaris Sno-Traveler

Up on deck, we walk towards the bow where the wheelhouse and crews quarters are.

5138 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - hatches 5139 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - crews living quarters 5144 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - wheelhouse

The most significant display is the Edmond Fitzgerald Memorial and Exhibit.

5156 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit   5158 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit 5163 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit


The only 2 lifeboats recovered are on display here.  One of the lifeboats is torn in half.

5159 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit 5179 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit 5176 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit

The names of all the crew members are displayed on a wall.

5164 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit 5174 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Museum Ship Valley Camp - Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit

After touring the Valley Camp, we drove the short distance to the Soo Locks Visitor Center to check the lock schedule.  There is a ship on the schedule that I recognize…  The Frontenac.  The Frontenac arrives in Midland Ontario late each fall and docks at the grain elevator there for the winter.  So we will come back this evening and watch the Frontenac go through the lock.

5187 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks Visitors Center

We went back to our hotel for the rest of the afternoon, then came back to the waterfront for dinner at The Lakeview Restaurant.  We ate here last night and the meal was delicious so we have no hesitation to dine here again tonight. 

After dinner we went across the road to the lock viewing platform and watched as the Federal Patroller entered the lock system.  The ship is hard to photograph because the setting sun is directly behind the ship.

5195 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - freighter Federal Patroller entering MacArthur Lock 5200 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - freighter Federal Patroller entering MacArthur Lock 5214 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - freighter Federal Patroller inside MacArthur Lock

I can see the Frontenac waiting patiently for the Federal Patroller to clear the lock.

5217 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - Canadian freighter Frontenac entering MacArthur Lock
The Federal Patroller is lowered to the level of Lake Huron and exits the lock.

5222 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - freighter Federal Patroller inside MacArthur Lock 5226 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - freighter Federal Patroller inside MacArthur Lock 5231 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - freighter Federal Patroller exiting MacArthur Lock

The lock is refilled back up to the level of Lake Superior and the Frontenac is given the go ahead to enter.

5234 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks 5235 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - Canadian freighter Frontenac waiting to enter  MacArthur Lock 5237 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - Canadian freighter Frontenac entering MacArthur Lock

It sure is a tight fit, the hull of the Frontenac is a mere few inches from the wall of the lock.

5242 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - Canadian freighter Frontenac inside MacArthur Lock 5252 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - Canadian freighter Frontenac inside MacArthur Lock 5252a Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - Canadian freighter Frontenac inside MacArthur Lock

At this point we left the viewing platform and walked to a location along the sea wall where we could view the Frontenac as it exits the lock and heads out into Lake Huron.

5267 Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - Canadian freighter Frontenac leaving MacArthur Lock 5274a Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - Canadian freighter Frontenac leaving MacArthur Lock 5280a Michigan - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Soo Locks  - Canadian freighter Frontenac leaving MacArthur Lock

I took a lot of photos today, approximately 350 or more.  I also took some videos of the Frontenac entering the leaving the locks.

To see all of the photos and videos from today you can find them all on my FLICKR site.

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