Back roads and surprises of MI’s Upper Peninsula and The Soo…

From Duluth Highway 2 is short-lived through Wisconsin.  We did stop in the charming town of Ashland, nestled on the south shore of Lake Superior’s Chaquamegon Bay, for fuel and a lunch break at a beautiful city park.  We’re getting lots of tips from friends and bloggers for places to visit and sights to see on this trip, but unfortunately our route did not take us near any Rhinelander Restaurants, as recommended by Ex-Badger Al.

Fueling up in Ashland, WI

Ashland city park on Lake Superior

Americana through our windshield

A second Great Lake experience was added to our list with views of Lake Michigan appearing out our windshield near Manistique, MI.  This obviously called for a photo op stop and Howard was more than happy to accommodate.  We took advantage of this time to explore possible driving itineraries to maximize our sight-seeing experience.  Our map showed a scenic drive (77, 28, 123, 28) that would take us to Tahquamenon Falls State Park and eventually drop us off in Sault Ste. Marie. 

Howard models for a photo by Lake Michigan

It proved to be the perfect route.  We passed through small towns on a two-lane lined with trees in varying stages of autumn colors.  We happened upon a couple of vintage cars that we were destined to meet up with in a short time.  We found the magnificent Taquahmenon Falls State Park, and were only too happy to part with the $8 day use fee, unprepared for what lie ahead.

A couple of vintage cars, but there's more!

A touch of red and gold...

And this is what greeted us after parking!  A very impressive vintage car club from all over the country meeting up for a road trip.  They are known as the FARTS…Friends of Ancient Road Transportation.  There were classic Pierce Arrows, Rolls Royces, Cadillacs, Overlands, and Peugeots.

Much more awaited us on the half mile trail to the Upper Falls but we certainly weren't prepared for this:

About 100 steps down...then up, but worth it!

Taken from a viewpoint on the trail above..

And closer...

and up close!

The colors of brown, red, and gold are the result of tannic acid in the soil and roots and what a spectacular, unexpected display it was!


We finally continued on to our destination in Sault Ste. Marie and another marvelous parking site right on the banks of the St. Marys River.  Thanks to Beth for encouraging us to go a bit out of our way (we have a way?) to see the Soo Locks!   There are only 4 sites with water and electric for $25 but again it’s the location that counts.   This is the view from our window of the working waterfront.

Looking across the St. Mary’s River at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

And we were just in time for a fine chicken dinner with all the trimmings.  I’m sure we saw this freighter in Duluth!

From our table (out the window) dining at the Elk's Lodge in Sault Ste. Marie

We transited the Panama Canal in November 2011, but never tire of amazing feats of engineering.  The Soo Locks are a set of four parallel locks which enable ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. They are located on the St. Marys River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, between the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the province of Ontario. They bypass the rapids of the river, where the water falls 21 feet:

• The MacArthur Lock is 800 feet  long, 80 feet wide, and 29.5 feet deep.

• The Poe Lock is 1,200 feet long, 110 feet wide, and 32 feet deep

• The Davis Lock is 1,350 feet long, 80 feet wide, and 23.1 ft. deep.

• The Sabin Lock is 1,350 feet long, 80 feet wide, and 23.1 feet deep.

A single small lock is currently operated on the Canadian side of the Soo. Opened in 1998, it was built within a damaged older lock, and is  253 ft.  long, 51 ft. wide, and 44 ft. deep. The Canadian lock is used for recreational and tour boats; major shipping traffic uses the U.S. locks.

The latter two are either used infrequently or placed in caretaker status.

We had heard while walking around that a large vessel was approaching.  We went into the very impressive Corps of Engineers Visitor Center and this was confirmed.  We had about 45 minutes to view and read all the exhibits then gathered on the viewing platform for the approach of a 1000’ freighter.

The MacArthur lock looking toward the St. Marys River

Looking toward Lake Superior and the International Bridge with a 1000' freighter approaching the Poe Lock

Here the MacArthur Lock has raised 21' & now level with Lake Superior

A small tug enters the Lake as the large freighter (lock 2) is lowered to River level

We are moving along pretty fast now to get to Niagara Falls, so keeping current on blog posts is replaced by days full of seeing the local areas that happen to be our home for a night or two, and quick Facebook check-ins. Please stay tuned, though, as I will eventually get you to where we are!  Thanks for stopping by….

At Niagara Falls, Ontario

I am trying to stay reasonably current, at least so far as my short-term memory allows, so will briefly describe our route after leaving Sault Ste. Marie.  We crossed the "Mighty Mac" on I-75 connecting us to Michigan’s lower peninsula with Lake Michigan on our right and Lake Huron, our third Great Lake, on the left.

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Mackinac Bridge, Michigan

Exiting the interstate immediately we picked up Heritage Route 23, driving along the shore of Lake Huron, through small, very scenic little towns, to Tawas City and overnighted at the City Park Campground.
 

Scenic route through lots of small towns

Roadside park for lunch

Once through Bay City we again opt for the scenic route along Lake Huron and MI Historic Highway 25. We stayed two nights at Lakeport State Park, near Port Huron, and a convenient spot to do some shopping and top off our fuel before entering Ontario, Canada. Though the park is located lakeside it's a hike through a dense forest to see the water.  There was a warm rain falling so we took this opportunity to wipe some of the grime off the motorhome.

On the other side of the forest is Lake Huron

We find that Sundays are good travel days, especially if our route takes us through heavier traffic areas that are unfamiliar to us.  Al in Bayfield was kind enough to send us the series of Ontario highway connections and what to expect in order to get to our destination near Fort Erie.  This proved to be the perfect location from which to see the Niagara Falls and have easy access to Buffalo when the journey continues.  To add to our enjoyment was the great Windmill Point RV Park, one of our half price Passport America parks.  We stayed 3 nights, got our laundry done, and had two full days to sight-see.

Our site at Windmill Point RV Park

A beautiful quarry lake was right behind us

Time to get this magnificent show on the road and I am truly excited, having never been to Niagara Falls. I should also mention the weather is equally beautiful; 70s with the greatest cloud formations, always better for photos.  The drive from our park is along the Niagara Parkway with views across the Niagara River to Buffalo and the Peace Bridge. 

Peace Bridge as seen from the Niagara Parkway

We see mist before anything else; huge plumes shooting into the air.  The windshield is already wet as we approach the beautiful city of Niagara Falls, Ontario and join the throngs of folks vying for parking spots.

Nice city & did I mention clouds!

 We walked back and forth between the Canadian Falls and the US just soaking up (literally) every view.  Best to now let a few of the photos speak for themselves.

On the edge of the Canadian Falls

  

The Brink!

The Canadian or Horseshoe Falls with tour boat approaching

The American Falls & Bridal Veil

Full view of American, Bridal Veil, Goat Island, Horseshoe Falls (and those clouds)

   

Tourist from all over the world come for this view; Buffalo across the way

Walkway down to the boats

Even Elvis was in the house

After getting the lay of the land we decided to take the Maid of the Mist boat tour to get up close and personal to the Falls and experience the roar.  We were all given blue rain slickers but warned we'd still get wet.  It's very hard to take photos in these conditions without doing bodily harm to the camera, but we managed a few.

Patiently waiting

Getting up close

Hear the roar, we're there!

And we're back!

The Niagara River runs from Lake Erie 35 miles to Lake Ontario and includes Niagara Falls along its course. There is also the Welland Canal that connects theses two Great Lakes and allows ship traffic from the Atlantic Ocean and along the St. Lawrence Seaway and through a series of locks, thus bypassing the Falls.

We drove to nearby Port Colborne at the south end of the Welland Canal on Lake Erie and spent several hours walking around this lovely little town.  Out location near Fort Erie proved to be near everything.  Lake Ontario will have to wait for the next leg of this trip.

Welland Canal at Port Colborne

Lovely, colorful town...Port Colborne

Lake Erie

The circle is complete...

This is what 11, 261 miles looks like, and this was just from the end of July through December, when we arrived in Petaluma.  What a year we have had!  

Starting in our beautiful Anza Borrego Desert (as always) the first of the year, then February in Roatan, Honduras, April in San Carlos, MX, August in Port Townsend, WA, then north of the border to the beautiful Okanagan.

East along Highway 2, the most northerly route across the USA, to possibly my 2nd favorite (surprisingly) location at Duluth, MN.  Yes, the stars were aligned, the weather pristine, and bugs non-existent.  And Michigan's Upper Peninsula, oh my!  Ever seen falls like these and the Soo Locks?!

Another crossing into Canada, and my personal fav, Niagara Falls!   I had never been here in all our years of travel and joined the international throngs to pay homage to this world wonder, both from above and beneath.   And we had never heard of the Thousand Islands, but thanks to George, we got to the St. Lawrence Seaway in upstate NY.  And all the Great Lakes...

The original reason for this circumnavigation was to see the Fall Colors, and we arrived in Vermont and New Hampshire at peak leaf peeping season.  Our minds were blown by the beauty of little mountain towns like Bethlehem.

We arrived down east at Bar Harbor for Mainely lobster!  Time to turn south for Cape Cod, then a detour through the Shenandoah & Blue Ridge Parkways, but not before we found the Promised Land.  

On to the Lowcountry of South Carolina and St. Helena Island, Beaufort, and Hunting Island. I truly believe I have lived here in a previous life.  I love this place.  It is a south like no other!

We had not been to Florida for years and had a real resort vacation in The Keys, after a few days spent in The Everglades.  

At this point we were done, psychologically, and the decision was made to get home to the Bay Area and family before Christmas.

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From Yuma, with motorhome service issues tended, and full tummies from friends who fed and housed us, we continued our westerly trek to the Pacific Ocean at Pismo Beach, CA, and a couple of days of re-charging on the beach in near perfect weather.

North to Half Moon Bay, our old home territory, where we were happily greeted by granddaughter Liliana's beautiful little face, along with Santa and Frosty!

Our daughter,Terri, had promised a "ThanksMas" feast chronicling our arrival just before Christmas, and she did good.  Terri's prime rib is consistently the best!

Our youngest grandson Damien at 2 1/2 was a little leery of all the fuss and stuck to his smart phone games, thus auditioning for the next eTrade.com kid part!

On a long awaited trip to Costco for diapers, prime rib, and wine...When, what to my wondering eyes should appear....We happened upon the Christmas camera specials!  We had been doing some research and talking to more professional friends, thinking maybe a new lens, but really needing to upgrade from our old 10.1 MP Canon DLSR kit we bought from Costco many moons ago, when we saw this:

Honestly, the Canon 70D would be comparable but the 18-200 mm lens in the Nikon kit sealed the deal for us.  I think toting around one multi-purpose lens when we're out walking about will be more comfortable after a few miles.  We'll see!  Now the learning curve begins....And please, any tips, suggestions, favorite settings for "on the go" shootings; manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, would be greatly appreciated.

Finally, we arrived back in Petaluma from whence we left late last July.  A lot of time was spent with Christina, our 7 year old, who is a very willing subject for camera practice.  We also got to attend her dance recital and play with the greatest granddog!

And last but not least, a lot of very good food was consumed.  Dungeness crab is always in season at this time of year and our friends Bruce and Phyllis, and Bob and Marilyn, put together a great celebration with the added surprise of abalone, a true delicacy in these parts.  Another tradition for Christmas Eve is tamales at Norm and Wendy's along with some opening of presents, and on Christmas Day was duck with all the trimmings!

My goal for the last few days was to organize photos and get this posted before the year's end.  Yes, it is rushed and disjointed, but it is done.  We have had the most spectacular 2013 and I hope you have enjoyed traveling along with us this year.  We wish you all the very best in this coming year.  I bet you can guess where you'll hear from us next!

Happy New Year 2014!