NOV 8, 17 .. THE SHIPPING LOCKS AT SAULT SAINT MARIE MICHIGAN

While Patti and I were in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, we debated whether or not to go to Sault Saint Marie and see the shipping locks. 

WOW! Are we happy that we finally decided to drive up to the 'Soo Locks' (Soo is the vernacular for Sault Saint Marie) and see them. The below link to wikipedia will give you a lot of information about The Soo Locks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soo_Locks

When we approached the locks, we were fortunate to see a ship that had passed through the locks and was en route to Lake Superior. I parked our truck and jumped out to snap the below photos. Will you look at the size of the ship in the below photos.

THE SAULT SAINT MARIE SHIPPING LOCKS.

After taking the above photos, we back tracked to the Visitor Center area where you can get excellent views of the locks themselves.

The ship in these photos is heading downstream into Lake 
Huron.

The rust colored ship on the left in the above and below photos is heading upstream into Lake Superior.

The first three photos below of the visitor's center were taken from the street side of the locks. The Visitor Center is outstanding.

The next two photos of the visitor's center were taken from the locks.

Now we will go inside of the Visitor Center.

I don't think you can see (from the below photos) how the shipping locks function, but I included them to show you some of the details you find in the Visitor Center.

The following photos are general shots within the Visitor Center.

The below photo was taken in the movie theater. The theater is a do not miss attraction within the Visitor Center.

What an incredible operation the Soo Locks are. We are so happy that we took the time and went to the effort to drive up to Sault Saint Marie and see what we saw. You could spend much more time than the three hours we spent at the locks. 

Miles of Smiles, 

Patti and Cap

NOV 4, 17 .. CASTLE ROCK, ST IGNACE, MICHIGAN

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is a very enjoyable place to visit. In previous Posts I have shown The Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City. This Post will show you Castle Rock, located in the same area as the above attractions.

The Mackinac Bridge connects Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas.

As you pass through the toll plaza at the North end of the bridge, you enter the St. Ignace area. 

As you exit the toll plaza, if you continue to drive North on Interstate Highway 75, just slightly North of St. Ignace, on your left (West) side, you see Castle Rock.

I said to Patti.

"Will you just look at that? Let's go and check this out."

Below you see the Castle Rock gift shop. The entrance to the steps leading up to Castle Rock is inside of the gift shop. For just one dollar ($1) you can take the hike up 170 steps to the top.

The walk up and the walk down are not for the faint of heart. There are several very nice resting areas where you can stop, sit and take a break. It took me 14-minutes to walk to the top and it took me much longer to walk back down to the Gift Shop.

The Gift Shop is quite large and has a wide variety of items for sale. There are also rest rooms.

Here we go, up the 170 steps to the top.

At the bottom of the steps is a large likeness of the famous lumberjack Paul Bunyon, and his companion, Babe the Blue Ox.



One last 'wave back' at Patti who decided to pass on the walk up and to quietly rest on the bench.

To the right in the photo below is the beginning of the steps UP to the top.

"Did I bite off more than I can chew here?" I thought silently to myself as I looked up the first flight of steps.

This first rest stop sure looked good to me.

Good news. There is another rest stop up ahead.

Below we are about to walk up the last of the 170 steps.

The final walk to the top.

My first glimpse of 'The View' from the top of Castle Rock.

Whew! I made it all the way up!

In the distance is Mackinac Island.

We are looking at Lake Huron above and below.

Interstate Highway 75, going North to the left and South to the right.

You are going to have to 'squint' to see her, but Patti is waving up at me in the below photo.

Below we are looking Northwest at the Sault Saint Marie Michigan State Forest area.

"Dad! Did you have to snap this view of me?" /s/ The Walk

Time to take a deep breath and head back down the 170 steps.

I knew you would be here waiting for me little rest station. So nice to see you again.

Down we proceed. Notice I-75 in the upper right below.

As I have been taught to do, I walked down backwards to ease the strain on my knees and spine.

I have actually completed this walk.

Was the walk up and back down ' worth the effort '. I can't answer that for you. It was very worthwhile for me and I am very happy that we stopped here at Castle Rock.

Smiles, Patti and Cap