Sault Ste Marie Locks

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Another travel day today, from Eagle River, WI to Sault Ste Marie (SSM), MI. Again we had straight secondary open roads with little traffic. I had researched the locks at SSM on the internet the night before and found a 2 hour boat tour that left at 3:30 PM. We were able to catch this tour and had a great time. There is a 21 foot drop in water height from Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The St Mary's River connects the two and a portion of it is used to operate four locks within the US, the longest being 1200 feet. Canada also has locks, but they are not operating due to budget constraints we were told. Our locks are totally free for any ship or even a small boat. In the third picture note the two small boats along the left side of the lock wall that had entered the lock before us (double click on the picture). They and we had to be tethered to the wall with ropes from above so as not to move around in the lock while the water is being lowered or raised. Also note the green light on the left side of the lock entrance meaning it is OK to enter the lock. In that same picture look in the upper left. See the people above the two little boats? These are viewing stands at the visitors center were you can watch the boats going through the locks.

The water is moved in and out of the locks purely by gravity, no mechanical means is required, i.e. no pumps. It takes 10-15 minutes to raise or lower the water in the lock. Our 2 hour trip lasted longer because of the hold up going through the locks. Two large ships were going through locks #1 & #2 at the same time we were there.

This area has three hydroelectric plants. Canada, US and a smaller one used to operate the locks. The bridge in the distance in the third picture is the International Bridge between the US and Canada. The picture of the big manufacturing plant is that of the largest steel plant in Canada. It produces 720 different types of steel. The picture of the Studebaker is at a restaurant in SSM suggested by a Kings Point friend who used to frequent the place when he worked in the upper peninsula 10-12 years ago. We had supper there and I had the German omelet that he had highly recommended. It was very good.

Traveling Across America

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Bill: Today again was a traveling day from the suburbs of Minneapolis, MN to the small town of Eagle River, WI. The trip was uneventful as we drove across the rolling countryside of Wisconsin. We took two lane roads that went through small towns, but going at 55 mph it was relaxing.

Last night we stayed in a BestWestern motel in Plymouth, MN that was very interesting. We noticed that there were quite a number of families with young children staying at the motel. Well, when we checked further we found an amazing indoor pool area that caters to the children. It is in the middle of the motel, two stories high, with rooms having balconies over looking the pools. Yes, pools, there are two pools, one specifically designed for very young children. It has a swan slide, water coming from a overhead bar and water emptying into conical baskets that when filled, drop water into the pool, (see pictures). The other pool is for older children and adults and has a large slide and a basketball net.

Arriving in Eagle River we found out that a beer fest was in progress all afternoon, but we arrived too late to get there.

Mall of America

Friday, June 11, 2010

Bill: As we inch closer to the east coast and Prospect Harbor, we stopped today outside of Minneapolis/St Paul. Knowing about the Mall of America in Bloomington, we had to visit since we are so close. Traffic getting to and from the mall was slow, but we made it. While there we saw many stores and shops (there are 520). Nordstrom, Sears, Macys and Bloomingdales anchor the mall. In the center of the four floor mall is an opening where about 25 different rides for kids of all ages are operating. They have a multitude of eateries, theaters and game stores. I can see the mall would be a great place to come to in the winter when the snow is piled high outside and some roads are closed. Yes, they do close roads and highways here as well as in other states we visited. Enjoy the pictures. We enjoyed visiting the mall.

I had to take the last picture of Eleanor with her friends.

Goodbye National Parks

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Bill: Time to leave the national parks behind, all 19 of them. We traveled across South Dakota today, Rapid City to Sioux Falls. Driving straight on route 90 was very uneventful. When we arrived at our hotel, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, the nicest place we've stayed to date, there were two beds two flat screen HD TVs, couch and a work area, we learned that the city had broken a water main nearby and repairs were expected to be complete by 9:00 PM. Actually it turned out to be finished at 7:00 PM. Tomorrow is another travel day as we head east.

Badlands National Park

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

HAPPY 48th ANNIVERSARY to US

Last but not least we went to visit Badlands National Park located approximately 80 miles east of Rapid City, SD. The park area consists of 244,000 acres, about 1/10 the size of Yellowstone. It is home to many wildlife (see picture of prairie dogs) and plants in its vast green prairie. However in this wilderness are towering spires some 100-200 feet high, flat top mounds and deep canyons made from deposits of sand, slit and clay that have been cemented into solid form. The spires and mounds immediately reminded me of sand castles on a beach on a larger scale. You are allowed to walk and climb all over the mounds and spires, and we did, (see Eleanor). There have been many fossils found in this area as the mounds/spires have slowly eroded over many years.

There is much road work being done in this park as well as in other parks such as Yellowstone. Much of the cost is obtained through the federal government's TARP, (1 trillion dollar make work program). Large signs display this fact. It's too bad the jobs aren't permanent and able to help our economy.