Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Soo Locks

I have been remiss at posting - Having too much fun and very poor upload speeds in the wilds of northern Michigan. After spending two and a half rainy windy days in Petosky, Michigan, we were finally able to head north to the Upper Peninsula on a beautiful sunny Sunday. Crossing the Mackinaw Bridge was beautiful! I told my friend Mary Ann who doesn't like going up and down mountain roads that I will take mountain roads anytime over crossing high long bridges with very low guard rails!

The Mackinac Bridge is the 3rd longest bridge in the world and the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. Below is one of the water taxis which take you to Mackinaw Island.







We arrived at our campsite along the northern shore of Lake Michigan. We are just two miles west of the bridge. It is a beautiful view out our front window over Lake Michigan. Shortly after setting up our campsite, a freighter steamed past.











Doug and Homer had to go checkout the shoreline.


After setting our camp, we headed to the Soo Locks in Sault St. Marie on the northern edge of Michigan's Upper Peninsula where Lake Superior empties into Lake Huron. There is a 21 foot drop in St. Mary's River between the two lakes and so the locks lower and raise the ships between the lakes. The "Lakers" are freighters up to 1000' in length and they travel what is referred to as the "Upper Great Lakes." The "Salters" are ships up to 800' which travel the whole way to the ocean. The Lakers are too long to go through the Welland Canal between Lake Erie and Ontario.Below is a relief map of the Upper Lakes showing the depth.




Unfortunately, we just missed a large freighter going through the locks and none were due for about 8 hours so we watched this tour boat go through the locks and left.




Above, the boat comes into the lock from Lake Superior and then the lock doors close behind it.







In the photo above, you can see the water has been removed from the lock and the gates to St Marys River are opening. The tour boat exits the lock below.



Above they close the gates and the lock begins to fill again with water in preparation for the next ship coming from Lake Superior.

Above is our view out the restaurant's window where we ate looking from St. Ignace toward Mackinaw Island. Below you have a beautiful sunset view from our motorhome campsite. Tomorrow we are going to drive up to Whitefish Point on Lake Superior.