June15-16 Sault Ste Marie ON

We headed north, up the east side of St Joseph Island, into the North Channel and some of the beautiful natural scenery of southern Canada. There are no other boats on the water here. Seems like wilderness all around. As we move further north, we get into the western end of the North Channel and the rock formations of the Canadian Shield come into view. We see the large granite rocks above and below the surface that we saw as we entered the Georgian Bay last summer. This area is really beautiful. We stop for lunch in Canada at Hilton Beach and clear Canadian Customs by phone. Very easy.

Hilton Beach, on St Joseph Island, in Canada has a nice new marina and is the center of the cottages for this part of the island. This would be a good marina to spend the summer 'up north' as the scenery here is among the best we have seen.

BIG granite rocks

Rustic homes overlook the 55 degree water

Linda enjoying the scenery. Here we are in a narrow channel going under a bridge with 'range markers' behind us.

Active Osprey nest

The Roberta Bondar Marina in Sault Ste Marie, Canada.

We arrive at the Roberta Bondar Marina About 4pm. Roberta Bondar is the first female astronaut from Canada and she is from Sault Ste Marie. Local girl becomes famous. Whole neighborhood is named for her.

NORGOMA is to be a museum ship, Not yet open.

Owen with large piece of street sculpture.

Linda with the 'bears' fishing.

We are enjoying Sault Ste Marie. There is a large mall just behind the 'bears' and within easy walking distance of the marina. The downtown area (nearby) is declining and storefronts are about 10% vacant. The waterfront has had substantial investment into government buildings, the marina, entertainment pavillion and a mile long boardwalk.

KOKOMO II behind the sculpure in the almost empty marina. Active boating period to begin on July 1, which is 'Canada Day'.

New Roberta Bondar Park Tent Pavillion entertainment center on the waterfront. Very attractive inside and out.

Ermatinger Old Stone House (1812) is the oldest stone house north of Toronto. Restored and shown by costumed interpreters.

Restored Clerque home built in the style of a military 'blockhouse' for defense.

Bushplane Museum is a good one with interactive displays (you can feel like you are flying into a north woods fishing camp or fighting a forest fire)

Stanley Steamer. Boiler is where engine is in cars today.

Larger version of the deHavilland 'Beaver' called the 'Otter'.

Smaller and most popular bushplane, deHavilland DHC-2 'Beaver'.
These planes can land on water in summer or snow in winter and use retractable wheels to go up a ramp after landing.

Freighter E W FORD, near the Bushplane Museum.

The big attraction in Sault Ste Marie (pronounced sue saint marie) is the Soo Locks which move more than 11,000 vessels, carrying 90 million tons of cargo, around the St Mary's rapids between Lake Superior, up or down 21 feet, and Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Erie which are all three at the same level. These freighters carry iron ore, coal, grain or stone. Some ships now exceed 1000 feet in length and can carry 72,000 tons of freight in a single load. Most ships stay in the Great Lakes but they can go further. There are more locks to get the ships from Lake Erie around Niagara Falls to Lake Ontario and more locks to get from Lake Ontario down to Quebec where the St Lawrence River connects to the Atlantic Ocean. From there, ships can go anywhere in the world. The Soo Locks are said to handle more shipping traffic than any set of locks in the world.