Mackinaw Bridge

We had a glorious morning to cross. I have gone twice before, once in a Yugo decades earlier - not too many years after another Yugo was blown off (https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/01/07/car-swept-off-mackinac-bridge/2502721002/). No wind today… and Gravytrain probably weighs 10 times what my Yugo did.

Here It Comes

 Pretty impressive as you approach… and a looong way down.

Don’t Jump Augie!

 If you threw her ball over… she might.

Dashboard Budda

Keeping one eye on the road, and one on me.

Taquamenon Falls State Park, Michigan (YooPee)

 My previous visits to the U.P. were always just transits. I was determined to do some actual sightseeing this time ‘round. Taquamenon Falls are dramatic, beautiful, and relatively easy to view (unless you count the 95 steps down - and up - to the viewing platform.

Lower Taquamenon Falls

 The lower falls are a series of four to five falls between five and fifteen feet over about a half mile stretch.

Lower Taquamenon Falls

 This is the largest of the lower falls.

Upper Taquamenon Falls

 A whole lot of water moves over this forty-foot ledge. Pretty impressive - and loud.

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Point

 Very impressive display of all things “Great Lakey.” In 1975, the infamous Edmund Fitzgerald went down just 13 miles north of here with 29 hands abord during a horrendous storm. “The mariners all say she’d have made Whitefish bay, if she’d put 13 more miles behind her.” - Gordon Lightfoot.

Tired Augie

Between the drive, hiking around the waterfalls, and an epic ball session (with appreciative audience) at the Shipwreck Museum, Augie was toast when we got to our final campsite before crossing into Canada.

St Mary River and Canada Beyond

We’re going to be at Soo Locks Campground for a few days - doing laundry and sightseeing before heading Norte.
9/16/23

Soo Locks Boat Tour

Rode Biscuit down to the docks and followed the rest of the tourists onto a boat filled with germ-ridden children.
9/17/23

Soo Locks Boat Tour

We went through the largest lock with this freighter. It was pretty cool watching the water lower us both about twenty five feet from Lake Superior level down to the level of Lake Huron. Next morning, I had a scratchy throat, and within two days I had a full-blown chest cold. Fortunately, that was all it was - tested negative for COVID.

Lake Superior

Over the next week or so, Ima be tracing the north shore. I've always wanted to take this drive... and soon I will have.

Sault Saint Marie to Wawa

This drive up the east coast of Lake Superior is one of the most scenic in Canada. It's like the Pacific Coast Highway meeting the Blue Ridge Mountains - a breath-taking view around every bend in the road.
9/18/23

Algoma Highlands Blueberry farms and Winery

This was another Harvest Hosts stay. Spent the night camped next to a strawberry field, and bought a pound of frozen blueberries and some blueberry syrup...

Algoma Highlands Blueberry farms and Winery

...which made for several great blueberry pancake breakfasts over the next several days.

Pukaskwa National Park

...is a real jewel in the Canadian National Parks system. This is Hattie Cove. I stayed for three days at the Hattie Cove Campground. The weather continued to be grand, with highs in the low seventies.
9/19/23

Pukaskwa National Park

Augie and I hiked bout 12 miles of trails around the park and up the coastline. I was reminded of my Olympic Wildness backpacking trip with one of my godsons a few years back.

Marathon, Ontario

After four days with practically no cell or wifi signal, I opted for a two-night stay in this small town just a few miles down the road from Pukaskwa. There was also a laundry, and a sports bar where I was able to watch the Ohio State Notre Dame game. Ironically, after three nights in the wild, I had to town in order to have my first bear encounter. I didn't see it, but when I checked in to the campsite the manager asked me to stay close to camp, as local police were currently trying to chase a bear away from the campsite dumpsters.
9/22/23

Marathon, Ontario

I stayed at Penn Lake City Park in Marathon. The afternoon following the bear sighting Augie and I hiked around Penn Lake. It was barely a mile long hike, but I was sure every rustle in the woods was a bear... it wasn't. This was the last weekend of Summer, so by sheer coincidence, I was treated to a fireworks display at the park with a front row seat right outside Gravytrain. This was the view from my campsite, and the fireworks were set off from the little strip of beach you can see on the other side of the lake.

Rainbow Falls

I left Marathon with a full pantry and clean clothes, headed just about an hour down the road to Terrace Bay. On the way was a small sign indicating a trail to this little waterfall. It was a pretty rugged trail, but it was only about a quarter-mile long. It is easy to see that this fall would be quite impressive when it is blasted by spring runoff.
9/25/23

Terrace Bay Ontario

This was my first Harvest Host stay at a golf course. It was great for a number of reasons. First, it was a (another) great day. 72 and sunny. Second, it was free golf. When I showed up, there was a lot of activity on the course and around the club house - but there was no one working. The pro shop and restaurant were locked and dark.

Terrace Bay Ontario

Just as I was standing in front of the pro shop scratching my head, two dudes walked by and said: "Just go ahead and play. There hasn't been anyone here all week." So I did. Finally, it was a thoughtful nine hole course that made great use of the landscape. Because there were no carts available, I walked. It was a good workout, with a lot of elevation changes. So far, I'm lovin' Harvest Hosts!

Neys Provencal Park

This was our campsite at Neys. About 100 feet from the lake. Unfortunately, this beach was off limits to dogs...
9/26/23

Neys Provencal Park

...so we had to hike about a mile and a half so Augie could get a swim.

On To Thunder Bay

The drive to Thunder Bay was magnificent. The shoreline of north and western Lake Superior rivals the east...

On To Thunder Bay

...there are several Provincial Campsites along this part of the drive. If I ever do this again I will be staying at many of them. Especially at this time of year, when they're practically empty. This was the view from one of the campsites.

On To Thunder Bay

This was another.

Thunder Bay

I stayed at the KOA in Thunder Bay for two nights. It was a nice facility with good showers and a laundry, so I spent the time cleaning myself, my clothes, Augie, and Gravytrain. I was here for the Lions TNF game vs the fudge packers.
9/28/23

Back To 'Merica

I left Thunder Bay under gray skies and rain. First extended rain I've had, so it's hard to complain. Passed through customs at the Grand Portage border crossing, Headed to Duluth, Minnesota for a HH stay at the Black Bear Casino and Golf Resort.
9/30/23