Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

We have moved to yet another beautiful campsite at the water’s edge -this time in Sault Ste. Marie (pronounced Soo Saint Marie), Michigan. We look out onto the Saint Mary's River, which connects Lake Superior with Lakes Huron and Michigan by way of the SOO Locks. We are just a mile or so south of the locks. We have been fascinated watching the large freighters pass in front of our RV. We can sit inside and watch them out the front window but usually run outside for a better view and to take pictures.

From Sault Ste Marie

We went down to the locks late one evening and watched two ships pass through.

From Sault Ste Marie

Most ships are around 720 feet, the former maximum size that could pass through the SOO locks, and are still the only ones that can go all the way to the Atlantic. The ones that go to the ocean are "Salties". In 1968 a larger lock was added and now there are 13 larger 1000 foot "Lakers" that can traverse the SOO Locks. All the freighters are bulk carriers. They transport iron ore, wheat, soy beans, various type of rocks, cement, etc. Some are "self-loaders" with on board cranes and conveyor belts. Others rely upon shore based loading equipment. All are interesting to see passing by. They come by day and night. Fortunately they are relatively quiet as they pass. On the other hand a small ferry just down from us, seems to blow its horn every 30 minutes most of the day and well into the night as it goes back and forth to a small Island in the river between the US and Canada. (We look across at Canada from our campsite).

We toured another lighthouse - Iroquois Point.

From Sault Ste Marie

I had great fun there "rock hounding". Up here instead of looking for sea shells, folks look for interesting rocks along the shore, especially agates.

From Sault Ste Marie

This area was covered by glaciers in the ice age. These pushed many different kinds of rocks and minerals over the land. Many small rocks have been smoothed by wave action. I have now gotten the bug to get a rock polisher. Actually this is an old desire resurfacing. As a child I lived near a gravel company. They had rock shipped in via the Mississippi River and stockpiled it for use by various construction companies. While in College, I worked for a road construction company and would sometimes carry loads of these rocks in my dump truck back to the asphalt plant. As a young child I often played atop the huge piles of gravel. I spent time looking through the rocks and would occasionally find some small fossils. So I have always been interested in rocks, though I know very little about the different types. After hunting around the beach and picking up several pocketfuls, I want to learn more and perhaps get a polisher. Of course Monique points out that collecting rocks is probably not the smartest hobby for someone living in a confined space and worried about the weight we carry in our house on wheels. She is right so I doubt I will continue.