Hufnagels on the Move: Last Days in Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Entering the Soo Locks

Exiting the Locks 21 Ft. later

Lunch at West Pier Drive-In

I last left you in Ontanogan, MI. We were in the area for 3 nights and 2 days. We were able to see Lake of the Clouds in Porcupine Mtns., take a tour through Adventure Copper Mine, and and see great vistas of Lake Superior. The statistics of Lake Superior are staggering. It stretches 350 miles from east to west. Its average depth is 450 ft. and it is 1330 ft at its deepest. The temperature of the water is 38-42 degrees. We were told by one of our boat captains that if you took all the water out of the lake it would fill the Grand Canyon and cover the entire United States with 5 feet of water. IT IS HUGE! Recreation on the lake is mainly fishing and taking a ride in your boat if you own one. You may see a jet ski now and then but you do not see people skiing and tubing like you do in the mid-west, the water is just too cold.

We drove across the UP to Munising, MI and enjoyed taking a couple of boat tour to see 3 Shipwrecks in a glass bottom boat one day and Pictured Rocks another.

Then on up the lakeshore to Sault Ste. Marie. In the Soo, our campground Aune Borne was right on the St. Mary's River. We were able to watch the freighters come down the river. While there we took advantage of taking another boat tour which took us through the locks. What a great experience. We had watch ships go through the locks in other places but had not done it ourselves. Entering the locks you are on the lower St. Mary's River and while in the locks your vessel is raised by valves being opened at the bottom of the lock and water enters the lock raising the water level 21 feet. The gate opens and you are at the same level as the Upper St. Mary's River and you leave the locks. How Cool is that! We took in the site of a Steel Mill on the River and then proceeded through the locks on the Canadian Side back to the dock. That same day we walked the Historic Water Street, visiting some of the local shops and watching a freighter go through the locks. We took in some local restaurants that were highly recommended. One afternoon the West Pier Drive-in where we ate the BEST cheeseburger we have ever eaten. Later we were told to check out another Drive-in at the other end of town Clyde's, both were good but as for me West Pier WINS.
Here are more pictures of our adventure in the UP of Michigan.