On the Road Again Monday July 25 after our breakfast at Voyageurs Cookhouse. An item on the menu: "Oats and Toast. Piping hot oatmeal with brown sugar, milk and toast. Unlike the voyageurs' porridge, this will have no black flies in it."
Canadian Carvers has outstanding artwork on display.
Loved seeing the traveler as we traveled on the Canadian highways.
Gas in Canada.....only its a liter. So times 3.787 to convert to price per gallon.
Canadian Bushpilot Museum was so VERY interesting.
Replica of Silver Dart, first aircraft to make a powered flight in Canada.
DeHaviland Beaver built in 1948, oldest still flying
First purpose-built water bomber. Capable of picking up 5,455 liters of water at a time from nearby lake and then dumb on a forest fire.
Replica of plane used by Amelia Earhart. This plane was used for the movie about her.
Various skis used by planes to land in either water or land.
In 1945 the Otter belly was designed to dump 210 gallons of water on a fire. Prior to this the water that was dumped was in paper bags.
3 section Foleyet canoe, so it would fit on the plane. Then put together at destination.
One of the uses was to drop mail in remote location.
This museum was amazing. Total of 19 planes on display. One video explaining the history of Bushpilots. Another about flying this type of plane. Watched Three simulator films. 1. over the Soo Locks, 2. Travel along the Agawa canyon. 3. Picking up water from a lake and taking it to dump on a forest fire. So impressive!!!!!
It took us a half hour to cross into the U. S. (only about 5 minutes when we went into Canada at Grand Portage, MN......less populated area. The population of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is listed at 75,000.
We arrived at the Soo Locks Boat Tour JUST in time for the 2 pm trip.
We were so intent on watching the gates, didnt realize there was a freighter at the lock next to us.
We were anchored to the dock with ropes. You can see how low the water is at the closed gates. The water has to raise to 21 feet to be equal with Lake Superior.
The water is almost to the correct height. You can see the Arthur Anderson freighter is coming out of the Locks.
We were able to pass it. Our boat tooted one long and two short to say hi. The freighter replied in same fashion. We were told to wave...to let them know we heard them.
Close up of the top of the ship. Similar to what we saw in Duluth on the Irvin.
On our way back to the dock we saw another ship coming into the Locks.
At our campground, Soo Locks, we saw another freighter coming in.
It was recommended to check out the Antlers restaurant.
The atmosphere unique.....also stuffed fish, lions and so much more.
Beautiful ending of another beautiful adventurous day!
On the Road Again Tuesday July 26 to Tahquamenon Falls.
The Upper Falls. Just beautiful. What more can I say. Water drops 200 feet. The tea color is from the tannin in the trees,
The Lower Falls, just as mesmerizing.
We camped at Pioneer Trail Park near Escanaba, MI.
On the Road Again Wednesday July 27 to go on a tour of an Iron Mine near Norway, MI.
Mining began here in 1870.
Look VERY closely and you will see a Michigan butterfly. Actually a BAT!!!! It's near the sleeve of his jacket. We kept flinching when the three or four kept flying around us. Didn't phase the tour guide at all.
The mining for iron ore went to a depth of 1350 feet. The size of the Emoire State Building.
He's holding a dynamite case. It was very tricky using dynamite because of the constant 38 degrees.
Rainbow trout were used to tell the air quality. If the fish were sluggish, miners knew the air was not right.
They also used canaries. Earlier they used parakeets but stopped as the parakeets were always talking.
Rock of iron ore that is 62% and weigh 300 pounds.
Diamond drill used in the mines.
The Chapin Mine was one of the wettest mines ever worked.
The Cornish Pumping (steam) Engine was designed by Edwin Reynolds of Milwaukee, WI. A total of 5,000,000 gallons of water could be removed from the mine each day.
In the 1920's and 30's the Fords were made at the Iron Mountain plant. In 1926, Henry Ford wrote they used one million feet of lumber. He bought nearly a half million acres of timberland in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. From 1942 to 1945 the workers made 4,190 model CG-4A gliders.
They had no engine so must be towed. They took soldiers or supplies behind enemy lines.
Inside of the glider.
Cargo area.
3/4 size Pieper Cub plane.....one person only.
The Historical Museum in Iron Mountain has a wealth of memorabilia.
Miners carbide lamps.
Fuel cans for the carbide lamps.
Very rare Bavarian rotary valve cornet.
Potato and apple peeler.
Charcoal iron from 1860.
Fire extinguisher. Water in a glass bottle.
This museum was incredible, fascinating and a wealth of knowledge.
We are camping at the Brown County Fairgrounds.
