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| | Sault Ste Marie Canadian Lock, MI | | | |
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Sault Ste Marie Canadian Lock, MI
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| Kayak | 4.39 Miles |
46 AEG |
| | Kayak | 4.39 Miles | | | |
| 46 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Written 12/22/2025. Merry Christmas everyone.
October 15th
2024 Ponferrada, Spain
2025 Sault Ste Marie, MI/Ontario, Canada
2026 ? (I do have something in mind, but I just saw that it sold out  ).
Who would have thought to have such memorable places to spend my last two birthday celebrations. Can't get much better than that! This was our 5th stop of our Great Lakes Tour with Victory 1 (200 passenger ship) that started in Montreal and would end in Chicago. It also stopped in Toronto and Port Colborne/Niagara Falls, Cleveland and Detroit/Toledo. I had only been to Detroit and that was passing through via air. We were really lucky so far to have good weather and good sailing.
Before our travel you select your Shore Excursions and even though, kayaking is something I've rarely done, how could you possibly resist paddling through a lock. I had only one wish before the whole cruise began and that was for good weather. Fortunately, we had good weather and calm water this day. After our tour on the drive to Ashmun Bay a small bay that is a part of the Upper St. Mary's River. It receives water from Ashmun Creek, which drains much of the interior Sault Ste. Marie.
eight of us and two guides were fitted with lifejackets, a paddle and a sit-in kayak. Our seats and feet were adjusted and off we went to enjoy this beautiful area that was dressed in its finest fall colors  .
It was quite hard to keep up and film, plus my boat was a bit uncomfortable. Sadly I didn't get to hear a lot of the commentary. But you know me, I did my best to hang in there. One of the guides and I had a really interesting conversation when I was lagging. I also think he understood a filmer like me so put up with my always being behind. We rounded a couple points as we swung to the north and then east. We got in the middle of the route (see track) as we made our way to the lock. We passed by an impressive steel mill, mostly impressive because we don't see many steel mills in the west. Algoma Steel was founded in 1901 by Francis Clergue, an American entrepreneur who had settled in Sault Ste. Marie.
We gradually got closer to the lock passing by the very long and narrow Canadian Pier West jetting out from Whitefish Island. We had awesome views of the whole International Bridges (one car, one railroad - life bridge) that provides transportation between the USA and Canada, the only crossing within 300 miles. The bridge, which opened in October 1962, features an unusual design with a rare double-arch span on the U.S. side and a single arch span on the Canadian side. Its main spans were erected without using falsework to prevent obstructing traffic through the American and Canadian locks.
We eventually paddle below the single span of the International Bridge as we edge even closer to entering the lock area.
The Canadian side's trees were all in full blast brilliant fall colors. It was a sight to behold. And then there was the orange Emergency Swing Dam, the last remaining structure of its kind in the world with the purpose to control water flow and allow for critical repairs to the lock if a ship were to strike the locks.
We paddled a little further in and hung to the left next to Canada's North St Mary's Island where we waited for our turn to enter the lock. And yes, there is a traffic light.
Soon we were given the green light and the gates would close behind us. Indicentally, this was the last day to go through Canadian Soo Lock (opened in 1895). Within minutes we all got that sinking feeling as the water lowered us 21 feet. I got to listen to one of the couples tell the story of their kayak trip through the Suez Canal. And, of course, you can see how much you are coming down based on the level of the waterline on the cement. And within about 15 minutes, it was "open sesame" and the gates slowly gave way to the river ahead. We would be skirting toward the right shore around the Canadian East pier that jets out pretty far into the river.
To the west was the Soo Locks the main ships go through called the Poe Lock. There was a ship in the lock and when we got back to our ship Victory, we would see the MV James R. Barker, a 1000 foot (over 3 football fields) American self-discharging bulk carrier, heading west. I came to really like all these big boys we saw during our cruise (yes, I know they are called "she"  ). Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 ships pass through the locks each year, carrying an average of 80 to 90 million tons of cargo. The high tonnage is largely due to the transport of bulk goods, primarily iron ore (over 95% of U.S. supply), which is essential for North American steel production.
We passed by the Edison Sault Hydroelectric Plant, a quarter-mile-long building with a distinctive red sandstone Romanesque design (it's a beauty).
It was great fun to paddle toward our main chariot. Other passengers would later ask us if we were out kayaking and show us the pictures they took. There was a small inlet that we would go into for our departure. As I said, we were lucky to have perfect weather and calm water; can't get much better than that. Although, my paddling needs some work. When I got back to my stateroom, the steward had put together a towel animal with my hiking hat on it with a nice card.
I am so very lucky and I know that, but I do miss my brother as this is some of the stuff we had planned for my retirement years, but I know he is smiling. We finished the day with a walk on main street. We passed a wonderful looking Senior Living Center and thought it would be a nice place to be in our elderly years. It came to me that having Senior Living Time Shares would be a great idea  .
These videos took a long time to make. I was able to convert to text what I otherwise could hear when our guides were speaking. Wish they had "whispers" like we had for our Camino trip. This is the only report I am doing from the cruise excursions. After our stop at Mackinac Island, we would have to bypass Escanaba and go to Milwaukee due to inclement weather. The seas, I mean Lake Michigan, was really rough so had to down a couple dramamine for a day and a half.
Part 1 coming into port [ youtube video ]
Part 2 coming into port and start of kayaking [ youtube video ]
Part 3 kayaking through the Lock [ youtube video ]
Part 4 kayaking through the Lock and city walk [ youtube video ] |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Substantial
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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