Location - Sault Ste. Marie, MI
We left Big Cedar with Sunny skies and decent temperatures for our 130 mile ride to Sault Ste. Marie.
We made one stop at a rest area so we could check the straps on the tow dolly and check out Lake Michigan at a nice overlook.
We made a 3 day reservation at Aune-Osborn Campground. It's a City park located on the banks of the St. Mary's River which divides Michigan from Canada. About 2 miles from downtown and the Soo Locks, it's a great place to stay for a few days of tourism. Has good modern facilities with Water and Electric hookups and a dump station.The view of ships coming down the River headed for Lake Huron or Lake Michigan is very cool. For the most part, the ships are Great Lakes Freighters. They range from 750 to over 1000 ft. long and many are designed to be self-unloaders, with a built-in crane and conveyor system.
Our flyer at the campground showed pictures of a number of different ships with guidelines telling what the differences were. Very cool to see.
Before we went to see the Locks, we decided to tour the Valley Camp ore ship. The ship is a 1917 steam powered freighter housing the largest Great Lakes maritime museum. The picture showing the interior display is just one of 3 converted cargo holds that were filled with ore until the ship was retired and made into a museum.
Now it houses two levels of Maritime displays and also has two life boats(really 1-1/2) from the Edmund Fitzgerald. The operations center and crew quarters have also been set up like they were used when in operation. Hope you enjoy.
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If you get a chance, I highly recommend doing the tour.
ttfn
Paul






































