Sault Locks, or, Transportation Geeks Geek Out

We spent much of July with family, beginning in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula.


We really enjoy Aune Osborn Campground, a county campground on the St Mary's river, just east of Sault Sainte Marie.  The Sault Locks are fascinating (for some of us) and we like to spend a little time there whenever we can.  This year we spent almost 10 days.  We took young John along on the adventure.  This is a short record of a ride we took on the Sault Locks tour.


Heading out, we went through the American locks.  


John, up close and personal with the wall, watching the water level rise.



In the lock next to us was a Really Big Freighter.


Cruising along after leaving the Lock.

Young John being young John.

Gulls hanging out on the piles of coke, warm in the morning sun.

Rolled steel, waiting for transportation south.  It'll be used for appliances and cars.


Heading into the Canadian Lock.  It's smaller, and older, but more understandable for those of us who aren't transportation geeks.  Notice the level of the water on the orange gate.  This will be important later.



It's later.  The water has dropped considerably, and it's about time for us to leave the Lock.

The gate opens, and we follow the leader out.



Back in the St Mary's River, headed back to dock.


Is this the time to mention that young John had lost it about 5 minutes into the second lock?  All kinds of attention from a crew member, explaining the process of making steel, had NO affect on his mood.  "I did NOT want to come on this tour YOU did."

It happens.

 

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