Our Yooper Vacation: Day 1, Soo Locks

The Soo Locks are the locks at Sault (pronounced Soo) Saint Marie that let the boats travel between Lake Superior and Lake Huron in the St Mary's river. We intended to take the boat tour the afternoon of our first day but reached the docks 20 minutes too late. (Too much fun at the lighthouse I guess.) So we wandered over the the state park where there is an observation tower and happened upon a freighter traveling west using the Poe Lock. In the first photo if you look closely to the right of center you can barely see the words Canada Steamship Lines.

As it's about to pass through in the second photo the words are clearly visible. The lock raised the ship 21 feet to the level of Lake Superior, kind of cool, huh?

After that excitement we went to a restaurant nearby called Antlers for dinner. We had whitefish, a popular fish from the Great Lakes that, oddly enough, is about impossible to get fresh where we live. Here is a bit of the decor. Dinner was excellent.

 These photos I snapped while sitting at our table.

Then we headed to our motel, the Skyline, a 1950's era motel near the airport. It may have been old but it was clean, comfortable, had all the amenities required as well as free wifi for only $55! A steal.

And thus ends day 1 of our UP adventure, a very good day.

It's August!

I have been negligent in my blogging. But I have been busy. Many things have been going on but I won't go into detail yet, just highlight a few things and come back later to elaborate.

Rocket's been ill, he seems better now but we still aren't sure what's going on for sure. Cancer has been ruled out for now.

Hal is tearing up the front deck to replace the rotted joists and add new deck boards. The original builders did not seem to use pressure treated lumber.

I have picked many cucumbers and zucchini and grean beans. Pickles are forthcoming.

Working on making beaded jewelry on and off.

Reading large books. First one was Drood by Dan Simmons, current one is Raptor by Gary Jennings. Half way through that one now.

Had a couple guineas and a chicken disappear. The guineas while nesting, the chicken in broad daylight, no idea how.

Lost 6 pounds, probably gained back 3.

Been to the beach (Lake Huron) twice with my neighbors, took Luna the second time. She had a blast.

Only kayaked the Au Sable once so far. Lovely day.

Eleven ducklings hatched in June. Moved them to a separate pen from mom, hoping she'll lay some more eggs and do it again.

Waiting for the bread machine to beep so I can spread out the pizza dough for dinner tonight.

I think that's good for now.

Happy New Year

Hello from the swamps of northern Michigan!

It's cold outside. And very white. Most of last night's snowstorm seemed to be downstate. I've noticed since I moved here 7 years ago that most of the big mid-western snowstorms seem to stay downstate. All we got up here was a dusting. Fortunately, we already had snow, so no biggie. (yes, I admit, I like a good snowstorm now and then, especially when I've no plans to go anywhere!)

I decided to start the new year by creating this blog. I've got another one, somewhere, on one of those competing sites that can't seem to get its act together so I figured I'd head on over to blogger and see what mayhem I can create here. Not that I'm big on mayhem, mostly that's wishful thinking. I have yet to get too controversial on line, but you never know, I may lose my head one day.

So where in northern Michigan (MI) am I? Let's just say, south of Alpena, north of Oscoda and slightly west of Lake Huron. Find a map, find a swamp, and I'm somewhere inside. Just me, my dogs, my ducks, and my husband.

I've lived in 3 other states and visited several others. I've lived on both coasts and in one state slightly to the south (but still on the east coast, so I'm not sure that counts). I like it up here. There are 4 seasons, winter being one of the longest, though not as long as in the UP (Upper Peninsula of MI). The mosquitoes aren't as bad as I thought they'd be, it's the deer flies that get nasty! The dogs don't much like them either. I am considering ways of dealing with them next summer, however.

I haven't anything earth shattering to say today, just wanted to say something rather than leave a new blog blank. Perhaps later on I'll post a picture. That could be fun!