Go Soo!

“Since you’re from Minnesota, I’ve got to ask you…” said the young man in the Marina office, “Do Minnesotans prefer the Vikings (football) or The Wild (hockey)?”  We shared our opinions then asked him his preference…football or hockey (the city has a rich history in both)?  He confirmed our suspicions...hockey was number one.

Dr. Roberta Bondar (another Dec 4^th baby) was born in Sault Ste. Marie, attended public schools in Sault Ste. Marie, and became the first female astronaut (and first neurologist) in space.  Docked at the Roberta Bondar Marina (across from the residence Roberta Bondar Place), we spent our last days in Canada learning about “Falls on the Saint Mary River” or (as named by the French) Sault Ste. Marie, or as locals call it, “The Soo.”

   

Before taking off late this morning for DeTour (where we’ll go through US customs), we explored the city with an early morning bike ride. “The Hub” bike trail led us by the Algoma University, as well as along the beautifully landscaped waterfront to the locks where we expect much of the wheat raised on the Finkenbinder Farm passed through from Crookston to Duluth, through Lake Superior and the St. Lawrence to markets.  Across the International Bridge (Hwy 75) is a sister-city of the same name in Michigan.

This is the waterfront on the east side of The Soo Locks:  Sault Ste Marie, Ontario on one side and Sault Ste Marie on the Michigan side.

We are back in a major shipping channel which means...big container ships!
While the area has had its economic ups and downs, steel manufacturing and forestry/wood products continue.

From our dock each evening, we enjoyed the lights of the International Bridge; the US shown red, white and blue and towards Canada, red and white lights.  Being close to the US, we enjoyed Verizon connectivity again...which means better internet access.  YES
!! 

This past Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., we enjoyed a ride on the Algoma Central Railway.  At 40-mph, we rode 114 miles  north into the Agawa Canyon.  

As we relaxed in a comfortable environment, we learned about the train's history, the land of the Ojibwe and early European explorers, the area's granitic bedrock geology, and a bit about industry.

At the end of the 114-mile trip is the Agawa Canyon Park where we had 1.5 hours to explore the hiking trails and lookouts.

One of the highest lookouts (250 feet above the canyon floor) involved more than 300 steps.  It got our legs moving and hearts going...a beautiful blue sky and comfortable temperature to enjoy it all! 

Mountains of granite covered in forests and cut outs of water.

The peak season for the train ride into Canada's wilderness area is while the fall colors are in full force.
We took this photo as it shows how diverse the trees are in this area...spruce, cedar, maple, elm, birch, poplar, white and red pines.

The lookout area...built to accommodate the crowds in the autumn.

The hiking trails led to Bear Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

We enjoyed two fabulous meals out while in The Soo.  Saturday night we had an early meal at Arturo's, an authentic Italian restaurant that offered fresh and unique dishes.  This morning on our bike ride, we stopped at this place:  The Breakfast Pig.  We enjoyed our breakfast so much, Brenda had to take a photo of what we ate...for the cooks out there, see below: