In 1957 that all changed with the opening of a mammoth suspension bridge which sits 200 feet above the water to allow big ships to sail under. The towers stand 552 feet above the lake so can be seen for some miles as you approach. You can wait, as we do, until you are across it and are visiting the museum on the Northern side, to take your photographs. You pass through a $4 toll at the Northern end. A small price to pay.
It handles an average of 11,000 vehicles a day, come rain or shine. Speed limit is 45 mph.
Driving North above the lake
View from the Visitors Center/Museum
Carol finds a bench to soak it all in from
A monument to the brave steelworkers who toiled for 3 and a half years (not in winter!) to build the bridge. 5 of them died on the job, 2 of whom perished on their first day at work. R.I.P
A well-earned rest for the car. I picked him up from the factory in Germany and he has been driven in Germany, France, the USA and Canada. Best car I have ever owned and will not part with him.
In the building behind are restrooms (hooray!) and many photos of the bridge under construction with a detailed written history of the achievement. The bridge is 26,000 feet long from ramp to ramp-approximately 5 miles but much of that is taken up in gaining altitude to the center span. You are 200 feet up on a deck above the icy waters of Lake Michigan on a metal truss that is 38 feet deep. Ship's below have a guaranteed clearance of 155 feet.
We always stop here for a half hour or so to admire the bridge but we are driven North by hunger and a desire to get where we are going and that means the Soo Locks! We always stop there before going into Canada to see if any big ships are scheduled to pass through.
The drive North from the bridge is fast as the highway passes through beautiful forested countryside on smooth roads. You'll be cruising at 80 mph but watching out for large beasts crossing the road.
Another bridge will loom on the horizon and it's the International Bridge over the St Mary's River.
You don't have to pass through U.S customs on the way over to Canada so just bypass that and head down to the waterside to the right of the bridge. This will bring you to the Locks Welcome Center where there is a covered viewing platform. It's not sheltered from the wind though. In the Welcome center is an information desk and behind it a list of the ships expected to pass through. It will list their size and expected time. If there is nothing imminent you can get on with your life and maybe catch a bite to eat.
In Karl's Restaurant where the food, like most we have eaten in this part of the world, won't set your taste buds a dancing' but will allay the hunger pangs.
Back to the locks as there were some ships scheduled to pass through....
The view towards Lake Superior with the bridge in the distance.
Lake Huron in the distance.
We didn't have to wait long before the first ship approached from Lake Huron. She would be lifted 21 feet. Her lock will be drained until it reaches the Huron level, the gates will open and she will slowly glide in. The gates close and the water level will rise until she can sail out on Lake Superior.
Meanwhile another ship has approached from lake Superior so we get to see both in the Locks simultaneously ! Bonus!
The Herbert C Jackson was built in 1960 so had been working for 52 years already! She is 690 feet long and carries 25,000 tons of cargo, including coal. She has her own crane on board to use in offloading where needed. It has a jib that is 250 feet long.
She's sinking lower as the water from her dock is allowed to drain into the one next to it.
Two ships in the locks at once.
The 2nd ship is the Edgar B Speer which has been in service since 1980. She is 1,004 feet long and carries 74,000 tons of cargo. She can also unload herself.
The light was fading and there were no more ships scheduled for a few hours so it was time to move on and cross the bridge into Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, where our hotel was waiting patiently for us to arrive.
You will stop at a Canadian Customs post at the end of the bridge and show your passport and explain why you are there. To those of you who smoke American cigarettes-take them with you as you will be hard-pressed to find them among the British brands for sale in Canada.
I'll take up the story again when we are on Canadian soil....
Carol finds a bench to soak it all in from
A monument to the brave steelworkers who toiled for 3 and a half years (not in winter!) to build the bridge. 5 of them died on the job, 2 of whom perished on their first day at work. R.I.P
A well-earned rest for the car. I picked him up from the factory in Germany and he has been driven in Germany, France, the USA and Canada. Best car I have ever owned and will not part with him.
In the building behind are restrooms (hooray!) and many photos of the bridge under construction with a detailed written history of the achievement. The bridge is 26,000 feet long from ramp to ramp-approximately 5 miles but much of that is taken up in gaining altitude to the center span. You are 200 feet up on a deck above the icy waters of Lake Michigan on a metal truss that is 38 feet deep. Ship's below have a guaranteed clearance of 155 feet.
We always stop here for a half hour or so to admire the bridge but we are driven North by hunger and a desire to get where we are going and that means the Soo Locks! We always stop there before going into Canada to see if any big ships are scheduled to pass through.
The drive North from the bridge is fast as the highway passes through beautiful forested countryside on smooth roads. You'll be cruising at 80 mph but watching out for large beasts crossing the road.
Another bridge will loom on the horizon and it's the International Bridge over the St Mary's River.
You don't have to pass through U.S customs on the way over to Canada so just bypass that and head down to the waterside to the right of the bridge. This will bring you to the Locks Welcome Center where there is a covered viewing platform. It's not sheltered from the wind though. In the Welcome center is an information desk and behind it a list of the ships expected to pass through. It will list their size and expected time. If there is nothing imminent you can get on with your life and maybe catch a bite to eat.
In Karl's Restaurant where the food, like most we have eaten in this part of the world, won't set your taste buds a dancing' but will allay the hunger pangs.
Back to the locks as there were some ships scheduled to pass through....
The view towards Lake Superior with the bridge in the distance.
Lake Huron in the distance.
We didn't have to wait long before the first ship approached from Lake Huron. She would be lifted 21 feet. Her lock will be drained until it reaches the Huron level, the gates will open and she will slowly glide in. The gates close and the water level will rise until she can sail out on Lake Superior.
Meanwhile another ship has approached from lake Superior so we get to see both in the Locks simultaneously ! Bonus!
The Herbert C Jackson was built in 1960 so had been working for 52 years already! She is 690 feet long and carries 25,000 tons of cargo, including coal. She has her own crane on board to use in offloading where needed. It has a jib that is 250 feet long.
She's sinking lower as the water from her dock is allowed to drain into the one next to it.
Two ships in the locks at once.
The 2nd ship is the Edgar B Speer which has been in service since 1980. She is 1,004 feet long and carries 74,000 tons of cargo. She can also unload herself.
The light was fading and there were no more ships scheduled for a few hours so it was time to move on and cross the bridge into Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, where our hotel was waiting patiently for us to arrive.
You will stop at a Canadian Customs post at the end of the bridge and show your passport and explain why you are there. To those of you who smoke American cigarettes-take them with you as you will be hard-pressed to find them among the British brands for sale in Canada.
I'll take up the story again when we are on Canadian soil....
No comments:
Post a Comment