North to the UP

Our camp at Sturgeon Valley CG

We achieved a leisurely check-out at Sturgeon Valley CG and continued northward toward the UP.  We bought 50 gallons of fuel in Mackinaw City.  Diesel prices are fairly high in Michigan, and with this addition we can get to Wisconsin where the prices are significantly less.  We then set to cross the "Mighty Mac" the amazing suspension bridge that crosses the Mackinac Straits into Michigan's UP.  The crossing was exciting although uneventful.  We had seen an ambulance stopped on the bridge, but it u-turned and came back towards us before we got to it.

Crossing the Mighty Mac

We proceeded to Carp River CG in the Hiawatha National Forest, about 10 miles north of St. Ignace.  We are currently traveling with our friends Wayne and Lynda, who are in their Airstream, and who will paddle with us when we do our Boundary Waters trip in about 2 weeks.  We had expected Carp River to be a very popular camp, but when we arrived it was nearly deserted.  We picked out two very nice adjoining sites near the far end of the CG road and made our camp for the next three nights.

Our route on the Carp River

The next day we paddled on the Carp River, which flows by the camp.  The guide book suggested the river was small and advised to be on the lookout for blow downs across the river.  Sure enough, when we scouted our take-out, just above the campground, there were two complete river blockages within sight of the bridge.  Not looking good!  However, being the bold souls we are, and the majority membership of the Dumb But Tough Canoe Club, off we went.  We left a vehicle at camp and loaded up the Honda, and off we went to find our put-it on East Lake Road.

A pretty stretch on the Carp River

The guide book did not lie.  We found three huge log jams during the first two miles, but after that only a few relatively easy scoot-overs.  We did pass several sections of rocky shoals where we cringed as our Kevlar hulls screeched in agony.  I think we will have to visit Ginny, who does our boat repairs in Ely, before we put in for the Boundary Waters.  The paddle totaled 7.1 miles.  It was nice, but I doubt we will ever paddle that section again.

Log Jam

Another Log Jam

The next morning was threatening rain.  We briefly considered, and promptly rejected, the idea of paddling another section on the Carp River.  Instead we decided to visit the locks at Sault Ste. Marie.  The "Soo Locks" allow ships from Lake Superior passage around the rapids and access to the St. Mary River and the lower great lakes.  10,000 vessels per year pass through the locks during the 9 months they are open.

We lunched at The Antlers, a former bootlegger's joint during prohibition.  During prohibition they fronted as an ice cream parlor, but were busted when they showed a profit of $900, but no ice cream sales.  It is decorated with antlers and stuffed animals of all kinds throughout the building.

The Antlers

Dorcas in Poe Lock

After lunch we visited the visitor's center operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers and then took a boat tour through the locks.  We locked upstream through the Poe Lock towards Lake Superior, cruised the Saint Marys River and then locked downstream through the Canadian lock, a smaller lock operated by Canada, and used by most of the pleasure boaters.  It was all pretty cool.

Dorcas in the Canadian Lock

View upstream at Canadian lock